It would be understandable if the San Francisco 49ers had a hard time during their 2023 Week 13 road game against the Philadelphia Eagles. After all, it was the battle of two elite NFC squads. However, it’s like the visitors didn’t break a sweat after clinching their fourth straight victory.
Their recent results helped them erase their three-game losing streak in Weeks 6 to 8. But now that the Niners have regained their stride, can any team stop them? Their 42-19 demolition against the Eagles was the third time they’ve defeated a legitimate contender NFC contender this season.
The 49ers showed up in all black for the Eagles funeral pregame
— Jake (@D1SCHER) December 4, 2023
Then stood on business for 4 quarters and routed the eagles at home pic.twitter.com/Gw1xtPYBMS
They dominated the Seattle Seahawks on the road a week ago, 31-13. Before their losing skid, they handed the Dallas Cowboys their worst defeat this season, 42-10. Seattle, Dallas, and Philadelphia are all poised to make the playoffs this season, barring any meltdown.
Despite that, the 49ers still look a notch above these talented squads. It’s not just that they’re winning, but they are also making it look easy. The Eagles did suffer a massive blow when Jalen Hurts checked out of the game early due to a possible concussion. However, the 49ers were already under control way before that incident.
The Niners' defense hounded Hurts all day, resulting in nine quarterback hits and three sacks. When they’ve done their work, the offense dissected Philadelphia’s highly touted defense.
Brock Purdy had 19 completions for 314 yards, four touchdowns, and zero interceptions. Christian McCaffrey had 17 carries for 93 yards and a touchdown, while Deebo Samuel had 138 total yards and three scores. After punting in their first two drives, Kyle Shanahan’s crew scored a touchdown in six of their next seven drives.
During their current four-game winning streak, they’ve gone below 30 points only once and have defeated opponents by an average of 21.25 points per game. What’s scary is that three of their last five regular season games will be at home, where they have a 4-1 record.
Their latest victory boosts San Francisco’s ranking to third in total yards (391.9), seventh in passing yards (255.1), fifth in rushing yards (136.8), and third in points per game (29.3).
Therefore, there’s reason for 49ers fans to be optimistic about their squad. But with a lot of football left to play, staying healthy is the key to their sustained success. It’s trickier to clinch victories without their key players, as proven by their collapse in last season’s NFC Championship Game.
-Lance Fernandez