Two of the most complete teams in the NFL face off when the Philadelphia Eagles host the San Francisco 49ers Sunday in the NFC championship game.
[Niners quarterback Brock Purdy](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/bell/2023/01/14/brock-purdy-first-playoff-game-niners-seahawks/11057979002/) is looking to become the [first rookie quarterback to win a conference title game](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/columnist/nate-davis/2023/01/23/nfl-playoffs-championship-sunday-story-lines-super-bowl-57/11104243002/). [last time Hurts and Purdy faced off](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/01/25/brock-purdy-jalen-hurts-iowa-state-oklahoma-nfc-championship-game/11114422002/) was in an epic Big 12 regular-season matchup at the college level. Still, the Eagles finished 26th in expected points added (EPA) per play against the run. The one weakness, if you want to call it that, on the Eagles defense is at interior defensive line. Smith had a touchdown and led all Eagles with six catches for 61 yards against the Giants. Brown and DeVonta Smith on the other side, in addition to tight end Dallas Goedert. San Francisco's middle linebackers Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw will be charged with keeping Hurts honest if he moves outside of the pocket. [Jalen Hurts was MVP frontrunner](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2023/01/25/nfl-names-finalists-mvp-other-regular-season-awards/11118767002/) before a late-season shoulder injury. Purdy’s ability to extend plays and create outside of the offense will be essential. Lincoln Financial Field will be a bumping environment, and the Niners worked on silent snap counts during practice this week. “Stuff was tighter, things were harder, but he still protected the ball very well and made a few big plays in some key moments.” The Seattle Seahawks defense contained the Niners’ passing attack in the first half of their wild card game.
This is it. The last exit on the road to the Super Bowl. The NFC Championship is a day away. This stuff hypes itself. A lot of people think this game will ...
Last year in the NFC Championship Game he had a chance to go for it on 4th and 2 up 17-14 on the Rams with 10 minutes to go. A minute and a half of game time later, with 1:15 to go, he had the ball back after a Dak Prescott interception gave the 49ers the ball on their 28. His worst quarter is the 4th, where he is completing 56% of his passes for a 71.4 rating. His worst performance has come on 1st and 10, where he has completed 57% of his passes for 1 TD and 3 INTs and a 67.3 rating. Where the 49ers could have a real advantage is their dependance on yards after the catch. The Cowboys did give him his worst game so far, but even then he was not bad, completing 66% of his passes for 7.4 yards per attempt and he didn’t turn the ball over. His pass that hit Anthony Barr in the hands that then just missed Brandon Ayuik and then fell out of the hands of Trevon Diggs was exceptional fortune and not the first close call Purdy has had. The 49ers will put any of their players anywhere on any snap, and give them the ball. The 49ers pass rush is hugely dependent on Nick Bosa, who has 42% of their sacks, and they had just one against the Cowboys. When they face a team with a deep threat WR and a deep threat QB, they have struggled. Outside of their Week 1 slopfest in the rain, the 49ers have had seven games they lost or won by a single score, and five of them had an opposing WR having a big game: CeeDee Lamb had 117 yards, his third most of the season; Davante Adams had 153, his second most of the season and 2 TDs; JuJu Smith-Schuster had 124 and a TD, in the same game Marquez Valdes-Scantling had 111, both were season highs; and Courtland Sutton had 97, the second most of his season. The Eagles also bring explosive plays, they’re 2nd in the NFL in pass plays of 20+ and 40+ yards.
Here are our predictions for the Eagles-49ers NFC Championship Game on Sunday afternoon at the Linc.
Irrelevant on the ground early, he’s going to get skittish, he’s going to put the ball in harm’s way, and his coach is going to get conservative. Everywhere you look, it feels like the Niners have a reasonable answer for the strengths that have carried this Eagles team to 15 wins. The 49ers allowed 3.4 rush yards per attempt this year, second-best in the NFL. The Birds are in for the hardest game of their season to this point. He and the Eagles offense have an answer for everything and that won’t change, even against the best possible opponent. The Eagles have the better quarterback. Both teams has legitimate stars on offense and defense and they were two of the most balanced teams in the NFL this season. And the last tiebreaker: The Linc. It’s not just best in the league, it’s one of the best ever. The Eagles also have the better in-game manager. This could be the most violent game of the 2022 season and having that game at the Linc in the NFC Championship Game is extremely exciting. Purdy is elusive in the pocket, he’s smart, he gets rid of the ball quickly and he’s got terrific weapons.
Micah Roberts revealed his NFL picks and NFL predictions for Philadelphia vs. San Francisco in the NFL playoffs 2023.
[See which team to pick here](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/eagles-vs-49ers-line-odds-start-time-san-francisco-expert-releases-spread-pick-for-nfc-championship-game/#ttag=01242023_agg_cbssports_picks_football_nfl_micahroberts_49ersEaglesExpert). [Dre Greenlaw](/nfl/players/2185496/dre-greenlaw/). They also ranked second in the league in both rushing yards allowed per game (77.7) and yards allowed per rush (3.4). 49ers](https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/game-forecast/NFL_20230129_SF@PHI/) and locked in his NFC Championship Game picks and predictions. [You can head to SportsLine now to see his picks](https://www.sportsline.com/insiders/eagles-vs-49ers-line-odds-start-time-san-francisco-expert-releases-spread-pick-for-nfc-championship-game/#ttag=01242023_agg_cbssports_picks_football_nfl_micahroberts_49ersEaglesExpert). 49ers in the NFC Championship Game 2023? [Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Eagles vs. [Haason Reddick](/nfl/players/2001828/haason-reddick/) is a pass-rushing force. Now, here are several [NFL odds](https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/odds/) and betting lines for 49ers vs. The winner on Sunday will face either the [Bengals](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/CIN/cincinnati-bengals/) or [Chiefs](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/KC/kansas-city-chiefs/) in Super Bowl 57 on Feb. [San Francisco 49ers](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/SF/san-francisco-49ers/) can move one step closer to ending their [Super Bowl](/nfl/superbowl/) title drought when they take on the [Philadelphia Eagles](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/teams/PHI/philadelphia-eagles/) in the 2023 NFC Championship Game on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. Philadelphia is a 2.5-point favorite in the latest 49ers vs.
The Birds may be favored to advance to the Super Bowl, but when it comes to picking sides in Sunday's NFC championship, there are almost as many people ...
Let’s take a look at who the local writers are picking ... Michael David Smith, on the other hand, has the 49ers winning in a close one. And when it comes [to the spread](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/picks/experts/against-the-spread/21/), five think they’ll cover the 2.5-point spread. They’re equally split on the AFC championship (Bengals vs. · Just like in the divisional round against the Giants, all three of our Eagles beat writers are backing the Birds this weekend. And now, as the No. (We see you, Josh.) 1 seed and And the The NFC championship. The main difference this time?
Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster for the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field.
The rookie defensive tackle could play a key role against the 49ers’ physical running game. The veteran defensive end will play a key role against the 49ers’ bookend tackles. The undrafted rookie will play a significant role in his first NFL playoff game. The NFL’s fifth-leading rusher, Sanders will play a vital role in the Eagles’ rushing attack. Gainwell gained 112 yards in the Eagles’ win over the Giants and he’ll play a key role in the matchup against San Francisco. Smith logged his first 1,000-yard season and he’ll play a key role in the Eagles’ explosive passing game.
On Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field at 3 p.m. ET, the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers will grapple for the NFC championship and a ticket to the ...
[NFL picks](https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/picks/#ttag=SL19_lk_cbssports_nfl_htw) for every single game, including this one, from SportsLine's advanced computer model. [Get picks now](https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/picks/#ttag=SL19_lk_cbssports_nfl_htw). Regional restrictions may apply.) [NFL odds](https://www.sportsline.com/nfl/odds/#ttag=SL19_lk_cbssports_nfl_htw/). This next matchup is expected to be close, with Philadelphia going off at just a 2.5-point favorite. Meanwhile, the Dallas Cowboys typically have all the answers at home, but last week the 49ers proved too difficult a challenge. [Christian McCaffrey](https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/players/playerpage/2136743). It was a group effort with four guys contributing. Both teams have allowed few points on average (the Eagles 19.5, San Francisco 16.42), so any points scored will be well earned. This was the first time Gainwell has racked up 100+ rushing yards all year. Philadelphia took their contest against New York last week by a conclusive 38-7 score. With Philadelphia ahead 28 to nothing at the half, the game was all but over already.
Who do the NFL experts pick to win this matchup of epic proportions? We've compiled their choices, and here's what they're saying.
The San Francisco 49ers (13-4) will make their third N.F.C. championship game appearance in four seasons when they face the top-seeded Philadelphia Eagles ...
DeMeco Ryans, the defensive coordinator, has become a sought-after coaching candidate by other teams because of the unit’s success, and defensive end Nick Bosa, who leads the league in sacks (18.5), is a favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year Award. The 49ers are the more injured team, but Shanahan said he expects McCaffrey (calf), Samuel (ankle) and running back Elijah Mitchell (groin) to play. McCaffrey, who has posted 1,403 yards from scrimmage and 12 touchdowns since joining San Francisco, complements the versatile receiver Deebo Samuel and adds to a crop of targets that also include tight end George Kittle and receiver Brandon Aiyuk. Defensively, the Eagles secured the most sacks (70) and allowed the fewest passing yards per game (179.8), largely because of players Roseman traded for or added in free agency in the last three years, such as cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry and linebacker Haason Reddick. Hurts’s rushing ability, coupled with his arm, has allowed the Eagles to thrive in Coach Nick Sirianni’s run-pass option offense, a scheme that allows the quarterback to hand the ball off or throw to a receiver depending on the reaction of the defense. The matchup is likely to be decided by whose offensive line performs better. The Eagles, the top seed in the N.F.C., share the best record in the N.F.L. Hurts, selected in the second round of the 2020 N.F.L. [the last pick of the 2022 N.F.L. But he was inserted midway through the year after injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. But the modest spread also shows that experts predict this game between two of the league’s best teams to be competitive. The San Francisco 49ers (13-4) will make their third N.F.C.