This weekend the San Francisco 49ers will face the Philadelphia Eagles in a huge NFC matchup. The 49ers currently have an 8-3 record, while the Eagles are standing at 10-1. The game will be held in Philadelphia, making this a much more difficult environment for the Niners. Here is a look at what to expect in this weekend’s big game.
San Francisco 49ers Explosive offense
The offense will need to step up big time. Yes, they are back to winning, but they need to score off of essentially every drive, even if it is a field goal. The Philadelphia Eagles are a strong second halftime. They will not just take their foot off of the pedal because of the score. If they are down, they will do everything they can to win. The second half for the 49ers has not been as strong as the first and they need to play until the final whistle.
All eyes will be on Christian McCaffrey this weekend. The Eagles’ defense will do what they can to stop him. This season, McCaffrey has rushed the ball 193 times for 939 yards and 11 touchdowns, according to Pro Football Reference. He also has had 48 receptions for 389 yards and five touchdowns. When the 49ers do pass the ball, expect it to be quick reads to limit the pressure on Brock Purdy.
San Francisco 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey – Terrell Lloyd/San Francisco 49ers
According to ESPN, the Eagles allow an average of 255.7 passing yards per game. The 49ers’ offense has averaged 250.1 passing yards per game, according to ESPN. While the Eagles do not have a bad defense by any means, their linebacker core is their weakness. The 49ers may target the middle of the field and focus on yards after the catch. This could lead to success, as long as they limit the turnovers by the offense.
Something both teams will be mindful of is the weather forecast. As of now, it is expected to rain, which means both teams may have to run the ball more than they would like, and when balls are passed, it may not be pretty. Last week the Eagles did play in the rain and won that game.
San Francisco 49ers defense vs. Seattle Seahawks – Terrell Lloyd/San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers Physical Defense
The 49ers’ defense is coming off of a huge game against the Seattle Seahawks. The defense did not allow a single touchdown and completely overwhelmed quarterback Geno Smith. What really helps is that they played Thursday Night Football, which gives the team three days of added rest. This is always important ahead of a huge game.
Putting pressure on Jalen Hurts is going to be key. The Eagles have maybe the best offensive line in the league. Hurts has been sacked 29 times this season, according to ESPN. The 49ers’ defense has 33 sacks this season. The addition of Chase Young has been a big help, and it will be good knowing Young has a lot of experience playing the Eagles. Just this season, while Young was with the Washington Commanders, he did face the Eagles twice. In those two games, he had just one sack, but at least it is experience. Still, the Eagles will be planning to stop him, but also Nick Bosa and the rest of the defensive line.
The 49ers’ defense must stop A.J. Brown too. It may be safe to say that Brown will have some big catches. But if the 49ers’ defensive backs, most likely Charvarius Ward, can limit the catches, it will be a huge help for this team. It is safe to say that this is going to be a physical game on for both teams.
San Francisco 49ers CB Charvarius Ward (7) covering Seattle Seahawks WR DK Metcalf (14) – Kym Fortino/San Francisco 49ers
San Francisco 49ers Special Teams Must Step Up
The 49ers’ special teams need to step up this week. When it comes to kicker comparison, the Eagles have the more trustworthy kicker. The 49ers cannot let this game come down to attempting a game-winning field goal, especially in this weather. Clearly, the Eagles’ kicker will be able to hit game-winners after last weekend’s game against the Buffalo Bills. The Niners will also have to be careful with kick returns. The Seahawks had a 66-yard return last weekend. In no way can San Francisco allow that to happen this weekend against the Eagles. Philadelphia will definitely take advantage if that happens.
While the Eagles are two wins ahead of the 49ers, this will be a very important game in terms of playoff seeding. The 49ers have not yet clinched playoffs, but if they do, and if they win this week, they can have hopes for the number one seed. If the 49ers lose, the Eagles will more than likely have it. This will be a big game, potentially one of the top games of the season.
