PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Brandon Aiyuk #11 of the San Francisco 49ers catches a pass for a touchdown during the second quarter in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 03, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA – Here is how the 49ers (9-3) graded in Sunday’s 42-19 win over the host Eagles (10-2):
PASS OFFENSE: A-
Brock Purdy overcame a shaky start (0-for-4 pasing, Haason Reddick sack) and threw for 314 yards with four touchdown passes. He insisted his focus had to be solely on this game rather than making up for last season’s NFC Championship Game defeat, in which a Reddick sack injured his elbow. On second-and-15 from the 15-yard line, Purdy delivered his first completion (12 yards to Brandon Aiyuk), then converted a third-and-3 throw to Kittle, launching their first touchdown drive and perhaps that drive will be reflected on a No. 1-seed saver.
No one set the tone of this rout more than Deebo Samuel, who turned two of his four receptions into touchdowns; Samuel had 116 receiving yards, and he had three carries for 22 yards with one scoring run. Aiyuk and Jauan Jennings also had touchdown catches, and George Kittle came through with some clutch receptions. Trent Williams said “it’s going to take time and performances like this” for the offensive line to garner recognition around the NFL.
RUN OFFENSE: A-
Christian McCaffrey didn’t get a carry in the lousy opening two series, and his first two carries each went for no gain. Then came an 11-yard run into Eagles territory, and the 49ers’ touchdown drives were underway. McCaffrey’s 93 yards raised his NFL-leading total to 1,032 yards, making him the 49ers’ first 1,000-yard rusher since Frank Gore in 2014. McCaffrey also scored for the third straight game (and 23 of his past 24 games). Running behind Trent Williams and the left side is obviously the 49ers’ best move, but there were some clutch runs up the middle, too. So kudos to Williams, right tackle Colton McKivitz, guards Aaron Banks and Spencer Burford, as well as center Jake Brendel for matching up against a tough front.
PASS DEFENSE: A-
Stops in the red zone on the first two defensive series – a Charvarius Ward breakup on third down in the end zone, a Javon Kinlaw sack on the next drive – allowed for the 49ers to rally from a harmless 6-0 deficit. Jalen Hurts passed for 298 yards, but his only touchdown pass came with 5:33 remaining. Ward made four pass breakups, and Ambry Thomas had three, including a deep ball that he turned to see in the nick of time. Safeties Ji’Ayir Brown and Tashaun Gipson Sr. missed tackles but that is part of the growing process together. Kinlaw was credited with two sacks and Kalia Davis got the first of his career in the waning minutes. Nick Bosa and the pass rushers had to be patient to keep Hurts in the pocket, and it worked. Bosa played through a toe injury he sustained in practice when his got stepped on, to which he said: “It was a scare that could have been worse but I’m all good.” Arik Armstead eventually came out because of a foot issue that could plague him throughout this stretch run.
RUN DEFENSE: A-
Dre Greenlaw’s ejection for a sideline scuffle — his version of the “Brotherly Shove” — with the Eagles’ security chief swayed the momentum, and Hurts soon scored on their signature sneak for his 12th touchdown run this season. But Hurts totaled just 20 yards (seven carries) for his second-lowest output this season. D’Andre Swift managed just 13 yards on six carries. Greenlaw’s seven tackles tied with Brown to lead the 49ers. None of the Eagles’ 18 runs went longer than a 7-yard Hurts effort. The 49ers have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in 39 straight games, matching the 2006-09 Ravens for the NFL’s second-longest streak since 2000 (behind New Orleans’ 50-game mark).
SPECIAL TEAMS: A-
Deebo Samuel surprisingly reprised his role as the 49ers’ kick returner, for the first time since last season’s NFC title game here. He set the stage for his big game overall with a defiant, 32-yard return from the middle of the end zone, and he added a 28-yarder in the third-quarter to set up what would be his third touchdown of the game. Samuel wasn’t the only one pressed into duty because Ray-Ray McCloud (rib) did not suit up. Rookie Ronnie Bell got his shot at returning punts, and, he didn’t inspire confidence muffing a return out of bounds. Jake Moody was only needed for the six point-after kicks. Sam Womack and Charlie Woerner made key tackles.
COACHING: A
“Would you mind closing the door,” Kyle Shanahan said as he walked into the postgame press conference room, right after his team slammed the door on the Eagles. Were they sandbagging out the gate? They opened with two dreadful series before unleashing six consecutive touchdown drives (for the first time since 1992). That was a masterful execution throughout the offense, taking full advantage of the 49ers’ defensive dominance of Hurts & Co. The 49ers are 3-0 against the NFC East this season, by the way. Steve Wilks’ defense came through with red-zone stops to allow for the 49ers’ early comeback. If the 49ers keep this up, and if the Eagles falter once more, no need to return to Philadelphia for a Super Bowl berth on Jan. 28.
Originally published at Cam Inman