Image Source: Ralph Vacchiano
Key Takeaways:
- The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 in their wild-card game despite being plagued by injuries.
- 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan showed his genius by making adjustments and trusting his quarterback, Brock Purdy, to make plays.
- Purdy proved himself capable of carrying the team on his back, completing 18 of 31 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns.
- The Eagles finally leaned on running back Saquon Barkley, who had 26 carries for 106 yards, but it was too little, too late.
- The Eagles’ offense struggled in the passing game, with quarterback Jalen Hurts completing only 20 of 35 passes for 168 yards.
Introduction to the Game
The San Francisco 49ers are a team that has been held together with "Band-Aids and duct tape" all season, but they continue to find ways to win. Despite being plagued by injuries, the 49ers were able to knock off the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 in their wild-card game. As Ralph Vacchiano, an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports, noted, "This battered-and-bruised team is clearly not beaten … at least not yet." The 49ers’ victory came at a cost, however, as they lost tight end George Kittle for the rest of their run with a torn Achilles.
Kyle Shanahan’s Genius
49ers coach Kyle Shanahan is widely regarded as one of the best offensive minds in the game, and he showed why on Sunday. Despite losing Kittle, Shanahan was able to adjust his scheme and trust his quarterback, Brock Purdy, to make plays. As Vacchiano noted, "Shanahan showed a lot of faith in his quarterback and used his scheme to open things up." The 49ers’ first touchdown of the second half was a perfect example of this, as Purdy handed off to receiver Skyy Moore, who ran to the left, then flipped the ball to receiver Jauan Jennings for a reverse to the right. Jennings then pulled up and fired a pass downfield to Christian McCaffrey, who snuck behind the Eagles’ defense and got open for a 29-yard touchdown pass. As Vacchiano noted, "It was a bit of razzle-dazzle that seemed to catch the Eagles’ defense on its heels."
Brock Purdy’s Performance
Brock Purdy proved himself capable of carrying the team on his back, completing 18 of 31 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns. Despite the wind and the lack of weapons around him, Purdy came out throwing against one of the best secondaries in the league. As Vacchiano noted, "Purdy is the perfect quarterback for Shanahan, because he’s as fearless and unfazed as his head coach." Purdy’s performance was not without its mistakes, however, as he threw two interceptions that could have been costly. Nevertheless, he was able to lead his team on two fourth-quarter touchdown drives to win the game.
The Eagles’ Running Game
The Eagles finally leaned on running back Saquon Barkley, who had 26 carries for 106 yards. As Vacchiano noted, "It was a significant workload — tied for the most carries he’s had in a game this season." The Eagles’ offense, at its heart, is based on the run, and it was alarming that they only averaged 116.9 yards per game on the ground this season. As Vacchiano noted, "The Eagles’ season would have gone a lot more smoothly if they had leaned on Barkley like this all season long." Despite the strong performance from Barkley, it was too little, too late, as the Eagles were unable to overcome the 49ers’ lead.
The Eagles’ Passing Game
The Eagles’ offense struggled in the passing game, with quarterback Jalen Hurts completing only 20 of 35 passes for 168 yards. As Vacchiano noted, "The entire passing attack was short, quick hooks and throws into the flat — nothing but short stuff." The Eagles refused to let Hurts be Hurts and use some of those dangerous receivers who have shown they can get open downfield. As Vacchiano noted, "It’s a big part of why they had trouble moving the ball and scoring so often." The Eagles’ lack of aggressiveness in the passing game was a major factor in their loss.
What’s Next
The sixth-seeded 49ers will travel to Seattle to face the NFC No. 1 seed and its stingy defense. The Seahawks will be rested and relatively healthy, as opposed to the 49ers. As for the Eagles, they head into an unexpectedly early offseason. As Vacchiano noted, "It doesn’t appear that head coach Nick Sirianni is in any danger, but it certainly isn’t a crazy thought." The Eagles’ offensive coordinator, Kevin Patullo, may be in jeopardy, however, as the team’s lack of aggressiveness in the passing game was a major factor in their loss. As Vacchiano noted, "If Patullo is fired, it would mean the Eagles would be moving on to their fifth OC in five years."
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