The immovable object versus the unstoppable power.
That would very properly be an apt descriptor for Sunday’s NFC Championship Recreation between the San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles.
In a single nook, the 49ers have the NFL’s greatest protection, and it’s a protection that appears downright scary in additional methods than one.
In one other nook, the Eagles completed with the league’s greatest file together with the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs at 14-3, they usually boast the very best offense within the convention.
San Francisco is in for its stiffest check in a while, particularly on condition that this contest will happen in Philly, which clearly has a harsher winter local weather than coastal California.
NFC ranks this season
49ers Protection Eagles Offense
PPG 1st 1st
YPG 1st 1st pic.twitter.com/C0v702DiAZ— NFL on CBS 🏈 (@NFLonCBS) January 24, 2023
Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts confirmed enchancment together with his passing this 12 months, throwing for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns towards simply six interceptions whereas posting a passer ranking of 101.5.
After all, his largest power is his skill to realize yards together with his legs, a capability that led to him posting 760 yards and 13 touchdowns on the bottom this 12 months.
Philly additionally has working again Miles Sanders, who added 1,269 speeding yards and 11 touchdowns.
Its passing assault isn’t too shabby both, due to the likes of extensive receivers A.J. Brown (1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns) and DeVonta Smith (1,196 yards and 7 touchdowns), in addition to tight finish Dallas Goedert (702 yards and three scores).
The likes of defensive finish Nick Bosa, center linebacker Fred Warner and security Talanoa Hufanga could have their fingers full attempting to clip the Eagles’ wings on Sunday.
Do The Eagles Have A Weak spot?
Nonetheless, on the opposite facet of the ball, Philly might have a weak point the 49ers can expose.
Its run protection is merely mediocre, because it ranked 16 in yards allowed and seventeenth in touchdowns allowed in the course of the common season.
The Eagles have the No. 21 run protection within the NFL, by DVOA. That isn’t good for them getting into a high-stakes playoff sport vs the 49ers.
Different Philly run D ranks:
Adjusted line yards: #22
Energy run D success rank: #32
Stuff proportion: #26— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 23, 2023
2 wildly disparate information:
-Eagles lead the NFL by a large margin in sack fee.
-Philadelphia ranks useless final, No. 32, in success fee on third- and fourth-and-short run protectionThe Eagles have constructed a staff that is all-in on speeding the passer. Downside is the 49ers are totally different
— David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 23, 2023
The Niners are maybe the right staff to show that potential gap, between working backs Christian McCaffrey and Elijah Mitchell, versatile extensive receiver Deebo Samuel and the good offensive thoughts of head coach Kyle Shanahan.
Prepare for what may very well be a fierce tug of warfare on Sunday.
