Sunday, the Eagles received the complete treatment from Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers in a rematch of the NFC Championship Game.
The 42-19 win was as comprehensive a victory as you will ever see between two great teams.
And it feels unfair to limit the “Studs” in this space to anything less than 25.
💪 STUDS
In no particular order
Brock Purdy
» Masterful execution of the 49ers’ offense. A jittery start was replaced by ruthless precision. The stat line is brilliant, but a lot of that is Deebo Samuel being incredible. Don’t let anyone undercut this performance, though: He was in complete control, which says more than any numbers could. This guy might be the NFL’s MVP.
Brandon Aiyuk
» Aiyuk has separated himself as the 49ers’ No. 1 receiver and Brock Purdy’s favorite target. He made big catch after big catch, including the much-needed first touchdown of the game.
Christian McCaffrey
» The 49ers’ offense started to move (and move, and move) once the 49ers started running the ball with McCaffrey, who made some incredible runs for what would be perceived as modest yardage on the stat sheet. They were anything but.
Deebo Samuel
» He’s pretty good, huh?
His first touchdown was a byproduct of great design.
His second touchdown was an individual effort that few players in the NFL can match. He took a nice first-down catch over the middle, broke a tackle, and found a second gear to run away from a battered Eagles defense.
The third touchdown was a great player (behind a great offensive line) rubbing it in.
Samuel is a weapon unlike any other in the NFL. He’s a juggernaut.
And he turned in a massive game — even returning kickoffs, where he did a good job.
Nick Bosa
» Bosa’s first series was a dud. He sat out the second series of the game.
Then he re-entered the game and played like his hair was on fire.
Against the top offensive line in the NFL, Bosa provided pressure after pressure and was elite in run defense, winning the edge snap after snap.
Fred Warner
» The NFL’s best linebacker played his best game of the season against the toughest competition. He was everywhere.
Charvarius Ward
» Another game, another four or five plays that can only be described as “perfect.” The 49ers have many players playing at a high level, but no one is playing better than Ward.
The Offensive Line
» Trent Williams set the tone in the third series of the game. Once he stabilized things and provided lanes to run left, the Niners’ offensive line started to put together solid rep after solid rep, left to right.
The Niners’ biggest concern going into this game was the Eagles’ impressive D-line against them, particularly in the middle. It wasn’t perfect and it wasn’t pretty, but the Niners won the game in both trenches.
👎 DUDS
The 49ers’ safeties
» The 49ers’ defense was immense in this contest, but there were some hairy moments for rookie Ja’Aiyr Brown and veteran Tashaun Gipson. Things shored up in the second half, but the Eagles put themselves in excellent scoring position twice early in the game, picking on the kid, who missed two key tackles. Gipson added one, for good measure.
In December and January, the importance of safeties increases significantly — they define a defense and are the last line of protection. The Niners’ safeties were more of a burden than a benefit Sunday, and that will be noticed by other teams as the season progresses.
Ambry Thomas
» When the 49ers took a two-score lead, the coaches had Thomas play off, and the Eagles loved that. It’s hard to put it all on Thomas — clearly, Steve Wilks doesn’t trust him to play press coverage, but can you blame him?
» The Eagles’ security guard — the aforementioned nobody. A new Philadelphia cult hero. At least Eagles fans left with something they could celebrate.
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) scores a touchdown on a run against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia.(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey, right, makes a catch in front of Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Nicholas Morrow during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (97) and safety Ji’Ayir Brown (27) react during the first half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) attempts a pass as Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (91) chases after him during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. San Francisco’s Spencer Burford (74) looks on. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward (7) breaks up a pass intended for Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) in the end zone during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 03: Nick Bosa #97 and Javon Kinlaw #99 of the San Francisco 49ers react after a sack during the first 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, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 03: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown with Christian McCaffrey #23 during the fourth 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)
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel, right, dives in for a touchdown as Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay tries to stop him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Getty Images
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 03: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown during the fourth 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, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 03: Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers scores a touchdown during the third quarter in the game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on December 03, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws a pass for a first down on a third down play as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, second from left, chases him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. San Francisco’s Fred Warner (54) looks on. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw, right, reacts after being ejected from the game during the second half of an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 03: Charvarius Ward #7 of the San Francisco 49ers breaks up a pass intended for A.J. Brown #11 of the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field on December 03, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA – DECEMBER 03: Dre Greenlaw #57 of the San Francisco 49ers helps up Charvarius Ward #7 off the field during the first 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, 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)
