Game Breakdown: 49ers Pay Back Eagles in 42-19 Rout
The 49ers dominated Philadelphia 35-7 in the middle of the game on the way to a 42-19 no-doubt-about-it thrashing of the Eagles. San Francisco scored touchdowns on six straight possessions, the most by a Niners offense since 2012.
Echoes of 1981
The point in 49ers history where a parallel can be drawn is 1981. A young Niners team Is playing well starting the year 4-2, but then an old nemesis comes to town in Dallas. The Niners win 45-14 and never look back, closing the year on a 12-1 run to win their first ring.
That was the turning point, when “we think we can” shifted into “we did” and everything changed. That game was the start of the 49ers dynasty. The mindset shifted from contender to champion. This game may be the catalyst for the first championship of the Kyle Shanahan Era.
What A Difference A Year Makes
Ten months ago, Philadelphia won the NFC Championship by controlling both lines to dictate the outcome. That fed their confidence coming into this game, they won last year on physicality they would do the same this year. Didn’t happen.
The 49ers' offensive line was the primary weakness last year, this year it was the Philadelphia back seven defensively. The Eagles' lack of speed was exposed on picket fence screens for Deebo Samuel touchdowns as Samuel had a 2021 flashback in posting the hat trick with three scores.
In the rear-view mirror, it’s now clear that Philadelphia misses Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s playmaking at safety. Without him, they’re a step slow and Shanahan made them pay for it with brilliant play designs to free Samuel. Just as the Niners' lack of draft investment has cost them on the offensive line, Philadelphia's neglecting linebacker has now come due.
60-Minute Football
Haason Reddick felt disrespected by the Niners claiming his season-ending play on Brock Purdy last year was a fluke. A fired-up Reddick was a tornado early. Sack, multiple pressures, he was everywhere. However, when you feed on emotion and adrenaline you can crash and Reddick did, he was barely a factor after the first quarter.
The Niners came in needing to prove they could play a 60-minute game. The defense answered the bell. Philadelphia had 120 yards on offense in the first quarter but only six points. The 49ers responded with drives of 85 and 90 yards to post a 14-6 lead at halftime.
Shanahan fumbled his opening script as for the first time all year the Niners opened with two three-and-outs. Christian McCaffrey did not touch the ball until 4:01 left in the first quarter on their third drive. Two third-down conversions to George Kittle and Deebo Samuel on that drive were critical.
Shanahan had positioned the Eagles to his liking and went to work. Six straight touchdowns later Shanahan carved the Philadelphia defense into steaks.
Purdy's Patience Pays Off
Philadelphia sent several blitz packages at Purdy, who was unflappable in finding the open man and moving the chains. Touchdown drives of 90, 85, 77, and two 75-yard scores. He took what the defense gave him, was patient and the Niners were an efficient unstoppable machine.
When Eagles defensive coordinator Sean Desai looks at the game film, he will ask himself what can I do to stop this team? And the answer is with his personnel not much. If the defensive line doesn’t get home and blitzes don’t phase Purdy, the Eagles' back seven is extra crispy. The Niners are best at running wide and passing short to intermediate and Philly can’t stop any of it.
Brock Purdy has evolved this year. In his pocket awareness and poise, his escapability, his downfield accuracy, and his ability to face pressure and beat it. Purdy believes he has another level to his game that he can get to, and his skillset with these weapons already forms the league’s best offense.
Christian McCaffrey as the team’s center of gravity draws the defense to set up his teammates, and his cutting ability as a runner sets up his blockers. McCaffrey went over 1,000 yards for the season and is the league's rushing leader. He and Samuel both went for over 130 yards of total offense.
The Defense Rises Up
The hidden key to the game was the 49ers run defense. Philadelphia ran for 5.8 yards per carry and 185 yards last week. Against the Niners, 2.7 yards per carry and 46. Ballgame.
I thought Philadelphia would win the running game and that would be the key to their narrow win. My bad, dead wrong in public.
D’Andre Swift had six carries for 13 yards. Offensive coordinator Brian Johnson abandoned the run way too early, but the Niners defense gave him reason to do so, the Eagles were expecting to run on the 49ers and were shut down.
Charvarius Ward was targeted early but made key pass breakups at critical times. Ward and Ambry Thomas combined for seven pass breakups. Together with Deommodore Lenoir, they continue to build confidence and the value of Steve Wilks as a defensive back guru is reflected in their development.
Rookie Ji’Ayir Brown had two glaring missed tackles with poor judgment and angles and worse wrap-up technique, but he did contribute with seven tackles, tied for the team lead. Dre Greenlaw had yet another personal foul, but the Philly security guy getting involved was inexcusable.
The defensive line continues to prove they can produce sacks and a containment rush, which they struggled to accomplish last year. That will be vital in what now looks like the most important game remaining in the regular season, Christmas night at home against Lamar Jackson and Baltimore.
Game Balls
Kyle Shanahan – He flipped the script. Failed on the first two drives and then nailed the adjustments.
Steve Wilks – The run defense shuts down the Philly offensive line. The three corners combine for eight pass breakups.
Deebo Samuel – Three touchdowns, 138 yards.
Ambry Thomas and Charvarius Ward – Seven pass breakups against the best receiver tandem in the NFC.
Brock Purdy – 19-27 for 314 yards, 4 TDs, and a rating of 148.8.
The 1981 parallel extends to the NFC Championship of that year (The Catch game) possibly linking to this year. The rematch is no gimme, hard fought and competitive, but ultimately won because the Niners knew they were the better team and had done it before. When confidence was needed most, it propelled them to the game-winning score and the Super Bowl.
That is the value this win will have going forward. An unshakable belief in themselves.
