Eagles Rout Injury-Riddled 49ers in NFC Championship 31-7: Live Game Log
And then there were four.
As the Dallas Cowboys prepare for the offseason after what many consider a premature exit from the postseason, the Philadelphia Eagles (14-3) and San Francisco 49ers (13-4) prepare to face one another in the NFC Championship game on Sunday.
The Eagles advanced by virtue of a 38-7 shellacking of the New York Giants in the divisional round. They will appear in their eighth NFC Championship game to go along with four NFL Championship appearances before the AFL-NFL merger.
The 49ers will make their 18th appearance in the NFC Championship game and had one NFL Championship appearance before the merger.
Both teams will serve up highly-ranked offenses and defenses. The 49ers bring with them the fifth-ranked offense and second-ranked defense, while the Eagles maintain the third-ranked offense and first-ranked defense.
The 49ers defeated Philadelphia in the last meeting, 17-11, in Sept. of 2021 at Lincoln Financial Field, and lead the overall series record 19-14-1.
The story of the offseason thus far surrounds San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. Purdy was the final overall selection in 2022's NFL Draft, known as "Mr. Irrelevant," and was forced into action due to injuries to Jimmy Garappolo and Trey Lance.
Making the 49ers' last seven starts going back to the regular season, Purdy is 7-0 and has impressed on many levels. He's 2-0 in the playoffs, completing 37-of-59 pass attempts for 546 yards. Maybe more impressive is his three touchdowns and zero interceptions in these playoffs.
Purdy looked a little more human against a stout Dallas defense last weekend, and he'll be facing much of the same in Philadelphia on Sunday.
The Eagles and 49ers kick off at 2 pm CT, before the matchup between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs at 5:30 pm CT.
The winners advance to Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on Feb. 12.
LIVE updates will appear here after kick-off...
PREGAME:
- Anita Baker offered a chilling performance of the national anthem.
- Rain is falling at the stadium in Philadelphia as the teams prepare for the opening kick, as the temperature climb to 50 degrees.
- The Eagles will begin the game with the ball first.
FIRST QUARTER: Eagles 7, 49ers 0
The Gould kick goes 60 yards to the PHI 5, returned by Scott to the PHI 34 for 29 yards.
Hurts passes short on the right side to BrownSF-F.Warner was injured during the play. for six yards, then Sanders runs up the middle for six more and a first down.
SF-F. Warner was injured during the play - official's timeout - Warner walked off the field and into the blue medical tent under his own power.
Hurts passes short on the left side to Goedert for a gain of two yards to the PHI 48, then Hurts runs out of bounds for no gain (officially a sack) under pressure from the 49ers defense. On 3rd and 8, Hurts hits Brown across the middle for 10 yards and a fresh set of downs at the SF 42.
Sanders is tripped up after a short gain up the middle, then Hurts throws incomplete to Goedert on the right sideline for a 3rd and 10 upcoming. Hurts finds Goedert short of the first down marker for a gain of seven.
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSION EAGLES: Hurts passes deep down the left sideline to Adams who makes a one-handed circus catch and stays in bounds for a 1st and Goal from the SF 6. - A video review would've determined the ball was not caught and it would've been incomplete. But the Eagles hurried up on the next play.
Hurts passes incomplete to Gainwell on the left side.
TOUCHDOWN EAGLES: Sanders runs into the end zone for a gain of six and a touchdown. The Elliott extra point is good for a 7-0 Eagles lead with 9:48 left in the first quarter. The scoring drive goes 66 yards in 11 plays and took 5:12 off the clock.
The Elliott kick goes into the end zone for a touchback.
Purdy passes short across the middle to Kittle for nine yards, then McCaffrey runs up the middle for two and a first down.
Purdy passes short on the left side to Aiyuk for a gain of 10. Penalty on PHI-H.Reddick, Defensive Offside, declined. First down.
Samuel runs off right end for four yards to the 50.
FUMBLE RECOVERY EAGLES: Purdy passes incomplete over the middle to Kittle. Philadelphia challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was REVERSED. Purdy actually fumbled the ball in a strip sack at the SF 40, a loss of 10 yards. The ball is recovered by L. Joseph at the PHI 44. First down Philly.
Sanders runs off right end, pushed out of bounds at the PHI 45. Hurts passes short middle to Stoll for five yards. On 3rd and 4, gain well rushes for no gain for a 4th and 4 from the 50.
The Kern punt goes 50 yards into the end zone for a touchback.
Brock Purdy is out with an elbow injury apparently suffered on the fumble play. Josh Johnson is in as Purdy heads to the locker room.
McCaffrey runs off left end to the SF 24, a gain of four yards, then Johnson is sacked for a loss of nine. On 3rd and 15, PENALTY on SF, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at SF 15 - No Play. On 3rd and 20, McCaffrey runs off right tackle for a gain of 16 to the SF 16. Bosa was injured on the sideline on the play.
Wishnowsky punts 45 yards to the PHI 29, downed by Gray. PENALTY on PHI-J.Jobe, Unnecessary Roughness, 14 yards, enforced at PHI 29.
Hurts passes short left to Brown who rumbles forward 11 yards for another first down.
Hurts passes short right to Brown for a gain of one, then Hurts scrambles to the right for a loss of one yard. Hurts was lucky to hold the ball after a bobbled snap.
Timeout #1 by PHI at 00:20 as the play clock was winding down
Hurts pass goes incomplete deep down the right side to Brown. SF-N. Bosa was injured during the play.
Kern punts 34 yards to SF 40, out of bounds. PENALTY on PHI-Z.McPhearson, Illegal Use of Hands, 10 yards, enforced at SF 40.
The Kern punt apparently hit the wire of the overhead field camera but that could not be confirmed by the officials.
Johnson passes short right to Samuel for nine yards to the PHI 41.
END OF THE FIRST QUARTER
SECOND QUARTER: Eagles 21, 49ers 7
McCaffrey runs up the middle for a gain of seven and a first down.
On 1st and 10, PENALTY on SF, Delay of Game, 5 yards, enforced at PHI 34 - No Play.
On 1st and 15, Johnson is sacked at the PHI 44, for a loss of five, then Johnson passes incomplete across the middle to Samuel for a 3rd and 20. Johnson throws incomplete short over the middle to Kittle. Penalty on SF-T. Williams, Illegal Formation, declined.
The Wishnowsky punt goes 38 yards, fair caught by Covey at the PHI 6.
Sanders loses a yard on first down, then Hurts is sacked for a loss of three at the goal line. Just inches away from being a safety. On 3rd and 14, Hurts passes incomplete short on the left side to Brown.
The Kern punt goes 53 yards to the SF 45, returned nine yards to the PHI 45 by McCloud.
Johnson passes short right to McCaffrey on the screen pass for nine yards, then McCaffrey runs off left end for three more and a first down.
McCaffrey catches the Johnson pass short across the middle for a gain of nine yards, then Johnson sneaks up the middle for a gain of two and another first down.
Johnson passes incomplete to Aiyuk.
TOUCHDOWN 49ERS: McCaffrey runs off right end for 23 yards and a touchdown. The Gould extra point is good for a 7-7 score with 8:29 left in the half. The scoring drive goes 46 yards in six plays and took 2:46 off the clock.