49ers Stand on Business: Rout Eagles on the road 42-19

Dec 3, 2023, 6:30 PM | Updated: 6:31 pm

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - DECEMBER 03: Jauan Jennings #15 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after a touchdown with Deebo Samuel #19 during the fourth 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)

(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

BY AMILIANO FRAGOSO

San Francisco 49ers Beat Writer

The San Francisco 49ers walked into Lincoln Financial Field Sunday and established two things: 1. The Red & Gold are the best team in the NFL. 2. The Philadelphia Eagles are beatable in Philly.

The 49ers routed the Eagles on the road in Week 13, 42-19. After putting up negative yards in the first quarter, the Red & Gold put over more than 450 yards of offense in 45 minutes of game-time. San Francisco held the NFL leaders to only 19 points and one touchdown, a statement for the rest of the league.

Here’s what happened.

First Quarter Woes

The 49ers’ defense started the party, holding the Eagles to three points after a 10-play drive. Philadelphia quarterback Jalen Hurts was able to escape the pocket and make plays, working into the redzone efficiently. But eventually the 49ers responded, getting a pass-breakup on wide receiver A.J. Brown to force a field goal.

Kicker Jake Elliott converted from 26 yards to make the score 3-0 early.

San Francisco’s offense was lethargic at the start, going three and out on their only possessions of the quarter. In fact, the 49ers had negative six yards by the second quarter, unable to get much going in a hostile environment.

Philadelphia responded with another ten-play drive, but were halted once more in the redzone. After Hurts fell down for a sack, the Eagles couldst convert on third and long.

On came Elliott again to make it 6-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Shanahan is extremely proud of the way the 49ers "weather[ed] the storm" after a rough start pic.twitter.com/nQnAQPh5VG

— 49ers on NBCS (@NBCS49ers) December 4, 2023

49ers Heating Up

QB Brock Purdy and the 49ers came alive at the start of the second period, going on an 11-play drive to endzone.

The gunslinger hit a number of targets to get the chains moving, including WRs Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and tight end George Kittle. Then, running back Christian McCaffrey got to work, breaking into the second level for a big run. The biggest play of the drive came on play-action, with Purdy hitting Kittle on a leak to allow the pass catcher to gain a 32-yard gain into the redzone.

A few plays later, Purdy used misdirection on play-action to hit Aiyuk in the back of the endzone for six points.

7-6 to the 49ers halfway through the second quarter.

The 49ers defense responded with another big stand, only allowing six plays to the Eagles’ offense. Cornerback Ambry Thomas had a big PBU on A.J. Brown to force a third and long, eventually leading to a punt.

San Francisco got right back into rhythm, going on another long drive to paydirt.

Purdy and Co. had the misdirection going once more, hitting Kittle for another 25-yard gain. Then, he converted Aiyuk and Samuel for curial first downs that ate up the game clock. Now near the goal-line, McCaffrey got the ball, running to his left virtually untouched for six points.

Christian McCaffrey and the end zone, a match made in heaven 🤝 @49ers

📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/yzGDqvQ835

— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) December 3, 2023

14-6 to the 49ers at halftime.

After putting up negative yards in the first 15 minutes, the 49ers had 173 total yards by halftime.

Chaos in the Third Quarter

San Francisco’s offense continued to score after the intermission, getting the ball first.

Purdy converted multiple third downs to keep the chains moving on this possession. First, he hit WR Jauan Jennings for an 18-yard slant. Then, he hit McCaffrey on a crafty up-and-out route along the left sideline for 33 yards. A few plays later, Samuel took an endaround run to the house, untouched as he raced past Eagles defenders to the pylon.

21-6 to the visitors on seven plays.

Then the real story of the game happened.

At the 9:26 mark, 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw was called for a late hit after suplexing RB De’Andre Swift out of bounds. The play occurred on the Eagles’ side of the field, with the home team responding with hostility. Philadelphia security staffer Dom DiSandro got in Greenlaw’s face to break up the players, leading to the player extending his hand to the staffer’s face.

Greenlaw was assessed a personal foul and ejected from the contest as a result, leaving the 49ers without their starting linebacker.

“I just can’t believe someone not involved in a football game can taunt our players like that, and put their hands in our guy’s face,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game.

Philadelphia’s offense responded by taking advantage, working into a short-yardage situation before The Brotherly Shove took effect. 21-13 was the score with less than seven minutes remaining in the quarter.

The 49ers weren’t letting up however, busting the game wide open thanks to Deebo Samuel.

After four plays, Purdy hit Samuel on a slant route for a first down. The beefy wideout broke loose of one tackle and was off to the races, sprinting past the Eagles secondary to the endzone. A 48-yard score in the blink of an eye, making the margin a two-score contest, 28-13.

DEEBO BREAKS A TACKLE AND GOES ALL THE WAY

📺: #SFvsPHI on FOX
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/xvCjbLUIcN pic.twitter.com/4oGKuQ5DMD

— NFL (@NFL) December 3, 2023

With all the momentum swinging back to Philly after the Greenlaw ejection, the 49ers were hellbent on taking care of business. And that they did.

SF’s defense responded by holding Hurts and Co. to another three and out next. And that’s how the quarter ended, 28-13 to the Red & Gold.

Nail in the Coffin in the Fourth Quarter

The 49ers weren’t done there, getting their fifth and sixth-straight TDs on the next series.

San Francisco had a 12-play drive first, marching down methodically with both the run and pass. McCaffrey broke a few plays, contributing to his 93-yard rushing performance. But it was Purdy getting the score, hitting Jennings on an out route. The veteran wideout shoved DB Eli Ricks aside, walking into the endzone for the score.

A 18-yard play that puts the 49ers up, 35-13, early in the fourth quarter.

Philadelphia didn’t go away though, converting a 13-play drive for six next.

After Hurts extended plays to find his receivers, the Eagles found themselves inside the redzone midway through the quarter. San Francisco had forced them into another fourth down situation, but a pass interference on CB Deommodore Lenoir gave them a fresh set of downs.

Hurts converted a two-yard pass to WR Devonta Smith shortly thereafter. The Eagles attempted a two-point try, but were halted, leaving the score 35-19.

The 49ers weren’t done either, with Deebo Samuel waving goodbye to Philly.

The playmaker took a designed screen pass to the house, using his blockers to weave past the eagles for a a 46-yard score. Back up by three scores, Samuel waved goodbye to the home crowd after the final nail in the coffin.

Standin’ on business#SFvsPHI on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/3jPiH53mu7

— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 4, 2023

“I think it’s safe to say his actions spoke louder than his words,” LB Fred Warner said about Samuel after the game. “Deebo’s one of the best football players I’ve ever seen.”

San Francisco ended the game with the football, running out the clock on a massive statement on the road, 42-19.

A Complete-Game Masterclass

The 49ers ended the contest with 456 total net yards, one of their highest marks of the season. Additionally, San Francisco had six-straight drives of touchdowns, the most since 1992 for the franchise.

Since opening the game with back-to-back punts, the 49ers have had six drives:

– 85 yard TD drive
– 90 yard TD drive
– 75 yard TD drive
– 77 yard TD drive
– 75 yard TD drive
– 47 yard TD drive

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) December 4, 2023

QB Brock Purdy was a big part of that, throwing for 314 yards, four touchdowns and a 148.8 passer rating. After suffering a torn UCL in the NFC Championship game 10 months ago, many expected Purdy to feel a type of way returning to Lincoln Financial Field.

That was not the case however, focused on the task ahead.

“It was sort of on my mind. Yeah, I got hurt here. That was this year, late January. But was it going to be the revenge game or anything like that? No. For me, it was week 13. We’re going into a to a whole it’s a new year, a hostile environment. We needed this game,” the QB said.

And while the rest of the 49ers echoed a similar message, it had to feel pretty good after all the trash talk since that fateful day in January.

“When we have a quarterback, we’re a pretty good team,” left tackle Trent Williams stated.

Purdy now pushes up into MVP front-runner status for the 2023 season, first in most statistical categories.

Brock Purdy ranks this season

Rank
Pass Rating 1st
Comp pct 1st
TD/att 1st
Yards/att 1st
Yards/comp 1st pic.twitter.com/GOS2Ee4kXU

— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) December 4, 2023

He did have help from his teammates though, especially Deebo Samuel. The South Carolina native finished with 138 total yards and three TDs on seven touches Sunday. Additionally, RB Christian McCaffrey had 133 total yards and TD to his name.

The 49ers now move to 9-3 on the season, riding a four-game win streak since the Bye Week. And with the Eagles dropping a game (now 10-2), the playoff picture in the NFC is wide open.