The San Francisco 49ers faced the Philadelphia Eagles on Dec. 3, 2023, in Week 13 of the 2023 NFL season. Here are takeaways and highlights from the game.
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Final Score: 49ers 42, Eagles 19
From the outset, this should have been another contender for Game of the Year. The Eagles went up six at the end of the opening quarter while the 49ers struggled offensively. The switch flipped for the 49ers offensively after that as they took a 21-6 lead in the third quarter and never looked back. San Francisco made a huge statement in the NFC.
On the second consecutive Sunday in which rain drenched the Philadelphia area, the 49ers started slow and spotted the Eagles a six-point lead in the opening quarter. In reality, the Eagles had driven deep into 49ers territory on both drives, only to get bogged down in the red zone and have to settle for two Jake Elliott field goals (one from 39 yards and the other from 26) to go up 6-0.
The 49ers came to life as the second quarter began, driving down and taking their first lead of the day, one they would never relinquish after Purdy’s two-yard pitch and catch to Brandon Aiyuk. To end the half, Christian McCaffery punched in a two-yard touchdown of his own, sending the 49ers to the locker room up eight.
Amidst a third quarter in which Deebo Samuel recorded two of his career-high three touchdowns on the day, a bizarre incident unfolded in which 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw got into a scuffle with the Eagles’ Head of Security. Both men took swipes at each other and were subsequently ejected. After the incident, Hurts brought the Eagles back within eight before the second of Samuel’s touchdowns in the quarter brought the 49ers up 15.
At the start of the fourth quarter, Jauan Jennings contributed to the scoring, putting the 49ers up 22 with his own pitch-and-catch from Purdy. Hurts responded with a drive to keep the Eagles barely alive on a pass to DeVonta Smith, but then the 49ers answered immediately with the third of Deebo Samuel’s touchdowns on the day to ice the 42-19 win.
Highlights
Float like a butterfly, sting like a BA 🐝 @THE2ERA#SFvsPHI on FOX#ProBowlVote 🗳 https://t.co/bosbZYCB7K pic.twitter.com/bMsKbnLQ5N
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 3, 2023
Smell ya later! @19problemz#SFvsPHI on FOX#ProBowlVote 🗳 https://t.co/bosbZYCB7K pic.twitter.com/3gaBIobzUB
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 3, 2023
+6 from 6️⃣ pic.twitter.com/mBX3dcTJnX
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) December 4, 2023
Standin’ on business#SFvsPHI on FOX
NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/3jPiH53mu7— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) December 4, 2023
Looking Forward
The 49ers improve to 9-3 and the Eagles fall to 10-2. Jalen Hurts spent a while being evaluated for a concussion after an attempted third-down conversion late in the third quarter. Many will wonder if he has to sit out next week’s showdown with Dallas, and if so, it will invoke the memories of last Christmas Eve when a shoulder injury held him out of the Eagles’ 40-34 loss to the Cowboys.
At 9-3, San Francisco remains alive and well in the race for NFC home-field advantage. The most difficult game remaining for the 49ers will be Week 16 on Christmas night against the Ravens, who are also seeking home-field advantage in the AFC. With other matchups including games against the very bad Cardinals and Commanders, the 49ers should be able to keep pace and, depending on other circumstances, surpass the Eagles for the No. 1 seed.
This was not the desired outcome for the Eagles, who have fallen to 10-2. With the loss and Dallas’ win on Thursday Night Football, their matchup this Sunday suddenly turns into one where the Cowboys can end up in a tie for the division lead and NFC home-field advantage if they win. From there, the Eagles will have to travel to Seattle, then spend their final three weeks closer to home with two matchups against the Giants and one against Arizona.
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