49ers @ Eagles NFC Championship Live Blog
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PHILADELPHIA -- This is the live blog for the NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles. I will update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
9:57 I'm fascinated to see what kind of game this will be. I'm expecting a grim, low-scoring battle, because both quarterbacks are young and playing in the biggest games of their careers. Plus they're each facing an elite defense. So I'm guessing the focus on offense for both teams will be protecting the football and not turning it over. That could lead to some conservative offense while both teams try to establish their running games.
That being said, the 49ers defense has struggled to defend play-action passes all season, particularly the past month, and the Eagles have an excellent play-action passing game. Look for the Eagles to take a deep shot or two early just to test the 49ers defense.
On offense, the 49ers will need big games from Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, because they most likely will have one-on-one matchups outside against the Eagles excellent cornerbacks, Darius Slay and James Bradberry. Philadelphia most likely will load the box, double cover George Kittle and dare Brock Purdy to throw long passes toward the outside. Can Samuel and Aiyuk win their one-on-one matchups? Can Purdy deliver them the ball near the sideline when they're open? The answer to these questions could determine the winner of the game. Because if the 49ers can't force Philadelphia to defend the entire field, the 49ers won't score many points.
10:34 Here are the 49ers' inactives: Elijah Mitchell, Drake Jackson, Ty Davis-Price, Nick Zalelj, Jimmy Garoppolo, Ross Dwelley and Ambry Thomas.
12:03 The 49ers win the toss and defer.
FIRST QUARTER
12:09 Fred Warner injures his shoulder on the second play from scrimmage and leaves the game.
12:12 Warner is back in the game. He had a stinger.
12:16 On 4th and 3 from the 49ers 35, Jalen Hurts rolls left and throws downfield to DeVonta Smith, who beats Jimmie Ward and makes a one-handed 29-yard catch. Two plays later, Miles Sanders trots into the end zone untouched from six yards out. Maybe the 49ers should have taken the ball first.
49ers 0, Eagles 7.
12:26 On 2nd and 6 from midfield, Kyle Shanahan makes backup tight end Tyler Kroft block Eagles No. 1 edge rusher Hassan Reddick, who predictably blows past Kroft and hits Purdy as he throws. The officials rule the pass incomplete, but the Eagles are challenging because they believe it's a fumble. It looked like a fumble.
12:27 It's a fumble. The Eagles take over at their 44. Linval Joseph recovered.
12:30 On 3rd and 4 from midfield, Samson Ebukam stops Kenneth Gainwell. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 20.
12:33 Brock Purdy has a right elbow injury. His return is questionable. Josh Johnson is the quarterback.
12:36 On 3rd and 20 from the 49ers 10, Christian McCaffrey runs for 16 yards, and the 49ers go three and out. After the punt, the Eagles take over at their 29.
12:43 On 3rd and 10 from the Eagles 26, A.J. Brown beats Charvarius Ward deep but Jalen Hurts overthrows the pass and it's incomplete. Nick Bosa was shaken up during the play. After the punt, the 49ers take over at midfield.
SECOND QUARTER
12:55 On 1st and 10 from the Eagles 34, Josh Johnson commits his second delay-of-game penalty. Next play, he takes a sack from Javon Hargrave. Three plays later they punt. The Eagles take over at their 6.
1:00 On 3rd and 15 from the 1, Hurts throws a pass over Brown's head, and the Eagles go three and out. After the punt, the 49ers take over at the Philly 46.
1:08 On 2nd and 10 from the Philly 23, McCaffrey breaks four tackles and scores. Unbelievable play. What an excellent player. And now the game is tied.
49ers 7, Eagles 7.
1:27 On 2nd and 5 from the 49ers 13, Miles Sanders runs through the 49ers defense untouched for the score. Kevin Givens got blocked out of the play. The 49ers will take over with 1:36 left in the half. That was a 14-play drive that had three automatic first downs thanks to 49ers penalties.
49ers 7, Eagles 14.
1:32 On the second play of the drive, Josh Johnson fumbles the snap in the shotgun and the Eagles recover at the 49ers 30 with 1:11 left. Good grief.
1:35 On 1st and goal from the 10, Boston Scott explodes around the right side of the Eagles offense for a touchdown. The 49ers are on the ropes.
49ers 7, Eagles 21.
THIRD QUARTER
2:00 On 2nd and 14 from the 49ers 40, Ndamukong Suh beats Spencer Burford, hits Johnson as he's throwing and bounces the back of his head off the grass. Johnson leaves the game. Purdy returns and hands off to McCaffrey, who gains 4 yards on 3rd and 14. After the punt, the Eagles take over at their 17.
2:05 Josh Johnson is being evaluated for a concussion.
2:05 On 3rd and 7 from the Eagles 20, Hurts throws the ball deep and out of bounds. The Eagles have put their offense in the garage. After the punt, the 49ers take over at their 45, and Purdy is their quarterback.
2:10 On 3rd and 13 from the 49ers 42, Purdy completes a screen pass to Christian McCaffrey, who gains three yards. Doesn't look like Purdy can put much of anything on his throws. After the punt, the Eagles take over at their 9.
2:19 On 3rd and 6 from midfield, Charvarius Ward breaks up a deep pass intended for Quez Watkins. On the punt, Jordan Mason commits a roughing-the-punter penalty, which is a 15-yard penalty and an automatic first down for the Eagles.
2:26 On 3rd and goal from the 3, Hurts sneaks into the end zone for the touchdown. This game got away from the 49ers early when Shanahan failed to challenge a clear drop on 4th and 3 in the red zone, then asked Tyler Kroft to block Hassan Reddick on the next series. That's all it took.
49ers 7, Eagles 28.
2:30 Josh Johnson has a concussion and will not return.
FOURTH QUARTER
2:38 On 4th and 2 from the 49ers 47, Deebo Samuel carries the ball, loses four yards and turns the ball over on downs.
2:49 The Eagles make a 29-yard field goal. This game is over. Stay tuned for the 49ers' grades.
49ers 7, Eagles 31.
