4 reasons why SF 49ers improve to 3-1 with win over Eagles

The SF 49ers host the scuffling Eagles in Week 4, and Niner Noise breaks down four specific reasons why Kyle Shanahan’s squad improves to 3-1.

Both the SF 49ers and visiting Philadelphia Eagles are entering their prime-time Week 4 Sunday Night Football contest awfully banged up, each dealing with a slew of significant injuries on both sides of the ball.

Yet the Niners are still favored by a touchdown for this matchup, according to The Action Network, and they’re about to get some reinforcements back, too, namely tight end George Kittle (knee) and wide receiver Deebo Samuel (foot). Despite being without quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, head coach Kyle Shanahan’s passing offense sure looked good enough last Sunday against the New York Giants with backup signal-caller Nick Mullens under center.

Mullens tossed for 343 yards, a touchdown and zero interceptions in the lopsided 36-9 win.

If there was a stretch where San Francisco could afford to be riddled with injuries, it’s now. At 0-2-1, the Eagles aren’t exactly making a stretch run for the playoffs nearly a quarter of the way through the regular season. True, their defense has been stout enough this year, giving up the league’s fifth-fewest total yards through three weeks (992). But Philadelphia is doing almost nothing, offensively, meaning it’s likely Shanahan and Co. enjoy a similar matchup like they did against New York, which boasted a decent defense and a stagnant offense.

There’s a good chance the SF 49ers pull off yet another lopsided win this Sunday night, stomping the Eagles in front of a national audience and taking advantage of all the problems Philly is going through right now.

And if it happens, these four reasons will be the ones why.