The 2023 NFL season is in the books and one former Green Bay Packer will be sporting a Kansas City Chief’s ring for the rest of their lives. Watching Marquez Valdes-Scantling catch the first touchdown of the game over the outstretched arm of Oren Burks had me wondering how many times that same scenario with those two players played out in practice at the Don Hutson Center.

Former Packers in the Super Bowl: MVS & Oren Burks
Burks is listed as a starting SAM linebacker for the 49ers, but his snap count is more of a backup. Burks was a huge disappointment in Green Bay, never seeming to fully grasp the inside linebacker position as it was taught to him in Green Bay.
On Sunday, in the second half of the Super Bowl, Burks was forced to replace an injured Dre Greenwall. While Burks’ on-field play coincided with the 49ers going from nearly shutting out Kansas City in the first half to giving up 16 points in the second half, his play did not jump out as the reason San Francisco lost a winnable Super Bowl.

All Pro Christian McCaffrey’s fumble on the opening drive that was already in field goal range. All Pro left tackle Trent Williams was called for penalties on consecutive plays dooming SF’s next drive. Two special teams plays, the blocked extra point and the punt that ricocheted off the leg of rookie corner Darrell Luter’s leg changed the momentum.
The 49ers had chances in the end but could not put the ball in the end zone, settling for a late field goal and another three pointer in overtime.
The score was different and there was no wind chill making the temperature zero degrees, but there were striking similarities to the Packers v. 49ers NFC championship game in January 2022. This time it was the 49ers with a fumble on an early drive that would have scored points and two big special team blunders.
It was the 49ers who could not score a touchdown with time running out. And it was 49er fans who are stung with a loss that should have been a victory. Kyle Shanahan has now entered Aaron Rodgers territory. His last five seasons with Super Bowl winning caliber talent has produced no trophies. He can’t beat Patrick Mahomes.
Considering 2023 and Looking Ahead to 2024
Shanahan is 0-4 against the Chiefs. Jordan Love’s Packers beat the Chiefs in the 2023 regular season. They also looked good against the 49er defense for three quarters.
The Packers have lost five straight to the 49ers in the playoffs dating back to 2013. But this year’s final Packer game felt different. Yes, it was against the same 49ers that LaFleur has yet to defeat. But Jordan Love led a young team with almost no playoff experience to the doorstep of the Super Bowl.
Love outplayed All Pro Dak Prescott and, until the 4th quarter picks against San Francisco, was better than Mr. Irrelevant, Brock Purdy, who received 22 All Pro Votes in 2023. He didn’t play against Lamar Jackson, the All Pro top vote getter, but as the season ended Packer fans should feel that Love has an upside to match or succeed any player on that list.
In 2023, there were no expectations on the Packers to win a Super Bowl. Love’s play and the growth of the offense, from skill players to offensive line, changes that for next season. Patrick Mahomes is still the quarterback to beat next season.
But Packer fans have to thank Chicago Bear GM Ryan Pace for drafting Mitch Trubisky, and appreciate the potential that is ahead for this team. One more quality draft could tip the balance. Brian Gutekunst, your up.
Brock Purdy has definite limitations as a QB. There’s a reason he was drafted in the 7th round. Still, with the perfect roster, and the 49er roster is as close to perfect as you’re going to get, he can be quite effective. Nevertheless you swap teams with Purdy and Mahomes and the 49ers win that game in a blow out with Mahomes at QB. There’s just no way as QB for the Chiefs Purdy keeps that team competitive. But that’s the greatness of Patrick Mahomes. He can take a lesser team and win a SB. Tom Brady could do that. While Aaron Rodgers could not. Even with Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, and David Bakhtiari, Rodgers always came up short.
Both the Packers and the Lions had the 49ers beat. Both young and inexperienced playoff teams let the 49ers off the hook. The 49ers, Packers, and Lions are evenly matched. With the Packers having the best QB out of the three. That maybe just enough to tilt the game in our favor next season.
There’s a huge difference between beating Mahomes during the regular season and beating him in the SB. Not saying it can’t be done. Just saying it won’t be easy. Still, I like our chances. We get a second year jump by all these first year starters and another solid draft from Gutekunst and the sky’s the limit.
As I was watching Purdy in the Superbowl, basically he locked on a single receiver the whole game, except for a handful of plays. Luckily for him, that receiver was open a lot, which is probably a credit to the 49ers play calling. I think Love is better at going through his progressions.
” Nevertheless you swap teams with Purdy and Mahomes and the 49ers win that game in a blow out with Mahomes at QB.” – Tommi
LMAO….
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Yes Tommi, compare 7th round, 2nd year Brock Purdy with Mahomes, the 10th pick of the 2017 draft who already is a 2X MVP, Winner of 3 Super Bowls, 3 Super Bowl MVP’s, and is a 2X 1st team All Pro, and destined probably to be talked about as one of the all time greats in the NFL…….lol
I love you man!!!!! 😁👍🤗🦾
Tom, are you trying to tell us ladies….. that Mahomes is a better QB than Brock Purdy?
GET OUT!!
People, that’s Tommi’s football acumen ….at work!!
Tom M, you are simply amazing!!!
The intellect, the wisdom.
You are truly a visionary.
I’m in awe just to be associated in some way with……
Your brilliance!!!
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So…Mahomes is better than Purdy?
Who would have thought it?
The more i read here, the more i learn!!
Thanks Tommi!! 🍦
🥱😲🙄😏
“If Love can keep improving, he could be the next Brock Purdy” – Tom M
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Purdy got lucky before the SB also, leading a successful TD drive in the 4th quarter to beat the Packers.
Jordan Love answered with an interception.
Guess he couldn’t get off the Christian Watson read…idk.
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Brock Purdy has 22 starts in the NFL, he has thrown 44 TD’s against 15 picks.
He has a 68.7 completion percentage, he averages 9.2 YPA.
Purdy has a 111 passer rating.
Not bad for a 7th round 262nd pick!!
Give the guy a little credit…H..LY S..IT
Purdy isn’t some one trick pony game manager who can’t look off his first read.
This unassuming QB has 2 traits that got him where he is.
He’s smart, and he plays with a lot of heart.
I remember another QB who locked onto a receiver, he threw for 8,400 yards, 85 TD’s against 9 interceptions with a completion percentage kissing 70%.
Who T F does that?
Well, a late 30’s QB in back to back years with one stand out receiver.
Allright, allright…lets all calm down now!!!
All that actually happened.
I don’t write fiction.
No offense Princess
PF4L Your comment is awaiting moderation
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Well, of course it is….lol
Better not post it JP, can’t take a chance on hurting Tommi’s feelings.
Then what, right?….lol
Jordan Love is currently at the Drew Brees QB camp. The week right after the SB where he was making the rounds doing interviews and pitching “Old Spice.” Jordan Love is back at it perfecting his craft. Striving to be better. Working with another Hall of Fame QB in Drew Brees. While Aaron Rodgers would be off on some bullshit “darkness retreat.” Or in South America drinking ayahuasca contemplating the meaning of life. Then expounding on its virtues to the little people that are his fans. It’s so refreshing to have a QB that’s all about football.
As usual Kevin you don’t get it. All you see are stats. Jordan Love is physically more gifted than Brock Purdy. He’s bigger, has a stronger arm, and is more mobile. With Love, the question was never was he talented enough. The question was could he read defenses? Could he throw with anticipation? Could he make plays off script? Those last ten games of the season gave us the answer. And the answer is yes.
What Brock Purdy has accomplished is remarkable to be sure. But he’s no Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Joe Burrow, Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert, or even Trevor Lawrence. He doesn’t have a skill set close to those QB’s. Jordan Love does. I see Brock Purdy’s skill set a notch above the guy he replaced. Jimmy Garappolo. Jimmy wasn’t good enough. Is Brock Purdy good enough? Maybe. Provided you give him a the perfect roster. That puts enormous pressure on GM John Lynch with no room for error. You can have Brock Purdy and his stats Kevin. I’ll take Jordan Love and this young, ascending Packers roster. I like our chances.
Oh, and one more thing, my posts go right thru, Kevin. But Jason likes me……
LMAO…right through huh, cuz Jason likes you?
Well now…isn’t that just precious!! 🍎🍎🍎
I’ll bet, JP is just beaming with pride…lol
I love you man!!!
Lol…..Never change!! 😁😉😏
Tom M
With Love, the question was never was he talented enough.
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Nope, according to Tommi, there actually was no question, just one solution…..
Tank the season and replace Love.
Remember that Princess?
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Personally, my question now is…….
Can Love lead a 4th quarter TD drive to win a game and advance to the NFCCG in the playoffs when the games count, like 7th rounder Brock Purdy did.
Because as Tommi has taught us about NFL QB’s through the years….that’s what the great QB’s do.
The 49er playoff window won’t be open forever. Fred Warner, Deebo Samuel, and Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle are getting older. They won’t be able to pay everyone. The Greenlaw injury will affect next season. And we all saw the drop off from Oren Burks as his replacement. And let’s not forget the god awful Trey Lance trade costing the 49ers multiple high draft picks. Brock Purdy helps in the short term. But eventually those lost picks will come back to bite the 49ers without adequate depth to replace these older players. At some point Brock Purdy has to be able to carry the team with lesser talent. Can he? I’m not so sure.
The Kanas City Chiefs struggled all season long. A team with lesser talent but with Patrick Mahomes as the difference maker. Likewise, after a rocky start, Jordan Love was able to take a young, inexperienced roster and parlay that into a wildcard berth and a playoff win. And with Love and this young offensive the best is yet to come. This could be as good as it gets for Purdy. He struggled mightily to throw the ball against the Packers in rainy conditions. You get him at Lambeau in January with freezing conditions, can he match up against Love and all those weapons? It’s no slam dunk.
So if you’re basing your evaluation solely on stats, you’re missing the bigger picture…
Because Tommi always see the big picture…lol
Like….the Packers should tank the season and draft a new QB.
Big picture.
Tommi Logic = Brilliant
Here’s what I think:
The 49ers perch atop the NFC is tenuous at best.
If Hafley can fix the defense and we get a second year jump from all of our second year skill players on offense, the Packers become the team to beat in the NFC.
Going forward, I see Jordan Love as the best QB in the NFC. Better than Brock Purdy, Dak Prescott, Jared Golf, Matt Stafford, and Jalen Hurts. With the only potential real challengers coming from Caleb Williams (Chicago) and Drake Maye (Washington). Both unknowns at this point. With Williams comp being Patrick Mahomes and Maye’s comp Josh Allen. Either of which I advocated drafting should Jordan Love be a bust. He obviously was not.
If Aaron Rodgers had thrown for 32 TD’s, 11 picks, and 4100 yards. Won a playoff off game with the Jets. Kevin and the girls wouldn’t shut the hell up about it. Jordan Love does it and not a peep from the peanut gallery. But they know football and are all smarter than Brian Gutekunst and Mark Murphy. Sure they are….
Tom M 1 day ago
Here’s what I think.
Well, nevermind, nobody cares what i think.