The 49ers, with their C team, had no business beating the Eagles on hostile ground, in Philadelphia. It’s an incredible lesson in resilience that they have served all season and which they served even better by winning.
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The Eagles were favored by 4.5 points by oddsmakers. Because they were playing in front of their fans. Because they were banking on one of the best defenses in the league. Because they were infinitely healthier than their rivals.
However, the 49ers achieved a tour de force by winning 23 to 19 in a stadium where, as a visitor, you want to go as much as you want to have a root canal treatment.
Sometimes we make too much of the injuries that plague a team. An argument that comes up often is that all teams have to live with injuries.
The 49ers’ story, however, is completely unique and well worth telling because they won 12 games this season, even though their team in the infirmary was superior to the team on the field at many times.
It’s a bit as if this indestructible team had qualified for the hockey playoffs by fielding 11 Kirby Dachs on each side of the ball!
An improbable journey
Their quarterback, Brock Purdy, has missed six games this season.
His number one receiver, Brandon Aiyuk, who signed a lucrative contract a year ago, did not play one. His number two receiver, Ricky Pearsall, missed eight and once again had to sit out this playoff duel against the Eagles.
Star tight end George Kittle has been sidelined for six games this season. At the end of the first half, against the Eagles, he tore his Achilles tendon. Like a death row inmate, his only special request at halftime was that a member of the team staff find him a bottle of tequila. It’s not even a prank!
Earlier this season, the 49ers lost the services of their two best defensive players, quarterback chaser Nick Bosa and inside linebacker Fred Warner.
The one who could theoretically take over from Bosa by learning on the job, rookie defensive end Mykel Williams, played nine games and saw his season end as well.
Warner is the heart and soul of this team. When he went down, there were at least Nick Martin, Tatum Bethune, Dee Winters and Luke Gifford to pick up the slack.
In turn, they were injured and were not in uniform against the Eagles.
In place of all these beautiful people in the improbable victory in Philadelphia, there was Eric Kendricks (10 tackles, including two for losses). A good football player, but a 33-year-old veteran who joined the team a month ago and has only made three starts this year.
There was Garret Wallow (11 tackles, one pass knockdown), who got five starts in five years with four different teams in the league. There was Curtis Robinson, who in his fifth year with the 49ers only got three starts.
Apologies for not diving into the hard analysis of the X’s and O’s here, but how can you not fall in love with this team that continues to win against all odds?
Shame on the Eagles!
The 49ers’ big offensive blows came, of course, from their distinguished carrier and all-around player Christian McCaffrey, who scored two touchdowns, including the victory. He was limited to 48 yards rushing, but his six receptions for 66 yards repeatedly put Brock Purdy out of trouble. One of his touchdowns came on a completely brilliant surprise play, a pass from receiver Jauan Jennings.
Contribution also came from receiver Demarcus Robinson, who crossed the 100-yard mark for the first time since November 20, 2022.
And, in all of this, we would be remiss if we didn’t insult the Eagles a bit. We suspected that their offense had the gift of regularly falling into neutral, but gaining 4.3 yards per play against such a crippled defense is criminal negligence.
Some will say that offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo was severely lacking in creativity. Others will say that quarterback Jalen Hurts uses his receivers poorly. We could add that AJ Brown, after having his little crisis on the sidelines, looked crazy by dropping a perfect pass on the Eagles’ last offensive sequence. This attack, however, has the highest total in the league in terms of payroll.
Regardless of the culprit(s), the Eagles really didn’t deserve to win. Unlike the 49ers…
THE 3 STARS OF THE MATCH
Robert Saleh
Getty Images via AFP
The 49ers defensive coordinator worked miracles with what he had at hand. A team with a head coaching vacancy should definitely give him a call, even if, at the helm of the Jets, he hasn’t gotten the expected results.
Christian McCaffrey
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“CMC” became only the third running back in 30 years to catch two touchdown passes in a playoff game, after Damien Williams for the Chiefs in 2018 and Shane Vereen for the Patriots in 2012. Quite a weapon!
Quinyon Mitchell
Getty Images via AFP
The Eagles cornerback threw two interceptions at the expense of Brock Purdy. In 34 regular season games, he has none. In five playoff games, he has four!
