One year ago, who would’ve thought Sunday’s NFC Championship would come down to two quarterbacks under the age of 25 in the Eagles’ Jalen Hurts and 49ers’ Brock Purdy?
Yet here we are, with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line between two quarterbacks who are a combined 22-1 in their starts this season.
These two teams mirror each other in so many ways, from the playmakers on offense to the NFL’s top two-ranked defenses.
Maybe it will come down to the ravenous and raucous Eagles fans at Lincoln Financial Field. Or maybe the 23-year-old Purdy, the 262nd and last pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, will once again prove that he’s the polar opposite of Mr. Irrelevant and continue his Nick Foles-ian run to the Super Bowl.
Or maybe Hurts, playing through an injured shoulder, will show how he blossomed into an MVP candidate this season.
We can’t wait to find out. Here are our predictions:
Martin Frank, Eagles writer, Delaware News Journal
There are two major differences between the top two teams in the NFC − the quarterback and the crowd − and both heavily favor the Eagles. That will be enough.
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Prediction: Eagles 27, 49ers 19
Tom Moore, sports columnist, Bucks County Courier Times
It’s hard to believe the Eagles can play better than they did in last week’s 38-7 win over the Giants, but they should be good enough to get past the 49ers at the Linc.
Prediction: Eagles 27, 49ers 21
Brad Myers, sports reporter, Delaware News Journal
It won’t be easy to beat a team on a 12-game winning streak. But the Eagles will do it … in overtime.
Prediction: Eagles 23, 49ers 20, OT
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Kevin Tresolini, sports reporter, Delaware News Journal
Eagles defense and the loud, proud Linc crowd will be too much for 49ers rookie QB Brock Purdy, and Jalen Hurts and his offensive crew will make the necessary plays.
Prediction: Eagles 24, 49ers 16
Josh Friedman, sports reporter, Courier-Post
Both teams have explosive playmakers, stout defenses and outstanding coaching staffs. The biggest difference between the squads? The quarterbacks. Jalen Hurts is better than Brock Purdy and he’s the reason the Birds reach their second Super Bowl in the past six seasons.
Prediction: Eagles 20, 49ers 13
Drew Markol, sports reporter, Bucks County Courier Times
Don’t look for the Eagles to put up 38 points again like they did a week ago against the Giants. That’s not happening. This one is tight the whole way.
Prediction: Eagles 21, 49ers 20
Melissa Hanejko, sports reporter, Bucks County Courier Times
This one will be a little closer, but Jalen Hurts and A.J. Brown will come through to deliver the win at home!
Prediction: Eagles 30, 49ers 27
Steve Edelson, sports columnist, Gannett NJ/Asbury Park Press
The 49ers come in riding a 12-game winning streak on the strength of Mr. Irrelevant quarterback Brock Purdy. It’s a compelling storyline, but it’s the Eagles’ offense, which, featuring six Pro Bowlers, is as tough to stop as any team in the league when Jalen Hurts is healthy, against the 49ers’ top-ranked defense that will tell the story in this one. Hurts looked good-to-go against the Giants, and gives the Eagles the edge in this one.
Prediction: Eagles 24, 49ers 21
Bob Jordan, sports editor, Asbury Park Press
Philly’s defense can be soft defending the run and will let quarterbacks dink and dunk their way down the field – Christian McCaffrey, Elijah Mitchell and Brock Purdy couldn’t ask for more.
Prediction: 49ers 31, Eagles 21
Tom McGurk, sports editor, Courier-Post/Bucks County Courier Times
The Eagles’ defense takes advantage of a rookie QB playing in a big game, intercepting Brock Purdy three times including a late pick-6 to seal the Birds’ trip to Super Bowl LVII.
Prediction: Eagles 24, 49ers 16
