There are two teams left in the NFC, and only one can represent the conference in the Super Bowl. With both of these teams having really really good run games and defenses, it could go either way. Here is a preview of the 49ers vs Eagles NFC Championship game.
Where to see the game
- Kickoff is scheduled for 3 p.m. eastern on Sunday, Jan. 29 for the NFC Championship
- It will air on FOX. and FuboTV, with valid subscriptions.
- This game is being played in Philadelphia, with the 49ers being the road squad.
- Eagles are favored by 2.5 points and the O/U for this game is at 46.5 currently.
How the Eagles can win
The Eagles have the best offensive line in football and that is without a doubt. If you take away the three games that Jalen Hurts was injured to end the season, this team was maybe the best in the league and could have had only one maybe two losses all year. The run game for the Eagles has been the bread and butter of the team, as they have three really good running backs, led by Miles Sanders. He was the Eagles’ first 1000-yard rusher since LeSean McCoy. They also have a very mobile QB. The weapons on the outside are really good as well, as the addition of AJ Brown in the offseason has raised the level of play from Dallas Goedert and DeVonta Smith. This offense has been giving defensive coordinators headaches all year with who to stop.
The big questions going into this game surround the health of Lane Johnson and Hurts. Johnson seemed to be hurt a lot during the game, but he still played well last week. However, you can tell that the groin is very painful. He was grabbing at it a lot last week, so it will be interesting to see how he holds up. As for Hurts, he didn’t seem to be running as hard as he did in the weeks before the injury, but his shoulder did not seem like it was holding him back too badly.
With a smart 49ers defense probably planning on targeting that shoulder and hitting him often, it will be key for the Oline and Hurts himself to protect it and his body. As for the defense for the Eagles, it will be a key to see if they can not only get to Brock Purdy but rattle him as well. He is still a rookie, and he has not had that rookie-like game yet. If the defense can cause some confusion for him, it could go a long way. The key for the Eagles might be to get out to an early lead to see if Purdy has it in him to play from behind and still be poised.
Why the 49ers can win
This team has gotten hot down the stretch, and now has a chance to get back to a Super Bowl. Brock Purdy has stepped in for not only Trey Lance, but he stepped in when Jimmy Garoppolo got hurt as well. Mr. Irrelevant has had a great stretch down the end of the season, and now has put himself into a good place to start next year. He has been poised in the pocket and has made a lot of good plays for the squad. It helps when he has a very elite offense around him. With weapons like George Kittle, Christian Mccaffrey, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Ayiuk, Elijah Mitchell, and a great Oline lead by Trent Williams, this team has so many studs.
This team has one of the best offenses in the league and has the number one defense to go with it. Led by Nick Bosa and Fred Warner, this defense has held teams to 16 points a game on average, while the O has scored about 35 on average with Purdy in. Both sides are looking to come out and play aggressively in the NFC Championship. The question will be who will win the battle of the trenches? Both sides have really good offensive and defensive lines. The 49ers have the better shell players, but the Eagles still have a lot of talent on the back end. Due to this, winning in the trenches will be huge. Both teams want to run the ball as well, the big boys up front are going to have to beat the rushing attack early and often. This will be an awesome game between two very talented teams, and it should be a blast to watch to lead into the AFC Championship game.
My Predictions
I can see this game going into the lower 20’s, maybe like a 27-24 game or even 24-21. If the 49ers get to +3 or any higher, I think I like them to cover. This feels like one of the closest games of the year, as probably the best two teams in the NFC are playing each other. I told myself before the week that I would go with the dog, so that ties me to the San Francisco 49ers. I do have not a lot of confidence in this pick, but I think that the 49ers’ D could be the thing that helps them over the edge as long as they contain Hurts. If the defense lets Hurts run around all day, then the Eagles might find themselves in the Superbowl.
TL//DR: NFC Championship Preview: San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
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