The 49ers are clear underdogs for their wild-card matchup with the Philadelphia Eagles, despite a hugely impressive 12-win season.
San Francisco has not played a playoff game against Philadelphia since the 2022 season, when an injury to Brock Purdy ended their hopes in the NFC Championship Game.
Much has changed since that defeat, and the 49ers got a measure of revenge with a blowout win in Philadelphia in the subsequent season en route to the Super Bowl.
But, as the 49ers aim to upset the odds and make amends for that disappointment at Lincoln Financial Field, I checked in with Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleeding Green Nation to get the Eagles’ perspective on Sunday’s matchup.
1 – How are Eagles fans feeling heading into this matchup? What’s the level of confidence around the Eagles repeating as champions?
Eagles fans are feeling pretty excited for this game. It’s the start of a postseason effort to repeat as Super Bowl champions. It’s a matchup against a team the Eagles haven’t seen since 2023, one that obviously went in the 49ers’ favor.
I don’t think Eagles fans could be more confident about the defense. Vic Fangio’s group has clearly earned the benefit of the doubt. That unit just might dominant enough to help carry an underwhelming offense to another title.
Some seem to be holding out the hope that the offense can “flip the switch” in the playoffs. I’m pretty skeptical about that happening; it would shock me if the offense was suddenly on fire. But there is reason to believe it can somewhat improve from what we’ve seen for most of the season. It seems like Lane Johnson might be returning this weekend. Jalen Hurts is the healthiest he’s ever been entering the playoffs and he’s been a postseason riser. The Eagles should be fresh after resting most starters in Week 18.
Further, there isn’t a team in the playoffs that appears to be so great that the Eagles have zero chance of beating them. That’s not to say there aren’t better playoff teams than the Eagles; there definitely are. I’m especially high on the Los Angeles Rams. But my biggest concern entering the playoffs is the Eagles beating themselves as opposed to them just getting dominated by an opponent.
2 – The weakness of the 49er defense offers a clear opportunity for the Eagles to get their offense going. What do they need to do to put their struggles on that side of the ball behind them?
Actually trying to take advantage of the 49ers’ apparent weaknesses would be a good start. In Week 13, the Eagles faced a Chicago Bears defense that was missing four of their top five off-ball linebackers. And yet somehow Eagles starting tight end Dallas Goedert only saw four targets in that game for just two receptions. Saquon Barkley also only had 13 carries. So, I think it’d be good for the Eagles to try to not outsmart themselves this time and attack the 49ers’ depleted linebacker corps.
I have my doubts about the Eagles putting their offensive struggles entirely behind them. I’m not sure they’re ever going to be a good offense this season on a down-to-down basis; they lead the league in three-and-outs. So, if they’re not good at maintaining drives anyway, why not get more aggressive and take shots down the field? I noticed the 49ers rank 31st in pressure rate and 31st in deep passing defense (per Next Gen Stats). Jalen Hurts should have plenty of time to pass and he usually throws a pretty good deep ball. Even if the throws aren’t perfect, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are obviously capable of making plays on the ball.
3 – Vic Fangio is very familiar to 49ers fans following his stint as defensive coordinator under Jim Harbaugh. Where has he had the biggest impact on the Philadelphia defense?
Prior to this week, I didn’t realize that Fangio has only ever allowed one touchdown to an offense with Kyle Shanahan as the play-caller. And it came in garbage time.
Shanahan’s quarterbacks for those four games were John Beck, Robert Griffin III (non-rookie version), Jimmy Garoppolo, and Nick Mullens. Not exactly the most intimidating group. Still, those quarterbacks each had one of their very worst performances of that season against Fangio.
Anyway, getting back to your question, he’s just a really good coach. He makes the most out of the talent he’s been given. The Eagles’ defense is tough, physical, and fundamentally sound. He gives the Eagles an edge over the competition by being really great at in-game adjustments.
One of the greatest testaments to Fangio’s defense this season is that the team is 2-0 when the offense fails to complete a pass in the second half. That’s obviously not an advisable path to trying to win a football game. But it speaks to how his defense can really carry an offense that is so inept at times. And it makes it even more impressive that his defense plays well when it has to be on the field for so long since the offense is punting so often.
4 – The 49ers are the clear underdogs in this game. What’s one vulnerability the Eagles possess that could give San Francisco hope of pulling off the upset?
A) Nick Sirianni being ultra conservative. There were multiple games this season where the Eagles built a big lead and then basically tried to run out the clock from halftime. They managed to avoid blowing a game to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but they lost to the Denver Broncos after going up 17 to 3 and then lost to the Dallas Cowboys after going up 21 to 0. Sirianni is so hellbent on not turning the ball over that the offense can turtle up for prolonged stretches of the game. Sirianni has also shown a propensity to botch end of first half scoring scenarios by not even making a strong effort to get points.
B) The Eagles have been flat out bullied at times this season. They got wrecked by the New York Giants back in Week 6. They got pushed around by the Chicago Bears in Week 13. These games were the exception and not the norm. And it’s worth noting that they both took place on short rest. I’d be surprised if the Eagles don’t put forth a strong effort while at home in their first playoff game. But it wouldn’t be the first time it’s happened this season.
C) Adoree’ Jackson. The veteran cornerback has actually played pretty well down the stretch but I wouldn’t be surprised if Shanahan/Brock Purdy look to go after him. Should also note here that the Eagles have terrible cornerback depth if one of the outside starters gets injured. Kelee Ringo and Jakorian Bennett have been pretty disastrous in limited playing time.
5 – Who wins this game and why? With the Eagles currently listed as 4.5-point home favorites at the time of writing, what’s your score prediction?
The Eagles are up to 5.5-point favorites in some places. Between the line moving in their favor, Lane Johnson potentially returning, and the 49ers being banged up … it just feels like the momentum in working in Philly’s favor. Not to mention that the Eagles are undefeated at home in the playoffs in the Nick Sirianni/Jalen Hurts era (5-0).
I think it’s possible the Niners are being undersold since they were red hot prior to losing to the Seattle Seahawks. And I do worry about the Eagles’ offense being able to score points, even though they’re facing the worst defense that made the playoffs.
But I expect Hurts to play well enough to win and I expect Fangio to best Shanahan once again.