SF 49ERS at Eagles Pregame Thread - 2022 Season Conference Final

Originally posted by Youngbuck17:
No one has a Parsons, so no, the Eagles don't have one comparable to him. But we have a deeper D than Dallas with only one weakness, and that's at LB. So the Niners match up well there with Kittle, CMC and Deebo. But the Eagles comp that because they often get pressure and a ton of sacks just rushing 4, which allows more coverage help on passing downs. The Niners win if they can:
1) establish a strong run game and keep Purdy in safe situations with short to medium passes, with less than 20 pass attempts.
2) have long, sustained drives that keeps the Eagles O off the field
3) if the Niners can minimize the big plays (which is where they are vulnerable) and keep the scoring low.

Eagles win if they can:
1) establish at least a moderate run game. Doesn't need to be incredible in order for the RPO to be effective
2) hit those big plays, including Sanders' runs
3) get ahead early in order to try and get the Niners to get away from the run by the second half

Obviously there's more, but I think those things are key

The 49ers run blocking schemes in particular are quite dynamic with lots of movement in different directions. The "hole" is often a fluid thing kind of there one second gone the next. Quite a few good defenders are able to get to the right place but just a little too late which doesn't do much good. Parsons was able to get there in time much of the game. On a number of plays if he had been just a little slower he would have been a spectator. That's part of the reason the 49ers do better in the second half as defenders go from being in time to a little too late. Also why the offense can can have a famine to feast arc over the course of a game. Moreso than most teams the difference is often fractions of a second.

Originally posted by Eaglesfan32:

Originally posted by YACBros85:
I think Eagles fans are a little bit nervous about this game which is why you see an uptick of them posting in here this week.

I just love to talk football. I know this game can go either way. We been to 5 nfc championship games with Mcnabb to only go to 1 SB. Nothing to be nervous about. 2 great teams going at it.

Right, I think it's just a good matchup. Very similar teams, it's a good one to talk about. These aren't the Bucs and Giants anymore.

Originally posted by SLCNiner:
Admittedly, I didn't watch much of the Eagles this year, so I just looked through their schedule and scores, but now I understand the hype even less. Biggest wins came against the Steelers, Titans, Texans and Giants. Obviously we stumbled a bit at the beginning of the season, but look at the consistent dominance on display after week 7. While we lead the league in point differential, Philly is #2. People keep saying we haven't played anyone as good as Philly, but our SOS is tougher than theirs. Better team in this game is San Francisco, but the home field advantage Philly enjoys makes this game even more of a toss up. Looks like another game where the turnover battle likely decides the game, big surprise.

When it comes to SOS, you'll get slightly different results depending on if it's updated, and if the formula included injuries. I just searched "nfl strength of schedule 2022 updated" and used the first hit. Niners had the easiest SOS and the Eagles had the 4th easiest. And the fact that you didn't watch any Eagles games is obvious if you don't understand the hype. Not saying that the Eagles should just be anointed the SB winners or even the winner of this game. But you need to actually watch games of opponents if you're trying to give a fair evaluation. I'm no football expert, but I love it (too much), and have actually watched alot of Niners games. They're good. The hype for them is real, despite the easy schedule. You can see it in their scheming and in the talent of their roster, even against often inferior talent. Same as the Eagles.

The SOS argument against teams like the Eagles and Niners is lazy. The eye test is everything.

Originally posted by Midbay:
The 49ers run blocking schemes in particular are quite dynamic with lots of movement in different directions. The "hole" is often a fluid thing kind of there one second gone the next. Quite a few good defenders are able to get to the right place but just a little too late which doesn't do much good. Parsons was able to get there in time much of the game. On a number of plays if he had been just a little slower he would have been a spectator. That's part of the reason the 49ers do better in the second half as defenders go from being in time to a little too late. Also why the offense can can have a famine to feast arc over the course of a game. Moreso than most teams the difference is often fractions of a second.

Well put!

ground and pound grind it out type of game this will be

I would love this to be a blow out! But like Dallas the Eagles are going to scratch and claw throughout the game. I believe if we spy on Hurts and Brock manages the game well we can really beat Philly at there home! Lets go Niners

Originally posted by Youngbuck17:

Originally posted by SLCNiner:
Admittedly, I didn't watch much of the Eagles this year, so I just looked through their schedule and scores, but now I understand the hype even less. Biggest wins came against the Steelers, Titans, Texans and Giants. Obviously we stumbled a bit at the beginning of the season, but look at the consistent dominance on display after week 7. While we lead the league in point differential, Philly is #2. People keep saying we haven't played anyone as good as Philly, but our SOS is tougher than theirs. Better team in this game is San Francisco, but the home field advantage Philly enjoys makes this game even more of a toss up. Looks like another game where the turnover battle likely decides the game, big surprise.

When it comes to SOS, you'll get slightly different results depending on if it's updated, and if the formula included injuries. I just searched "nfl strength of schedule 2022 updated" and used the first hit. Niners had the easiest SOS and the Eagles had the 4th easiest. And the fact that you didn't watch any Eagles games is obvious if you don't understand the hype. Not saying that the Eagles should just be anointed the SB winners or even the winner of this game. But you need to actually watch games of opponents if you're trying to give a fair evaluation. I'm no football expert, but I love it (too much), and have actually watched alot of Niners games. They're good. The hype for them is real, despite the easy schedule. You can see it in their scheming and in the talent of their roster, even against often inferior talent. Same as the Eagles.

The SOS argument against teams like the Eagles and Niners is lazy. The eye test is everything.

It is a little lazy and I admit to not watching the games, but one team has been playing at a consistently high level despite injuries to 2 guys who play the most important position. Eagles look less than pedestrian with their backup QB, and that tells me the 49ers are the better TEAM. So when looking for ways to beat each, it's easy to see what needs to be done to beat Philly: stop Hurts. I can't point to one player the Eagles need to stop in order to beat the Niners. That being said, knowing you need to stop Hurts and doing it are 2 different things.

Originally posted by SLCNiner:
It is a little lazy and I admit to not watching the games, but one team has been playing at a consistently high level despite injuries to 2 guys who play the most important position. Eagles look less than pedestrian with their backup QB, and that tells me the 49ers are the better TEAM. So when looking for ways to beat each, it's easy to see what needs to be done to beat Philly: stop Hurts. I can't point to one player the Eagles need to stop in order to beat the Niners. That being said, knowing you need to stop Hurts and doing it are 2 different things.

The Eagles hung 34 on Dallas with Minchew. Still lost, but the team (with the most pro-bowlers in the NFL) is fantastic. Saying otherwise is absurd. I would argue that the biggest difference between these teams may come down to coaching. Siriani and Co. are still rather raw and untested in the NFL. Shanahan is a great coach with the obvious edge in experience. That may be the difference that the Niners need. But Doug Peterson won it for us in his second year against the evil empire. Anything can happen.

Regarding Hurts: he is the x-factor here for the Eagles, and he'll certainly scramble, but he's also banged up and also not Vick. He isn't looking to always run after going through one progression. I've heard people say this week that he's essentially a RB that throws. Last year I may have agreed with that. If someone says that this year, it's the fastest way to tell me that someone didn't watch any Eagles games this year. He's made strides I truly did not think were possible. We'll see if he can play at that level against the best defense he's faced in the NFL.

Originally posted by Youngbuck17:
The Eagles hung 34 on Dallas with Minchew. Still lost, but the team (with the most pro-bowlers in the NFL) is fantastic. Saying otherwise is absurd. I would argue that the biggest difference between these teams may come down to coaching. Siriani and Co. are still rather raw and untested in the NFL. Shanahan is a great coach with the obvious edge in experience. That may be the difference that the Niners need. But Doug Peterson won it for us in his second year against the evil empire. Anything can happen.

Regarding Hurts: he is the x-factor here for the Eagles, and he'll certainly scramble, but he's also banged up and also not Vick. He isn't looking to always run after going through one progression. I've heard people say this week that he's essentially a RB that throws. Last year I may have agreed with that. If someone says that this year, it's the fastest way to tell me that someone didn't watch any Eagles games this year. He's made strides I truly did not think was possible. We'll see if he can play at that level against the best defense he's faced in the NFL.

This is when I told a friend that neither of those teams were playing good defense that day. When you're scoring 34 points you're supposed to be winning that game. Just not having Hurts those two games exposed a lot about PHI as they had to March out a hobbled Hurts in order to secure the one seed in week 18

Gave up 40 to Dallas and 20 at home to NO who we blanked!

Hurts helps PHI play complimentary football. Sanders couldn't run without him and the defense couldn't stop a nosebleed without Hurts dominating time of possession getting explosives and taking the pressure off the defense

He really is the MVP and it showed weeks 16 and 17

but yeah the media isn't making SF the underdogs lol

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Is this the 5th or 6th time we have heard this?

pic.twitter.com/uhV5VvieKE

— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) January 25, 2023

but yeah the media isn't making SF the underdogs lol

This was the reason DAL was going to win.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Is this the 5th or 6th time we have heard this?

pic.twitter.com/uhV5VvieKE

— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) January 25, 2023

but yeah the media isn't making SF the underdogs lol

This was the reason DAL was going to win.

The gap is massive? These casuals know nothing.

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Is this the 5th or 6th time we have heard this?

pic.twitter.com/uhV5VvieKE

— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) January 25, 2023

but yeah the media isn't making SF the underdogs lol

This was the reason DAL was going to win.

Yeah they said the same about Dak Prescott.

Originally posted by YACBros85:

Originally posted by NinerBuff:

Originally posted by NYniner85:

Is this the 5th or 6th time we have heard this?

pic.twitter.com/uhV5VvieKE

— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) January 25, 2023

but yeah the media isn't making SF the underdogs lol

This was the reason DAL was going to win.

The gap is massive? These casuals know nothing.

Not if you look at the stats it's not. They are going by name recognition. Not actual performence.

Its always fun to analyze and go back and forth leading up to a game but football really is a simple game in the end.

The team that runs the ball better, creates more explosive plays and makes the least mistakes is going to win. All these rankings and stats dont even matter as both teams are very talented.

So which guy is going to have that costly fumble or that costly facemask or late hit on the QB or missed field goal. That big kick return or that tipped pass that gets picked. Stats and rankings cant predict those moments. This game can go many different ways leading to its outcome. Lets just hope the Niners are the ones on the good end of it.

Just look back to last post season vs GB. Pack were favored but who knew Fred would punch a ball out to cause a fumble. Willis would block a punt. You just never know. Go Niners!!