Most felt the two teams were closely matched heading into the Week 13 showdown, a rematch of last season's NFC Championship Game. What did we learn from the contest? While the Eagles are good, San Francisco may have declared to the league that they are a different class of team.
Last season, the Eagles came out on top, advancing to the Super Bowl, but the injury to quarterback Brock Purdy left lingering questions. This time around, fans got a glimpse of what might have been after a confident Niners squad outperformed the Eagles in every way.
Josina Anderson of CBS Sports labeled it a redemption game, prompting Williams to respond, "I wouldn't call it redemption. Last year was last year; more power to them. They won that game. This game today was all about just us showing the world where we sit when it comes to the hierarchy in [the] NFL. Last year is last year. We didn't have a quarterback. You're supposed to win that game, but we want to just prove to the world that we are one of the better teams."
The 49ers did have a quarterback this time. Purdy completed 19 of his 27 pass attempts (70.4 percent) for 314 yards, four touchdowns, no interceptions, and a 148.8 passer rating while guiding the 49ers to a decisive 42-19 victory. The second-year passer is now firmly entrenched in the conversation for league MVP and is currently favored to win the annual honor.
Eagles players (and fans) weren't happy with the 49ers' offseason chatter, declaring that last season's NFC title game was not a fair assessment of how the two teams stack up against one another.
"I mean, we both like two people in court, right? Everybody's got their side of the story," Williams told Anderson after the game. "The reality is, when we have a quarterback, we're a pretty good team, and I think we proved that today."
When asked about the 49ers' standing in the NFL hierarchy, Williams left no room for ambiguity, declaring, "I think we're at the top," before correcting himself, saying, "I know [we're at the top]."
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Steve Young: 49ers are 'good enough to threaten' in the playoffs
How good are the San Francisco 49ers really? Heading into their Week 14 bye, they have nine wins—the same number as the Chicago Bears and Los Angeles Rams, the two teams that would occupy the top seeds in the NFC if the season ended today. At 9-4, the 49ers are currently... -
49ers' Brock Purdy may have a request for Mac Jones, explains sideline arm brace
Last year, San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy surprised his offensive linemen with Toyota vehicles—an extravagant gesture considering he had not yet signed his lucrative contract extension. Of course, Purdy was an endorsement partner for Toyota at the time, meaning... -
George Kittle: 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey has 'years left in the tank'
Many around the league are surprised by the elite production San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey is delivering this season, especially after battling injuries and missing most of the 2024 campaign. Yet McCaffrey has bounced back in MVP-caliber fashion, racking... -
49ers great Roger Craig named 2026 Hall of Fame finalist
San Francisco 49ers legend Roger Craig took a significant step toward football immortality on Wednesday. The former NFL running back was named one of five finalists for the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026, joining senior finalists Ken Anderson and L.C. Greenwood, coach...