With a visit to Tremendous Bowl LVII on the road, Sunday’s NFC Championship sport between the 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles is ready to be a match for the ages.
Each groups come to the convention title sport at Lincoln Financial Field With stacked rosters, few losses and a few of the finest soccer minds within the NFL figuring out on the sidelines – it is no shock coming from the 2 finest groups within the NFC.
And if you actually dive into the stats, how shut Sunday’s massive sport was turns into much more obvious than it already was. It truly is the most effective of the most effective dealing with off towards, nicely, the most effective of the most effective, though that does not imply either side do not have weaknesses that the opposite can expose.
From clashes between the Eagles’ and 49ers’ finest items to matchups that provide every powerhouse their very own benefits, listed below are 4 must-watch tales that includes NFL Subsequent Gen stats forward of the NFC Championship Recreation:
Jalen Hurts on the seams vs. Fred Warner protection
Jalen Hurts’ Eagles have attacked the seams extra this season than any of their earlier campaigns, and so they’ve accomplished so successfully.
However on the opposite facet of the ball, the 49ers have Fred Warner.
Professional first line participant is Known for its elitist coverage A middle fielder, his talents have been entrance and middle in San Francisco’s Divisional Spherical victory over the Dallas Cowboys. Warner allowed solely two receptions for eight yards on 5 touchdowns in that sport – and featured closely on a large third quarter play protecting Cowboys broad CeeDee Lamb.
With the rating tied at 9 factors apiece, Lamb swooped in a deep seam route from the opening. Warner closed a 9.7-yard hole between himself and Lamb on the snap to a good window when the passer reached (0.8 yards) to pressure an incompletion, staying inside two miles per hour of Lamb’s velocity all the best way.
“He is an clever participant,” Hurtz mentioned on Warner’s Friday. “He is aware of he is sensible. He performs instinctively, and he is fast – he flies in direction of the ball. He is an actual chief in cinema… He is positively the one who units the tone.”
In line with Subsequent Gen Stats, Hurts ranks fourth amongst NFL quarterbacks in projected receptions on throws underneath 10 yard air. There isn’t any denying that the quarterback loves his quick sport in addition to deep throws, however he is additionally a productive tackler with simply six interceptions on the season.
Warner’s protection abilities towards the Hurts’ passing sport might be a game-changer for the NFC title, and the Eagles quarterback can count on to face loads of tight home windows in the course of the sector on Sunday.
Deep menace AJ Brown vs. 49ers minor
The Eagles’ commerce for broad receiver AJ Brown has paid dividends this season, and he’ll possible attempt to exploit a 49ers defensive backfield that has been liable to vertical knocks.
Along with the 1,248 vertical yards allowed on the season, the 49ers protection has surrendered not less than as soon as for greater than 45 yards in every of their final 5 video games (h/t Jack Hammer).
With a conveyable quarterback like Hurts threatening to flee from the pocket and sources additionally devoted to operating again Miles Sanders and tight finish Dallas Goedert, defending Brown — together with fellow receiver DeVonta Smith — will not be a simple job.
However sophomore yr professional Looks like Diodore Lenoir is ready He seems to be prepared for deep ball protection regardless of having a tough time doing so through the common season.
Solely two kickbacks have allowed extra completions on throws of 20 yards or extra this season than Lenoir, however he solely allowed one lengthy catch towards the Cowboys final week and snatched quarterback Dak Prescott. Towards the Seattle Seahawks within the wild card spherical, he additionally made an interception on Geno Smith.
“He is improved. He is obtained extra confidence,” 49ers defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans mentioned Thursday of Lenoir. “And also you see it prior to now two video games. He is gone out and had two nice video games that helped us win the play-offs and transfer on, so it is simply an evolution and a mentality to get higher. That is the place Demo allowed himself to essentially assist our workforce.”
Confidence is essential, and Lenoir should be crammed with it now greater than ever because the 49ers put together to cease the Browns.
49ers Stingy Run Protection vs. Eagles’ Explosive Run Recreation. 49ers Stingy Run Protection vs.
The 49ers are nicely versed in each run protection and rock pounding, however the Eagles offense additionally contains a strong floor assault – poised for Sunday to be a titanic conflict of epic proportions.
Philadelphia additionally ranked fifth amongst NFL groups in speeding yards per sport through the common season, whereas San Francisco’s protection allowed the second fewest yards per sport.
This match of power vs. power is one other match which will determine the result of the match, as very nicely the ultimate rating can come right down to which workforce runs the ball higher.
Just like the 49ers, the Eagles satisfaction themselves on an ample backfield Aside from Hurts’ rushing abilities. Miles Sanders is having a yr into his profession and Kenneth Ginwell had his first 100-yard sport towards the New York Giants within the divisional spherical. Boston Scott scored towards the Giants as nicely, however the trio could have met their match on the 49ers’ defensive entrance.
Main the pack is NFL Defensive Participant of the 12 months quarterback Nick Bosa, who led the league in sacks and credit the Eagles’ dynamic operating sport to plenty of components.
“I think [they’re] “A very good coach who’s on the O line and sensible and sensible,” mentioned Bossa. “After which, clearly, the operating quarterback part is an additional piece.”
The 49ers have made enhancements in defending their cell quarterbacks since they allowed Las Vegas’ Garrett Stidham to make an affect along with his legs in Week 17, Ryans mentioned.
The workforce hasn’t allowed a quarterback to hurry greater than 50 yards this season, although they’re going to must again up their coordinator’s phrases on Sunday towards Hurts, who surpassed the feat six occasions this yr.
“We count on this quarterback to run it,” head coach Kyle Shanahan mentioned Thursday. “We count on him to decrease his shoulder, so we all the time must exit and deal with him like a operating again till he turns himself in, which is what slips or is in that pocket, and when he does, our guys are ok athletes to deal with it.”
Decisive moments within the playoffs are sometimes as a result of speeding makes an attempt, which the Eagles have confirmed to excel at with being #1 in speeding success fee.
However the 49ers have confirmed to be among the many finest within the NFL at stopping these makes an attempt.
The 49ers offensive line towards the Eagles’ non-blitz move
The Eagles protection has pressured its quarterbacks at an distinctive degree this season, main the NFL with a workforce with 70 whole sacks through the common season. Philadelphia’s move rush brought about quarterback Daniel Jones to touchdowns 5 occasions final weekend, and so they’ll be trying to give 49ers rookie Brock Purdy the identical therapy on Sunday.
Maybe probably the most terrifying a part of the Eagles’ leadoff sack whole was the truth that they did not want the blitz to do it.
That is thanks partially to the velocity of defensive finish Josh Candy, who has posted career-highs in his stress and sack fee this season.
He was the center of the 49ers offensive line point of concern Heading into the season, given the uncertainty surrounding left guard Aaron Banks, rookie proper guard Spencer Burford, and middle Jake Brendel.
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However, together with veteran rivals Trent Williams and Mike McGlinchey, the offensive line has advanced into an improved unit for the 49ers this yr, with the within linemen contributing considerably in every of their roles.
The motion of the group shall be wrapped up on Sunday towards the Eagles’ move rush, because the 49ers attempt to give Purdy time to focus on his high playmakers whereas creating holes for operating again Christian McCaffrey.
The offensive line wetted final week towards the Cowboys and the Elites rushed their passes, permitting two sacks and 5 quarterback hits within the win.
The one protection ranked larger in sack fee than Dallas is Philadelphia, and the 49ers will face one other large check on Sunday.
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