When 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy made the game-sealing touchdown throw to Brandon Aiyuk on Thanksgiving night, head coach Kyle Shanahan was shocked.

The Seahawks’ zone coverage was surrounding Aiyuk during the play, and Shanahan thought the correct read was for Purdy to check for a shorter gain. Instead, Purdy dropped the ball perfectly into Aiyuk’s hands for a 28-yard touchdown.

“I couldn’t believe he was throwing it,” Shanahan said. “The zone coverage guys were so deep, normally you can check it right under them and get about 12, but Brock thought he could get it over the man, it was a clear vision for all of us and a hell of a throw and a perfect touch went past him and that was the big play that decided it.”

Shanahan said Purdy often takes chances on plays when other quarterbacks would have taken a safer check.

“He’s doing it constantly, always trying to bring that in. Rarely does he get checked and you tell him he missed the deep goal. He looks at it that way. He proved to us when the ball was in the air that it was in the right direction,” Shanahan said.

Shanahan was asked if he thought at the moment Purdy threw the ball he misread.

“Yeah, we were all holding our breath as soon as he let go because the guy was so deep, but Brock got the touch and was able to throw it over him,” Shanahan said. “He made the throw and I didn’t know it until he threw it, but as soon as he made it, it was obvious it was there.”

It was a thrilling play by Purdy in a big win for the 49ers, one that should get Purdy’s name in more MVP conversations.