Brock Purdy's MVP Start Headlines NFL's Early Surprises
Brock Purdy is back in the MVP conversation, and the 3-0 San Francisco 49ers are rolling with him. That is the headline surprise three weeks into the 2026 NFL season, according to an analysis published Oct. 1. The Guardian
Through Oct. 1, Purdy had completed 60 of 83 passes for 789 yards with nine touchdowns and one interception. He had not been sacked once. The full line was 72.3% completions, 9.5 yards per attempt and a 133.1 passer rating, the league's 0-to-158.3 efficiency score.
The start is a reset for Purdy. He was the last pick in the 2022 NFL draft. He missed eight games last season because of injury.
His best afternoon so far came in a 35-13 win over the Miami Dolphins, a performance ESPN described as a near-perfect MVP-type game. ESPN He averaged 263 passing yards per game through Week 3. ESPN
He did it short-handed. San Francisco dealt with a wave of injuries at wide receiver over the first two weeks. ESPN "49ers Talk" hosts Matt Maiocco and Jennifer Lee Chan broke down the hot start in a Sept. 29 segment. Yahoo Sports
Purdy is not the only quarterback story. Seattle lost starter Sam Darnold to a glute injury five plays into the opener. Seattle did not blink.
Backup Drew Lock completed 35 of 48 passes for 422 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions in Weeks 1 and 2. Seattle beat New England and Arizona to open 2-0. The New England win carried extra weight. The Seahawks and Patriots met in the most recent Super Bowl before Oct. 1.
Washington took the harder kind of quarterback news. Starter Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated left elbow in Week 2 against the Dallas Cowboys. The Commanders at least have a backup who has done the job before. Marcus Mariota started eight games for Washington in the 2025 season.
Then there is Indianapolis. Philip Rivers returned after a four-season layoff to play for the Colts at age 44.
Recent history says fast turnarounds are possible. Chicago and Jacksonville both rebounded from bad 2024 seasons to win their divisions the following year. This year's early surprise list also includes actual Raiders competence.
What makes this stand out is how much of it runs through the game's most important position. San Francisco is winning with timing and clean pockets. Seattle and Washington are winning, or trying to, with the next man up. For fans, this means the first month has been less about preseason favorites and more about who is ready when the call comes.
