07 December 2023 , 12:39
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Few teams have a talent pool to rely on like the San Francisco 49ers, who delivered a resounding statement at the weekend to announce themselves as favourites to lift the Lombardi in a couple of months.
The Niners rolled into Lincoln Financial Field and demolished the 10-2 Philadelphia Eagles on their home turf on Sunday, dishing out a 42-19 beatdown, with the vaunted Philly defense unable to slow down Brock Purdy and company.
Victory brought a sweet taste of revenge for San Francisco, whose Super Bowl hopes last season were wrecked by an injury to Brock Purdy early in the NFC championship game against the Eagles.
Purdy, the last man selected in the 2022 draft, has been a revelation since he unexpectedly became the 49ers' starter late last season, and he shares a remarkable record with two of his teammates. When 23-year-old Purdy, superstar running back Christian McCaffrey and dynamic receiver Deebo Samuel finish the game, the 49ers boast an unbeaten 16-0 record.
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What makes that resume all the more impressive is the margin of the victories. According to Niners Nation, 12 of the 16 wins have been by 13 points or more and they have outscored their opponents 529 to 239.
Kyle Shanahan's team has risen to 9-3 on the season, holding crucial tie-breakers in the race for the No. 1 seed in the NFC over the Eagles and the Dallas Cowboys. The team flew out of the gate and raced to a 5-0 record, but a three-game losing streak followed, coinciding with a shoulder injury to Samuel.
San Francisco 49ers' quarterback Brock Purdy is in the running for the NFL MVP award. (AP)But since the 27-year-old – a hugely impactful player in the receiving and running game – returned to the lineup in early November, the 49ers have been an unstoppable force, winning four straight and doing it in style, too.
Individually, the trio are enjoying memorable seasons. Purdy leads the league in passer rating by a huge margin of eight points and he has thrown an impressive 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions. McCaffrey leads the league in rushing with 1,032 yards on the board, almost 200 more than anyone else, and he has 12 touchdowns to boot. And in just 10 games, Samuel has 750 scrimmage yards and seven touchdowns.
But what makes San Francisco's form all the more ominous for their rivals is their depth beyond Purdy, McCaffrey and Samuel. One-time All-Pro tight end George Kittle is enjoying a tremendous season, with 735 yards and five touchdowns to his name, while wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk is on course for a career-best season, with 927 yards and six touchdowns racked up five games still left to play.
The Niners also have an embarrassment of riches on the other side of the ball, too, particularly in the trenches led by defensive end Nick Bosa and the mid-season acquisition for former No. 2 overall pick Chase Young from the Washington Commanders. But the numbers say the triumvirate of Purdy, McCaffrey and Samuel is what gives them the upper hand on the rest.