One of the most highly anticipated NFL postseason games is in full swing, as Jalen Hurts and the powerhouse Philadelphia Eagles are battling the red-hot San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game on FOX.
Breakout rookie quarterback Brock Purdy exited the game after the Niners’ opening drive with an elbow injury and didn’t return until early in the second half when backup QB Josh Johnson was forced out to be evaluated for a concussion.
Sunday’s tilt pits the top two seeds in the NFC, the top two defenses in the NFL, two top-five offenses and two top-10 rushing attacks. San Francisco running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) is inactive, the team announced ahead of kickoff.
The Niners punched their ticket to the NFC title game after narrowly edging the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round, good for their 12th straight victory this season, while the Eagles advanced after routing the New York Giants last week.
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Sunday’s winner will head to Arizona to play in Super Bowl LVII (Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App).
Here are the highlights!
San Francisco 49ers at Philadelphia Eagles
Flying high!
Instead of opting for a field goal on their opening drive, the Eagles made a statement by keeping the offense on the field.
On a crucial fourth down, Hurts went deep for DeVonta Smith, who made a monster 29-yard snag to put the Eagles deep in the red zone. After taking a closer look at the play, it appeared that Smith may not have caught the ball after all …
Home team takes the lead
… but it was too little, too late. Two plays later, Miles Sanders ran straight through the Niners defense and cashed in for a short score to put Philly up early, 7-0. It was Sanders’ 12th rushing touchdown of the season.
Heading into Sunday’s game, the Eagles are 8-0 this season in games that Sanders records a rushing score. He is now one of five players in Eagles history to rush for 12 scores in a single season (including the playoffs) and just one of four players to do so in the Super Bowl era, joining Hurts, FOX’s LeSean McCoy, and five-time Pro Bowler Ricky Watters.
Shaky start
On the Niners’ first drive, Purdy tried to connect with George Kittle, but the ball came loose. The Eagles challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was reversed, resulting in a Purdy fumble near midfield.
San Francisco’s defense showed up when it mattered most, forcing Philly to go three-and-out after the turnover.
Injures mount for 49ers
Purdy didn’t return for the Niners’ following series. Backup QB Johnson took the field for San Francisco, which went three-and-out on the drive. Purdy briefly exited to the locker room before returning to the Niners sideline, where his throwing elbow was wrapped and iced.
Johnson, a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, boasts a 1-8 record as a starter and a 58% career completion percentage headed into Sunday’s game. The 36-year-old journeyman has been part of 14 different teams, an NFL record.
Elsewhere, Nick Bosa, who wasn’t on the field at the time, went down on the sideline after being run into and was tended to by the 49ers’ training staff. He took the field on San Francisco’s ensuing possession but exited before the drive ended.
This comes after Niners star linebacker Fred Warner was momentarily injured on just the second play of the game.
What could have been
The Eagles narrowly avoided a safety on their first drive of the second quarter and ended up going three-and-out.
Knotted up!
The Niners tied things up midway through the second quarter, thanks to this angry run from Christian McCaffrey, who missed two consecutive practices this week with a calf injury.
With that touchdown, McCaffrey has scored in nine straight games, matching the longest streak by a 49er since Terrell Owens (1998). McCaffrey’s nine-game scoring streak is the third longest in Niners history (including the playoffs).
On the move!
The Eagles took a 14-7 late in the second quarter, courtesy of a 17-yard pickup from Kenneth Gainwell that set up a smooth 13-yard touchdown from Sanders — his second score of the game.
Turnover!
Johnson fumbled on the 49ers’ following drive, coughing up the ball on San Francisco’s own 36-yard line. The Eagles capitalized on the newfound possession, as Boston Scott found the end zone with ease a few plays later.
Just like that, Philly took a 21-7 lead into the break.
Heading into Sunday, the 49ers are 0-4 in games this season in which they had two or more giveaways.
QB chaos
Johnson left the game after going down on the Niners opening drive of the second half. He is questionable to return.
Purdy reentered for one play at QB — a handoff to McCaffrey — before San Francisco punted away the ball.
Stay tuned for updates!
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