Almost reach the pinnacle of your sport, and you’re naturally going to be a bit upset at any perceived shortcomings. When it comes to brutal quarterback injuries in the NFC title game (and all season, really), the San Francisco 49ers’ perceived flaws seem to be a bit more factual.
Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle thought as much after the Philadelphia Eagles defeated the 49ers to advance to Super Bowl 57 Sunday.
During his post-game press conference, Kittle was asked for a reaction to Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson’s respective ailments ending San Francisco’s Super Bowl hopes. The tight end kept his assessment short, but he did not keep it sweet:
(NSFW language below)
George Kittle: "How does it feel to lose an NFC Championship Game because I don't have a quarterback? Pretty shitty, to be honest."
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 30, 2023
Woof. You can almost taste the bitterness oozing out of Kittle’s words after falling short of February’s Big Game. And, frankly, he’s probably right to feel that way.
While not the most explosive offense without a star quarterback, there’s a feasible reality where the 49ers actually put more than seven points on the board — and hit a pregame over of 20 points — ifbPurdy never gets injured. Instead, San Francisco’s offense with Kittle and Co. was largely lifeless in its biggest game of the season because injuries derailed any real opportunity for a victory.
A tough way to end a great year for a contender.