49ers (15-4) at Eagles (15-3)
Sunday, 3 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia TV: Fox
Tipico Sportsbook line: Eagles by 2 ⁄2
1
49ers’ keys to victory: San Francisco will need to establish its running game while setting up opportunities for QB Brock Purdy to take shots via play-action. TE George Kittle and WR Deebo Samuel will attack the Eagles from different levels, while RBs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell will look to gash a defensive front that can be susceptible to zone running schemes. DE Nick Bosa will be hunting for Eagles QB Jalen Hurts off the edge, while LB Fred Warner will work to contain Philadelphia’s running game.
Eagles’ keys to victory: Philly uses the pass to set up the run, though running against this 49ers front seven will be extremely challenging. The Eagles will look to get WRs A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith one-on-one with cornerbacks while scheming TE Dallas Goedert into space over the middle. When Philadelphia looks to get physical up front, it will use Sanders, RB Boston Scott and RB Kenneth Gainwell, who combined for 234 yards on 35 carries last round against the Giants. How much the Eagles run the ball with Hurts, who missed Weeks 16 and 17 with a shoulder injury, is a big question.
Matchup to watch: Eagles DE Josh Sweat vs. 49ers LT Trent Williams. Williams is one of the NFL’s top left tackles and is athletic enough to counter the speed and athleticism of Sweat around the edge. Philadelphia sacked Daniel Jones five times in the divisional round and will look to pressure Purdy from start to finish.
Who wins? The Eagles are at home, have an extra day of rest and the better QB.
Eagles, 28-14