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You can keep the Cowboys, fate-fighters who think this is the year they’ll finally win the conference (for the first time since ... 1995).

You can even take the Chiefs — as so many ºüÀêÊÓƵans are these days — with Kansas City’s illuminating defense and illusionist under center.

I’m going with the 49ers.

San Francisco will win the Super Bowl this season.

Look at it this way: Even if they had a good-not-great offense, the 49ers would be a handful to beat due to their defense. No team in the National Football Conference allowed fewer points per game (17.5). And only two NFC teams allowed fewer yards per game than San Francisco did (303.9).

And then consider that the 49ers offense is even better than their defense.

Encased under the iconic 49ers helmet have been some of football’s greatest quarterback minds. And covered by the 49ers traditional three-stripe sleeve have been some of football’s greatest arms. But at least statistically, no San Francisco signal caller has had a better single season than Brock Purdy has had in 2023.

And before we get into the arguing over the sport’s evolution — offensive numbers are cartoonish these days — let’s first look at a stat that fairly compares quarterbacks of different generations.

Passer rating cooks up using a recipe of touchdowns and interceptions, passing attempts, completions and yards. Well, Purdy’s passer rating this year was 113.0. That led the NFL. Dallas’ Dak Prescott, who was 2 years old when the Cowboys won it all in 1995, was second with 105.9, followed by the Vikings’ Kirk Cousins (103.8) and the Ravens’ Lamar Jackson (102.7).

Not only that but Purdy’s passer rating was the best in 49ers history for guys who started most of a year.

That eclipsed Steve Young’s stupendous season in 1994, when the Hall of Fame quarterback had a passer rating of 112.8 in 16 starts (same number of starts as Purdy). The third-best 49ers season by passer rating is Joe Montana’s 1989, in which he started only 13 games (112.4). We could spend a whole column specifically comparing the single best season of each great 49ers quarterback, but how about this: Just the fact that Purdy’s 2023 is in the same echelon as these famous fellows means he’s having an elite season.

And Purdy might not even be the best offensive player on his team!

Christian McCaffrey led the NFL in rushing yards (1,459) and didn’t even play in the season finale (resting a calf injury that, with a couple of weeks off due to the No. 1 seed’s bye, likely will improve). And he cracked the 2,000-yard mark for yards from scrimmage for the second time in his esteemed career. He’s a modern Marshall Faulk.

The frighteningly balanced 49ers offense — first in the NFC in total yards, third in passing yards and second in rushing yards — is simply clicking too well to be deterred this winter. In a weird way, it’s good that the 49ers (12-5) went through their rough stretch in October — they lost three consecutive games ... and lost only once since with Purdy and McCaffrey (who didn’t play in the season-ending loss). The 49ers took a humbling fall in the fall and were able to regroup and resuscitate since.

Consider this. San Francisco is the first team in NFL history — NFL history! — to have a running back, a tight end (George Kittle) and two receivers (Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk) with 1,000 yards from scrimmage, per The Athletic.

The 49ers host the winner of this weekend’s Eagles-Buccaneers game. Remember the Eagles? They used to be a Super Bowl contender. Now I’m not sure the Eagles can win a playoff game. Of course, it was San Francisco that started Philly’s fall — the 49ers won 42-19 on Dec. 3 at Philadelphia.

Back then, the Eagles were 10-1. Now, they are 11-6.

And regarding Tampa Bay, I just don’t see 2023 Baker Mayfield beating 2023 Purdy in a playoff game (and yes, it is pretty mind-boggling that Mayfield was once the No. 1 overall pick while Purdy, incredibly, was “Mr. Irrelevant�).

The team I worry about regarding the 49ers is, dare I suggest, the Los Angeles Rams. ºüÀêÊÓƵ’ least-favorite team has rediscovered its swagger with some of the same old faces and a few new ones, including the wonderfully named and wonderfully talented Puka Nacua, as well as running back and ºüÀêÊÓƵ native Kyren Williams. The Rams went 7-1 in their final eight. The loss was in overtime to the Ravens, the No. 1 seed in the American Football Conference.

But the 49ers will win their conference and face those Ravens in the Super Bowl. It’ll be a redux of Super Bowl XLVII, when coach John Harbaugh’s Baltimore team beat brother Jim Harbaugh’s San Francisco team 34-31.

John and Jim, of course, are having another nice year. With the help of some brilliant talent, recruiting violations and sign-stealing, Jim led Michigan to the national title. And John has his Ravens revving yet again. Baltimore even beat San Francisco on Christmas 33-19. But Purdy threw four interceptions. He threw seven total in his other 15 starts. Here’s thinking 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and his clan will design new ways to attack Baltimore in the Super Bowl — and lose to the Ravens nevermore.

You can have the field.

San Francisco is will hoist the Lombardi Trophy upon the Allegiant Stadium field.