It’s pretty remarkable what the 49ers offense has accomplished when they are healthy. When the trio of Brock Purdy, Deebo Samuel, and Christian McCaffrey are on the field, the Niners are 16-0.
Nobody will take away an undefeated record, but it’s not as if the 49ers are just squeaking by in these games. They’ve outscored their opponents by a combined 529 to 239 points. Plus, 12 of those victories have resulted in wins by at least 13 points.
So, about a 33-15 average. Not too shabby for a team with a 23-year-old quarterback.
Deebo clearly cared deeply about the game on Sunday. We also observed a head coach pushing into Samuel’s “revenge.” Kyle Shanahan used Deebo as a decoy early in the game to get the offense rolling, then sent the ball to Samuel late in the game, where he took full advantage.
Is Deebo the team’s most dangerous weapon? You can see his gravitational pull and how opposing defenses respond to wherever he sets up before the ball is snapped in the video above.
Deebo Samuel is still the most dangerous player on offense: Samuel reminded the league how dangerous he is with the ball in his hands on Sunday, averaging 19.7 yards per touch with seven touches for 138 yards and three touchdowns. Samuel scored touchdowns on his final three carries to put the game out of reach for the Eagles, who had no answer for him. With Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk on the field, Samuel demonstrated why he’s the difference-maker who helps San Francisco’s attack become the most dangerous unit in the league when healthy. San Francisco wins games when Samuel is on the field for a reason.
Samuel’s 12-yard rushing touchdown clocked in at 20.4 mph. On his 46-yard touchdown pass, he also broke the 20-mph barrier. Only Tyreek Hill had several touches this week when he hit at least 20 miles per hour, making Deebo the third player of the 49ers to do so.
So Samuel has a case in terms of speed and explosiveness. Deebo’s use demonstrates his versatility. However, you could make a similar case for Christian McCaffrey, who was used as a true receiver in Week 13.
However, you can’t dismiss what Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle bring to the table. They’ve also had their fair share of standout performances this season.
The NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week for Week 13 is Samuel. Deebo became the fourth receiver since 2000 to have 100+ receiving yards, two touchdown receptions, and a rushing touchdown in a single game.
