The Philadelphia Eagles performed phenomenally and took advantage of the tough time the San Francisco 49ers had to win the NFC Championship and advance to Super Bowl LVII.
Behind touchdowns from Jalen Hurts, Miles Sanders and Boston Scott, the Eagles beat the 49ers 31-7 while taking advantage of Brock Purdy’s injury early in the first quarter. Purdy left the game in the first quarter when he injured his right elbow. He would leave the game until the third quarter, when he had to return after backup Josh Johnson left with a concussion.
Philadelphia got on the board on its first drive.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts gestures during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Hurts appeared to overturn DeVonta Smith on fourth down, but the wide receiver was able to come down with the ball. The play was ruled a catch and the Eagles rushed to the line to snap the next play. A few plays later, Myles Sanders would score from a few yards out to put the Eagles up 7-0.
A FOX replay would later reveal that Smith had dropped the ball on the phenomenal “catch.”
The 49ers would go on their first drive of the game and that was where Purdy would get hurt. Eagles pass rusher Haason Reddick stripped the rookie and the quarterback would be injured on the same play. It would prove to be the difference in the game.
Johnson never got his legs going on offense and the 49ers would sputter. San Francisco wouldn’t stop defensively either. The No. 1 defense in the league looks far from it.
Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick, right, causes a fumble by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia. .
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
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49ers running back Christian McCaffrey would help tie the game with a 23-yard touchdown run. But that was all the team could muster. Sanders scored his second touchdown with 1:36 left in the half and Scott added another before the half ended.
Philadelphia didn’t really need to do much in the second half. Hurts put the finishing touches on the game with a 1-yard touchdown run, and Jake Elliott would kick a 31-yard field goal for a 31-7 lead.
The eagles were flying.
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Josh Johnson, left, passes under pressure from Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Disappointment boiled over at the end of the match. Trent Williams was seen hitting Eagles linebacker K’Vaughn Wallace in a scrimmage. Both players were sent off. Brouhahas erupted at various points in the game, but Williams’ hitting was the most tense issue of the night.
Hurts, an NFL MVP candidate, was 15 of 25 with 121 passing yards. He also had 39 yards on the ground on 11 carries. He also scored a touchdown.
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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts walks on the field after the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, center, reacts as he talks to Terry Bradshaw, left, after the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
“I’m not going to do this for myself, it’s a special city,” Hurts told FOX’s Terry Bradshaw after the game. “They deserve everything that’s going on. We’ve got one more.”
Kenneth Gainwell led the Eagles with 48 yards. Sanders had 42 and Scott had 21.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott, center, runs for a touchdown during the first half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Matt Slocum)
Smith led the Eagles in receiving with two catches for 36 yards. AJ Brown had four catches for 28 yards.
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The 49ers as a team threw just 18 passes. Johnson was 7 of 13 for 74 yards and Purdy was 4 of 4 with 23 yards.
McCaffrey had 84 yards rushing on 15 carries and a touchdown. He was one of four players to have receptions for San Francisco. He had four catches for 22 yards. Deebo Samuel had three catches for 33 yards, George Kittle had three catches for 32 yards and Brandon Aiyuk had a catch for 10 yards.
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Robert Quinn during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia.
(AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
The Eagles are back in the Super Bowl for the first time since the 2017 season. They defeated the New England Patriots in an epic thriller.
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Super Bowl LVII will be played at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona on February 12. It will air on FOX.