Our Eagles vs. 49ers predictions for NFC Championship Game

The No. 1-seeded Eagles are web hosting the No. 2-seeded 49ers on Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship Game.

To the predictions:

Reuben Frank (14-4)

No blowout this 7 days. No 28-stage halftime lead. No hurrying for 268 yards. This is an intriguing NFC Championship Activity amongst two teams that have elite defenses, young quarterbacks, top-5 offenses and legit Coach of the Yr varieties functioning the display. This a person is heading to come down to a participate in right here, a enjoy there. Who commits a person considerably less turnover. Who would make just one a lot more large engage in. Who has just one less missed deal with. Who commits a person much less turnover. Who converts one much more 3rd-and-prolonged. The 49ers have not dropped because October and are 7- less than rookie Brock Purdy. The Eagles are 15-1 beneath Jalen Hurts.

I’m choosing the Eagles for two reasons. To start with, Purdy has hardly ever performed in an ambiance like the Linc on a playoff Sunday. He’s obviously quite clever and poised – you really do not throw 16 TDs and 3 INTs in your initially 8 game titles if you’re not good and poised. But we’re chatting about a 23-12 months-aged rookie with quite minimal expertise right here who’s played just two highway online games in his life. It’s possible he can handle it. Really few can. But even extra critical than the crowd and the sounds is the Eagles’ pass hurry. It’s not just greatest in the league, it’s a person of the finest at any time. Purdy is elusive in the pocket, he’s sensible, he gets rid of the ball swiftly and he’s received wonderful weapons. But he’s under no circumstances confronted a pass hurry like this. This d-line wrecks game titles. We have seen it week after week. I consider they are the big difference Sunday afternoon. 

Eagles 23, 49ers 20

Dave Zangaro (14-4)

For a few months, it felt like the Eagles and 49ers had been on a collision study course. They have two of the most proficient rosters and each engage in an exceptionally actual physical type of soccer. This could be the most violent sport of the 2022 period and getting that game at the Linc in the NFC Championship Activity is particularly remarkable. If you go place-by-placement, these rosters are pretty even. Both equally groups has genuine stars on offense and defense and they were two of the most balanced teams in the NFL this season. The marquee matchup happens when the Eagles are on offense, struggling with the No. 1 defense in the NFL. Which is the correct heavyweight combat in this recreation. But these groups are close.

So for me, it arrives down to tiebreakers. The Eagles have the far better quarterback. Certain, what Brock Purdy has carried out in his 7 begins is spectacular. But Jalen Hurts was an MVP applicant and posted a 15-1 document in his begins this time. He’s healthy and was particularly effective last week. The Eagles also have the far better in-activity supervisor. Kyle Shanahan is just one of the most effective coaches in the NFL and his offensive scheme has him in the conference championship match with a seventh-round rookie as a QB credit history to him. But in online games, his conclusions go away a great deal to be preferred. He usually leans toward the conservative aspect and occasionally loses monitor of time. And the final tiebreaker: The Linc. I’m not pandering listed here. I was in the constructing for that NFC Championship Sport in opposition to the Vikings and it mattered. It just did. That area is likely to be rocking and the household enthusiasts will get to rejoice a earn. See ya in Phoenix.

Eagles 24, 49ers, 17

Barrett Brooks (14-4)

I played in two championship video games in my 12-calendar year NFL occupation. Those people moments come number of and significantly amongst. But championship video games in Philadelphia have in fact become more regular for the Eagles than any of the other teams in the convention.

This matchup is in between the two heavyweights in the NFC. For the previous two months I have been screaming that the Birds are the No. 1 crew in the NFL, not just the NFC. I have experienced to protect my stance because everyone else has crowned the 49ers as the very best. Yes, they have a exclusive defense, but our defense is No. 2. Certainly, they have a fantastic offense, but the Birds have an even greater offense. The QB posture will be the selecting issue in this sport. Jalen Hurts will dictate the tempo of the match, managing the clock and disheartening the 49ers protection. The Birds have the best O-line in the NFL. I believe they will management DE Nick Bosa and LB Fred Warner.

The 49ers’ offense has a great deal of weapons. Deebo Samuel typically goes in movement. This generates matchup problems for lesser defenses. The Eagles defense will have these adjustments and will engage in physical defense, matching the Niners’ intensity.

So when I appear and appraise the course of the recreation, player for participant, coach for mentor, it really is a rather even matchup. The QB position will give the Birds the earn! Hurts is the important to open up the door to the Super Bowl.

Eagles 27, 49ers 18

Mike Mulhern (15-3)

This 7 days on Birds Huddle (weeknights at 6 p.m. on NBC Athletics Philadelphia), I experienced Dave Zangaro and Barrett Brooks assist me rank the 10 most effective players set to take the area in Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation. Trying to pare the listing down to 10 showed just how insane the talent level in this matchup is. Elite gamers like George Kittle, Darius Slay, Javon Hargrave, and initially group All-Professional Talanoa Hufanga could not crack it! When all was claimed and done, we set Jalen Hurts in the top rated location. Perhaps he doesn’t but have the credentials to be put ahead of Nick Bosa, Trent Williams, or Jason Kelce, but I assume Hurts to be the best player on the field on Sunday.

(In circumstance you are wanting to know, the record was: 10. Deebo Samuel 9. Haason Reddick 8. Christian McCaffrey 7. A.J. Brown 6. Fred Warner 5. Jason Kelce 4. Trent Williams 3. Lane Johnson 2. Nick Bosa 1. Jalen Hurts)

He’s an MVP finalist for a purpose. He’s usually in management and seemingly one particular step forward of the opponent. Demeco Ryans’ defense is no doubt elite, but Hurts has been on a various level this calendar year. He has referred to himself as a “triple threat” simply because he can defeat you with his arm, his legs, and his intellect. Hurts’ biggest strides this season have occur in that latter most component of his match. He and the Eagles offense have an answer for anything and that won’t improve, even in opposition to the finest achievable opponent. The 49ers are most vulnerable outdoors the numbers, and you should be expecting the Eagles to attack with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.

A great deal has been made of the group likely rattling rookie quarterback Brock Purdy. I imagine it’s significantly less about the enthusiasts and far more about an Eagles defense that has racked up 75 sacks so considerably this time. If they get Mr. Irrelevant on the ground early, he’s likely to get skittish, he’s likely to set the ball in harm’s way, and his mentor is going to get conservative. That is Kyle Shanahan’s M.O. It is what took place very last week against the Cowboys. The situation for Dallas was they could not set more than enough factors on the board to stress the Niners into mistakes. They won’t be so blessed this week.

Eagles 27, 49ers 17

Adam Herman (16-2)

I’d be lying if I mentioned I was not anxious about selecting the Eagles to conquer the 49ers Sunday afternoon in the NFC Championship Activity. There isn’t really a workforce much better suited to fight what the Eagles do perfectly than San Francisco. The Birds are in for the most difficult game of their time to this issue.

But right here I am, selecting the Eagles to conquer the 49ers.

I’ve only picked the Eagles to eliminate at the time this calendar year, the Xmas Eve loss to Dallas, but I will acknowledge I entertained the considered this 7 days. Everywhere you seem, it feels like the Niners have a sensible reply for the strengths that have carried this Eagles crew to 15 wins.

The Eagles have been fourth in the league in turnovers and fifth in takeaways, a lethal combination. The 49ers? Next in turnovers and 3rd in takeaways.

The Eagles had 30 speeding touchdowns this season, the most in the NFL, and are typically unstoppable on the floor. The 49ers authorized 3.4 hurry yards per endeavor this calendar year, second-best in the NFL.

Amid his quite a few strengths, Jalen Hurts has been tremendous this year at not turning the ball over. He threw just six interceptions, tied for third-fewest between capable quarterbacks. San Francisco just took place to direct the league in picks with 20.

I envision you happen to be viewing the stage. After rattling these off, it begins to sense like Sunday could be a decide on-’em. And in some ways it feels like it may possibly be.

Then you don’t forget that only one workforce on the industry Sunday will have an MVP applicant at quarterback. Indeed, I’ve also been amazed with Brock Purdy’s performance right after being thrust into the starting purpose. But he’s not Jalen Hurts, a dynamic weapon who no group in the NFL has been capable to end this year. Hurts is on a unique level than Purdy, and we will see that on Sunday.

Then you remember that San Francisco’s secondary has a great deal of interceptions… but can they stop these move-catching weapons? You can place Charvarius Ward, who I like a lot, on Brown. What about Deommodore Lenoir vs. DeVonta Smith? Not a terrific matchup. And if you transfer someone to support Lenoir with Smith, all of a sudden you are providing Dallas Goedert a favorable matchup. And if you do far too considerably shuffling to prevent the passing match, you shed include on Hurts and he’s working for 6. You see the issue?

There are definitely nonetheless issues for this Eagles group, some with no easy responses. Will Lane Johnson be nutritious plenty of to stand up in opposition to this mammoth 49ers defensive line? How will the edge rushers fare versus the best remaining tackle in the NFL in Trent Williams? And what does Jonathan Gannon have schemed up to thwart Deebo Samuel and Christian McCaffrey in house?

That mentioned, I imagine the Eagles have sufficient rewards over the Niners to pull this just one off – particularly when you keep in mind the Birds will have just one advantage Kyle Shanahan’s squad can not put together for in the South Philly crowd on Sunday afternoon. It really is gonna be a monstrosity.

Give me a limited one particular until finally the conclusion, and a next Tremendous Bowl look in five a long time.

Eagles 24, 49ers 20

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