NFC Championship Preview

PHILADELPHIA. PA - It´s been four years since the Philadelphia Eagles have reached the NFC Championship game; winning in a convincing 38-7 route of the heavily favored Minnesota Vikings. This time around the game promises to be a bit of a different story as the Eagles enter as 2.5-point favorites over the incumbent 49ers.

The Niners are riding a red-hot 12-game win streak stretching all the way back to week 8 of the regular season. Since then San Fran has acquired all-world running back Christian McCaffery and was forced to turn over the reigns at QB to 2022´s Mr. Irrelivent, Iowa State´s own Brock Purdy.

Since taking over as the 49ers starter at QB, Purdy has been lights out throwing for 1,374 yards and 13 touchdowns to only 4 interceptions. Purdy has led the Niners for most of their hot streak going a perfect 8-0 since taking over for starter Jimmy Garopolo during a week 13 win over the Miami Dolphins. Purdy, while raw, has shown potential as a high-level starter in the NFL but this week’s contest will obviously now prove to be his biggest test as he prepares to face off with a high-powered Eagles defense in one of the most hostile away environments in Football.

Speaking of the Eagles defense, which held the New York Giants to a mere 7 points in last week’s divisional round toppling. The Birds D ranks amongst the best of the league in Yards Allowed, Yards Per Play, and Takeaways, all the while ranking tops in the league in sacks with 70.0, 15 ahead of idle Kansas City with 55.0. However, heading into Sunday’s matchup at the Linc they will face one of their toughest opponents yet as the Niners rank 5th in the NFL in sacks allowed, allowing only 31 during the entirety of the 2022 campaign.

The Eagles, however, who sit toward the middle of the pack when it comes to sacks allowed, with 44, will have a lot to handle with one of the most imposing front sevens in the league today. The likes of Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Arik Armstead have given offensive lines nightmares all season long and this Eagles team will be no exception. San Francisco's d-line isn´t the only thing the Birds will need to fret when the league’s number-one-ranked defense comes to town Sunday. The Niners also lead the league in interceptions with 20, as Safety Tashaun Gipson led the team with 5, followed by 2nd-year-breakout-star Talanoa Hufanga who recorded 4 on the year.

Seen as Jalen Hurts and the Birds offense ranks amongst the best in the league in turnovers with just 19, it wouldn´t be too far-fetched to see this one come down to who can protect the ball best. The Birds offense has been one of the best in the league this season, with a strong pass and run game it´s become a task for opposing defenses to predict what play the Eagles will call, so much as stopping them. Hurts, with some help from Devonta Smith and AJ Brown, has turned himself into an MVP candidate in just one season and has proven time and time again to be a chore for any defense to stop, even with some of the best such as the 49ers.

Conference Championship games have time and time again proved to be some of the best games of any NFL season, and Sunday’s matchup has all the makings of yet another absolute barn burner. If the Birds are able to take home the win, it will propel them to their second Super Bowl in just 5 years, and their 4th in team history. As for the Niners, a Super Bowl 57 appearance would be their 2nd in just 3 years and their 7th in the franchise’s historic tenure. Now only 2 days from kickoff, emotions are high and the steaks are higher, 3:00 pm on Sunday afternoon cannot come soon enough.