The San Francisco 49ers are facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship on Sunday, with the winner facing off against either the Cincinnati Bengals or the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl.
This is a stage familiar for the 49ers, as they've made the NFC Championship Game in three of the past four seasons now, losing to the Los Angeles Rams last season, while going to the Super Bowl in 2019 after a win over the Green Bay Packers.
However, despite seeing consistent success, the 49ers haven't accomplished their No. 1 goal: winning a Super Bowl, which has left a chip on their shoulder as they strive to hit that goal this season.
When asked about the topic, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk agreed with the sentiment about having a chip on his shoulder, understanding that the team's goal is further than their current status.
"Yeah, absolutely, [we have a chip on our shoulders]," Aiyuk responded. "I think we have a team full of guys who want to come in here and prove themselves, prove to the team, year in and year out, what we're capable of doing. Going to the playoffs and going to the championship game, I mean, it's cool. We love it. We're in a great position right now ... but we're looking to go out there and prove something to ourselves, prove it to everyone around the world who the 49ers are, and we're looking to handle business."
While the goal is a Super Bowl for the 49ers, it's important to note how the team got to this point, and what's led to their consistent success.
Aiyuk believes that it comes from the locker room, which is a testament to how the team was built, and the culture that has been instilled by head coach Kyle Shanahan and his staff.
"We have a group of guys that just want to go to work," Aiyuk said. "That's a credit to the ownership, the staff. The guys that they brought in, we have a team full of people that just want to come in and get the job done, and nothing else really matters than that. We've got the type of players that, when their opportunity comes, that can do anything. We have talent all over the board that can do special things."
That talent is why the 49ers and Eagles have been seen as the best rosters in the NFC, and ultimately the top-two teams in the conference, which makes Sunday's matchup very intriguing, especially with the way the teams match up.