PHILADELPHIA − The 49ers are playing in their third NFC Championship game in four years, winning one and losing one.
Their core players have all been in this situation before, so the Lincoln Financial Field crowd will not be a distraction for them. Quarterback Brock Purdy is a different story as he is making only his eighth NFL start, and just his third on the road.
No doubt, the crowd, not to mention the Eagles’ pass rush, will be a factor.
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But what about Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts? There is so much riding on his shoulders, especially his right one that Eagles coach Nick Sirianni admitted is still getting treatment. Getting to the Super Bowl in his second full season as a starter, and just one year away from being eligible for a contract extension, will no doubt cement his status as an Eagles icon.
Yet just like Purdy, this is Hurts’ first NFC Championship game. It’s the same for many Eagles. Only seven players on the current 53-man roster remain from their last conference title game five years ago. Of the Eagles’ skill position players, only A.J. Brown has played in a conference championship game, as a rookie with the Tennessee Titans in 2019.
That doesn’t mean the Eagles’ young players haven’t played in big games.
Hurts, for example, was in the college football playoffs, or the football version of the final four, all four of his seasons. He was teammates with wide receiver DeVonta Smith and left guard Landon Dickerson for two of those seasons at Alabama. Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean were on the 2021 Georgia team that won the national championship.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni said that counts for something.
“Big time,” Sirianni said. “Playing in big games, that’s why you want guys like that from those types of programs. They’ve played in the biggest spotlight in college for the biggest prize … That’s super helpful because it’s not that you treat it any different, but you’ve been in that scenario before.”
That probably wouldn’t faze Hurts anyway. Running back Miles Sanders said Hurts is as “even-steven as they come.”
Even Hurts himself said he doesn’t prepare for this game, or any game, any differently.
“I think every moment is teachable and valuable,” Hurts said. “This is a new moment. I don’t really look into the past, or even the future. I just get ready for this game.”
FOX is televising the game at 3 p.m., with Kevin Burkhardt and Greg Olsen calling the action, and Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi providing sideline coverage.
Eagles’ DBs healthy for 1st time in months
The Eagles are getting a key component of their secondary back as nickel corner Avonte Maddox returns after missing the previous three games with a toe injury.
It’ll mark the first time both Maddox and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson have been in the lineup together since Nov. 3 against Houston. Maddox left that game with a hamstring injury and went on injured reserve, returning Dec. 11. By then, Gardner-Johnson was out with a lacerated kidney.
Gardner-Johnson returned Jan. 1, but Maddox was out with his toe injury.
The Eagles’ inactives were QB Ian Book, CB Josiah Scott, RB Trey Sermon, S Anthony Harris, LB Kyron Johnson and G Josh Sills. The Eagles had given Harris the practice-squad elevation.
3 things I’m watching
- Bouncing with Bosa: 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa led the NFL with 18.5 sacks this season. Bosa lines up on both sides, meaning that he’ll go against both left tackle Jordan Mailata and right tackle Lane Johnson, who’s playing through a torn adductor muscle. If Johnson is his usual impenetrable force, then Bosa will spend more time against Mailata. He’ll have to be up to the task.
- Diva receivers: A lot was made about A.J. Brown not being happy with his targets last week against the Giants as he finished with only 3 catches for 22 yards. That should change against the 49ers, who despite having the NFL’s top-ranked defense, are only 20th against the pass, allowing 223 yards per game.
- Purdy good? Purdy has been a revelation for the 49ers, with many speculating that he’ll be named the starter next season over Trey Lance, the No. 3 overall pick in the draft last spring. Lance was taken 259 spots ahead of Purdy. A win in the championship game should make that a fait accompli.
Prediction: Eagles 27, 49ers 19.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
