Are the 49ers Better than the Eagles?
The 49ers and the Eagles are the two best teams in the NFL, not just the NFC.
Which team is better?
Both are undefeated, but the 49ers have outscored opponents by 99 points while the Eagles have outscored teams by just 37 points. The Eagles are squeaking by while the 49ers are blowing out teams. Advantage: 49ers.
The 49ers currently have the No. 1 defense in terms of points allowed. They've given up just 68 points this year. And in terms of points scored, their offense ranks No. 2 with 167 points. Meanwhile, the Eagles currently have the fifth ranked offense and 13th ranked defense in terms of points. Advantage: 49ers.
The 49ers certainly look better than the Eagles on paper. But this is an interesting matchup, because of the way the Eagles are built. They have a very big team. The Niners want to be the bullies, and are able to push around Dallas -- we've seen it so many times. Philly is hard to bully. They have a bigger offensive line than the Niners. They have a bigger defensive line than the Niners. The Eagles simply don't lose in the trenches. So the last time that these teams faced each other, the Niners couldn't even get through one drive without getting their quarterback injured. They actually got two quarterbacks hurt. And it was the same offensive line essentially as the one they have now. So this is a tough matchup for the 49ers.
I still think the 49ers will end up with the No. 1 seed. And when these teams inevitably face each other, the key will be Kyle Shanahan dialing up plays that make sense against the Eagles. Last season, he asked a backup tight end to block Hassan Reddick and got Brock Purdy injured. Last week, Shanahan triple teamed Micah Parsons and shut him down. As long as Shanahan gives Reddick the respect he deserves, the 49ers should win.
