Super Bowl Bound: Philadelphia Keys to Success in Game Against 49ers

by Anthony Dacunto

Sticking with the Formula

Earlier this week, the Philadelphia Eagles bested the San Francisco 49ers and booked their ticket back to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2018, looking to win another. This season, it’s safe to say that the Eagles have proven themselves to be a talented team. The team has developed an effective formula for winning, and they have carried this formula into the playoffs. Nick Sirianni has proven himself to be the real deal, especially coming all this way after starting as head coach with a 2-5 Eagles team back in 2021. Starting QB for the Eagles, Jalen Hurts, has established himself as being franchise worthy in his position. He is now hungry and looking for his first Super Bowl ring after being present in the league for only three years. Philadelphia has stabilized themselves as an effective team both offensively and defensively. They are just as strong with running the ball as they are passing, and this was most certainly proven in their two playoff matchups so far. They have an all-star defense, with a line that has future HOF Jason Kelce acting as the core of the group. It seems that there is only good to come for this Eagles team. 

Tragedy in San Francisco

The Eagles' game against the 49ers was disappointing, to say the least. Many were expecting an offensive showdown to take place, but hopes of this were quickly shut down after 49ers QB Brock Purdy was taken out of the game due to an injury on the team’s very first drive. This definitely became an advantage for the Eagles. San Francisco was forced to play their fourth-stringer, Josh Johnson, whose appearance was short-lived seeing how he was also removed from the game due to a head injury that was inflicted during a play. The Eagles then reverted to playing Purdy again, which was a risk, but they lacked any other option. Purdy, due to his injury, was unable to throw the ball. The 49ers almost only ran the ball for the remainder of the game, which simply did not do them any good. The Eagles defense stayed aggressive against the running game of the niners. Running the ball unfortunately also burned down the clock, which hurt the Niners even more. 

Breaking it Down

The Eagles did their best to stick with what has worked for them in the past, as well as taking advantage of San Francisco’s mistakes. San Francisco turned the ball over three times, with two of those turnovers leading to Philadelphia touchdowns. Jalen Hurts went 15 for 25, throwing for 121 yards, which was a season-low for the quarterback. Hurts still had a notable game, however, having no turnovers and even rushing the ball himself for a total of 39 yards. San Francisco has established a solid defense, and Philadelphia was aware of this going into this game. Sirianni knew the game would not be won from quick passing drives up the field. The Eagles benefited from running the ball. No touchdowns were thrown by Hurts this game, yet the final score was still 31-7 Eagles. The Eagles also played mindful and were able to avoid any costly mistakes for the most part. The team was able to keep themselves stable, while at the same time, building off any errors that could negatively affect San Francisco. 

When All Else Fails, Run the Ball 

The team worked with what they knew would be effective against the 49ers, who carried a strong passing defense for the entire game. The offensive line of the Eagles played a pivotal role in the success of the team’s running game. The Eagles have proved to have a well-established offensive line this season, which carried over into the playoff performance of the team. The success of the team’s O-line acted as a foundation for the domination of their running game. Without one, the other would not be as productive. Philadelphia ran the ball a total of 44 times against the Niners for a complete 148 yards. This season, the 49ers had a brick wall of a defense, arguably the best in the league. When it came to running the ball, the Niners were 2nd in fewest rushing yards let up per game. Knowing this makes the performance by the Eagles that much more impressive. 

 

What Is Left for Philly? 

The Eagles went into their matchup against the 49ers with the same mentality that they have ridden with all season. The team has all the components of being great, but there is more to their success than just statistics. They all are hungry and carry a strong desire to win. The entire roster is on the same page, and their developed chemistry and common aspiration of victory are reflected in their united performance on the field. This team has the mindset to win it all, but that also does not guarantee success. Their upcoming Super Bowl matchup against the Chiefs will be the team’s toughest challenge of the season. The only thing left is to wait and see how Philadelphia responds. 

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