The NFL 2022-23 season is down to its final four teams. On Sunday, two Super Bowl LVII hopefuls will be eliminated from the NFL Playoffs, while two teams will progress to the biggest sporting event in the United States.
The NFC Championship Game will see the San Francisco 49ers visit the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. Remarkably, the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles have met just once in the NFL Playoffs previously. The teams met in 1996, as the 49ers picked up a 14-0 win.
The lack of head-to-head playoff meetings between San Francisco and Philadelphia shows just how difficult it is to make the NFL Playoffs. It has been over 20 years since the teams last met in the postseason and the winner of Sunday’s game will progress to the Super Bowl.
Philadelphia is the favourite to win the game, as Bookmakers have the Eagles as a two-and-a-half-point favourite over the visiting 49ers. Jalen Hurts has been fantastic for the Eagles this season despite suffering an injury late in the regular season.
San Francisco is led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who was selected last in the 2022 NFL Draft. He is now leading the 49ers into the biggest game of the season. Purdy started the 2022-23 season as San Francisco’s third-choice quarterback, but due to injuries, was promoted to starter. Can he outduel Hurts in the NFC Championship Game?
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles Betting Odds
The Eagles go into the game as a two-and-a-half-point favourite to win over the 49ers, according to leading bookmakers. Philadelphia’s moneyline odds to win the game are at 20/29, while the San Francisco 49ers have moneyline odds of 5/4 to pull off the upset.
San Francisco went to Philly and won 17-11 during the 2021 NFL season. Although these teams both play in the NFC, head-to-head match-ups are not that common. Before meeting in 2020 and 2021, the 49ers and Eagles hadn’t played each other since 2017.
The Eagles have one of the NFL’s best offences. They averaged 28.1 points per game in the regular season, which was third in the NFL. Philadelphia’s running game averaged 147.6 yards per game in the regular season, making it one of the league’s most potent.
Purdy took over the quarterback position in NFL Week 13 after starter Jimmy Garoppolo injured his foot. He led San Francisco to victory in Week 13 and hasn’t looked back. Purdy has won eight straight games as the 49ers
He threw for 1,854 yards and 16 touchdown passes. Opposing teams picked off Purdy a mere three times. For a quarterback that made his first NFL start two-thirds through the season, no one has told Purdy he shouldn’t be playing in the NFC Championship Game.
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles Team News
Philly blew out the New York Giants in the NFC Divisional Playoff round a week ago by a score of 38-7. The Giants were no match for the Eagles. San Francisco should present a different opposition, one that is far stronger than the Giants.
Hurts was brilliant against New York, as he tossed two touchdowns and threw for 114 yards in passing. Running backs Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell ran through New York’s defence like it was made from Swiss cheese. The duo racked up a combined 202 yards rushing on 29 carries.
Eagles cornerback Avonte Maddox experienced limited practice this week due to a sore toe. Purdy could exploit Maddox if the cornerback isn’t 100%. Of course, at this point in the NFL season, few players are 100% healthy. Philly’s Robert Quinn should play despite a back injury and Brandon Graham should be available after suffering an illness.
For the San Francisco 49ers, Ambry Thomas could miss the game following an ankle sprain. Meanwhile, Charles Omenihu has an oblique injury that could keep him sidelined. Of course, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo is ruled out with a foot injury. It was Garappolo’s foot issue that allowed Purdy to assume the quarterback position.
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles H2H
The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles most recently played during the 2021 NFL season. The 49ers went to Lincoln Financial Field and won 17-11. Since 2011, the 49ers and Eagles met five times in the NFL with all five games being played during the regular season.
San Francisco played Philadelphia three times at Lincoln Financial Field, winning two of those games. Due to the nature of NFL regular season scheduling, these teams do not play every season.
The 49ers had a 5-3 record on the road in the NFL this season. Philadelphia posted a home record of 7-2. Philadelphia posted a 9-3 record against NFC teams, while the 49ers were 10-2 versus teams from the NFC. San Francisco was +173 in points during the regular season. Philly was +133 in points in the regular season.
San Francisco 49ers @ Philadelphia Eagles Predictions
Philadelphia has the advantage of playing at home against San Francisco. However, the 49ers did have a strong away record in the regular season, posting 10 wins from 12 games. San Francisco has played twice already in the NFL Playoffs and both games were at home. This is the first time they have had to go on the road.
The weather for Sunday’s game is expected to be mild. Compared to the Cincinnati Bengals and Buffalo Bills last weekend – the game was practically played in a blizzard – the weather shouldn’t be a factor in Philadelphia.
The NFC Championship Game features two evenly matched teams. It should be a close game from start to finish. The home crowd should give Philly an advantage early on. However, if the Eagles begin to struggle, you can expect the Philly faithful to get on the team’s back. It is classic Philadelphia.
San Francisco is on a great run of form, and the team’s momentum is running high. Purdy is performing well, and Hurts is still nursing a slight injury. He suffered a sprained sternoclavicular (SC) joint in December. It could come back to bother him if the 49ers' defence can get to the quarterback early. Our betting tips prediction is for the 49ers to pick up the win by a touchdown.
