NFC Championship Game Preview – War In The Trench

Ab Stanley

The Philadelphia Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game this Sunday at 3:00 PM EST.

The way these two teams have played this season you can expect some of the roughest football imaginable. The winner of this game might have a long list of players on the injury report.

The Eagles physicality up front is relentless on both sides of the ball. After three more rushing touchdowns last week to add to their regular season total (32), Philadelphia looks poised to keep the bulk of their offense on the ground. Can they push the 49ers around like other teams they faced this year?

That style of play can wear out any defense and they have the added bonus of weapons in the passing game. With A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith and Dallas Goedert, it’s almost impossible to stop their offense from scoring one way or another.

Their defense gives quarterbacks fits and Brock Purdy should be no different. Philadelphia will cause matchup nightmares for the 49ers up front and it will be hard for them to keep their signal caller upright.

San Francisco also has that physical style of play on both sides, but more-so on the defense. They’ll need every bit of that versus the Eagles’ rushing attack and Jalen Hurts in the passing game. Their main objective should be stopping the run and keeping Hurts contained on passing downs.

San Francisco has proven they can win going away and they can win ugly, and this one might be in that ugly category. I think an ugly, turnover filled game favors the 49ers and they should look to knock Philadelphia out of their rhythm early. Their team seems better equipped to keep the game close then hit on a big play down the stretch.

 

X-Factor:

San Francisco: Fred Warner – Linebacker

Warner has 15 total tackles and an interception so far in the playoffs. The 49ers will need him all over the field, stopping run plays and covering that intermediate part of the field on pass plays.

Philadelphia: Entire Defensive Backfield 

The 49ers big plays usually come on a yards after catch situation and the Eagles should expect to see quick throws from Purdy. The Eagles secondary has to make sure they’re tackling guys in the open field and limiting the yards on completions.

 

Prediction: San Francisco wins, 23-20.

San Francisco was favored to go to the Super Bowl when the playoffs started, even though they’re the underdog in this particular game. I’ll stick with the original favorite.

Ab Stanley

Atlanta, GA

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