Eagles Upset 49ers 25-20 on SNF
Santa Clara, CA: In a game that featured the two most injury-ridden teams in the NFL, the Philadelphia Eagles came in playing underdog to a 49ers team that was missing it’s starting quarterback, running back, pass rushers, and outside corners. And while San Francisco was riding the hot hand coming into Sunday night, winning two straight against the New York Jets & New York Giants, respectively, quarterback Carson Wentz led the Eagles an ugly, gritty, 25-20 win over the defending NFC Champion 49ers.
A win’s a win, even when it’s ugly
Even before the season started, the Eagles lost some solid players, particularly on the offensive line. Losing right guard Brandon Brooks (torn Achilles) and left tackle Andre Dillard (torn biceps) during the off-season was just the start of Philadelphia’s injury woes. Since then, the Eagles have lost four of their top receivers (Alshon Jeffery, J.J Arcega-Whiteside, DeSean Jackson, and Jalen Reagor), two starting-caliber defensive backs (Avonte Maddox & Trevor Williams), their starting right tackle (Lane Johnson), and their replacement left tackle (Jason Peters). And we’re just scratching the surface here. As if it wasn’t bad enough, quarterback Carson Wentz has been playing terribly, throwing for just 737 yards, three touchdowns, and six interceptions in his last three games.
And yet, in a game where the national audience and the NBC broadcasting panel picked the 49ers to win across the board, the Eagles made everyone and their mother look foolish. The stats say that Wentz played at a pedestrian level; 18/28 (64% completion) for 193 yards, seven carries for 37 rushing yards, a passing touchdown, one rushing touchdown, and an interception. But on the eye test, Wentz played his heart out. His best play of the night was the one that changed the tide; on second and 19, Wentz lobs the ball deep to second-year wideout Travis Fulgham (2-57-1), who wrestled with a defensive back as he tip-toed his way into the endzone for a 42-yard score. Aside from that play, the rest of the Eagles offense was silent. Primary half-back Miles Sanders only got 13 carries for 46 yards, as coach Peterson elected to go with a running back-by-committee approach near the end of the game, which resulted in 93 total rushing yards by six different ball carriers. Veteran tight end Zach Ertz only registered four catches on five targets for nine yards, his lowest of the season. “Big Team win,” Wentz said in his post-game presser. "[The] defense played their tails off, turnovers were huge for us. Guys just rallied around each other and played their tails off.”
Speaking of the defense, the unit was Philly’s saving grace, forcing San Francisco to punt for times and turn the ball over three times. The unit registered 15 total quarterback hits, five sacks, a forced fumble, and two interceptions, with the second pick by linebacker Alex Singleton going to the house for a 30-yard pick-six.
Defending Champs On the Ropes
In the last two games, head coach Kyle Shanahan orchestrated two blow out games against both of New York City’s “football teams”; beating the Jets 31-13 and the Giants 36-9 with B & C-team players. Over the course of those two games, though, San Fran lost almost every playmaker on both sides of the ball. They lost three of their top pass rushers (Dee Ford, Nick Bosa, and Solomon Thomas), their starting corners (Emmanuel Mosely, Kyle Williams, and Richard Sherman), their starting two running backs (Tevin Coleman and Raheem Mostert), and their starting quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo), along with a laundry list of other significant injuries.
After the Giants game, coach Shanahan was asked whether backup quarterback Nick Mullens, who threw for over 300 yards against New York, could compete for the starting job once Garoppolo came back from injury. Shanahan answered with a resounding no, and against the Eagles, we can now see why. Mullens was good against the Giants, but not that good. Against a desperate Eagles defense, Mullens was abused and confused; throwing for 200 yards even, a touchdown, a lost fumble, two momentum-killing interceptions. It got so bad, he was benched for C.J. Beathard (14/19 – 138), whose fourth-quarter comeback bid came up short with seven seconds left on the clock.
On the Brightside, star tight end George Kittle’s return to the gridiron was as big and loud as he is. Despite missing the last two weeks with a knee injury, Kittle caught 15 balls on 15 targets for 183 yards and a touchdown, along with one carry for eight yards.
On defense, the injury-riddled front seven registered 10 quarterback hits and three sacks against Wentz, even picking him off on a pass-deflection at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter. They kept Philly to just 267 total offensive yards (174 passing, 93 rushing) on the night, but just couldn’t keep them out of the endzone.
What’s next?
The Eagles are coming back to the East coast with a win, but they’re set to face in-state rival Pittsburgh, who’s coming off an extra week of rest after their week four-game against the Tennessee Titans was postponed due to a COVID outbreak in Tennessee.
As for San Francisco, they’re getting a chance at a bounce-back game, as they’re set to host a 1-3 Miami Dolphins team. However, don’t let the record fool you; this Fitzmagic-led squad went blow-for-blow in a close 31-23 loss to NFC West rival (and division leader) Seattle Seahawks.
Writer
-By: Juan Guarin-Camargo