Nick Foles comes off his strongest performance of the season, one in which he stood tall without the presence of a running game or an established offensive line, and still threw for over 300 yards and three touchdowns. Foles is beginning to get comfortable with his new weapons. He’s developed a good rapport with Jeremy Maclin, hooking up with the veteran receiver for touchdowns in each of the first three games of the season, and last week found his groove with Jordan Matthews for two scores.
Colin Kaepernick is an enigma. His physical talent is off the charts, but he struggles heavily with consistency. I had been a pretty big fan of Kaepernick after he first burst onto the scene two years ago, but he really lost me with his terrible performance several weeks ago against the Bears. He just isn’t a smart quarterback, and he leans on his raw athleticism to beat a team rather than really grasping what a defense is trying to do to him and looking for weak points to exploit. Its been a struggle for Kaepernick just to get over the 200-yard mark every week. Last week, 30 of his 37 pass attempts were within 10 yards of the line of scrimmage.
Advantage: Eagles
Running Back
LeSean McCoy picked up just 22 yards from scrimmage last week, and he’s really been frustrated through the first three weeks. The lack of stability on the offensive line has really made it difficult for the Eagles to get McCoy going.
Darren Sproles finally cooled off a bit last week, but still gave the Eagles 50 total yards. With all of the other weapons, its so difficult to account for Sproles and his quickness coming out of the backfield.
Frank Gore picked up just 10 yards last week after rushing for over 60 in each of the first two games. Gore has a ton of miles on him, but is still a reliable, tough runner. The Eagles struggled to bring down a physical runner in Alfred Morris last week, so this is a week where Gore could enjoy some good success.
The Niners also have an intriguing rookie in Carlos Hyde, who they’re eager to work into their gameplan every week. Hyde has found the endzone twice in three games, while giving the team a nice change of pace from Gore.
Its hard to envision the Eagles really getting McCoy back on track until their offensive line either gets comfortable with all of the new players or gets healthy with the return of the starters.
Advantage: 49ers
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Jeremy Maclin has scored in every game, and is averaging nearly 100 yards per contest. Last week he finished with eight catches for 154 yards, and could have had even more on that total if not for a questionable illegal block in the back penalty on a long touchdown reception. Jordan Matthews broke out with two touchdown receptions last week, and could really be on his way to flourishing in this offense. Riley Cooper caught four balls last week, including one tough grab on a third down to keep a drive alive, but his impact has been very minimal through three weeks.
Zach Ertz had his quietest game of the year in Week 3, with just one reception, while Brent Celek has been held without a catch over the last two weeks and has been relegated to assisting the patchwork offensive line as a blocker.
The 49ers have a pretty average group of receivers where no one is the clear-cut number one option. On any given week, Anquan Boldin, Michael Crabtree, or Stevie Johnson could see the bulk of the targets. Last week it was Johnson, who went over 100 yards for the first time as a 49er. Boldin remains a very tough receiver who will go fight for a ball in traffic and is always dependable. Crabtree hasn’t lived up to his first-round billing, but is still a decent NFL wideout. This group’s impact week to week is limited by the effectiveness of Kaepernick.
Tight end Vernon Davis is to be a game-time decision, but when healthy is still one of the league’s top tight ends.
Advantage: Eagles
Offensive Line
The Eagles will have their third different starting offensive line combination in four games, rolling out a lineup that from left to right goes Jason Peters, Matt Tobin, David Molk, Dennis Kelly, and Todd Herremans. It will be the first career starts for Tobin and Molk, and the first start for Herremans at tackle since 2012.
Molk is the key guy for the Eagles this week. The center needs to be able to make calls properly and make sure everything gets communicated well to the other offensive lineman. If a center struggles, it could potentially sabotage even the best offense. Jason Kelce made a good point earlier this week, stating that Molk, Tobin, and Kelly should at least be comfortable with each other from working together on the second team in practice and in the preseason. Hopefully that theory holds some weight, and new-look offensive line will at least be serviceable for the Birds.
The 49ers line hopes to get starting tackle Anthony Davis back this week, who would be a strong upgrade over Jonathan Martin. San Francisco has a couple of Pro-Bowl caliber players on their front, including tackle Joe Staley and guard Mike Iupati. These are physical, powerful guys that make it difficult for an Eagles defense that already struggles to generate pressure to get to Kaepernick.
Advantage: 49ers
Defensive Line
Fletcher Cox has been one of the defense’s best players through three weeks, but he needs some other guys to step up and help him out. Bennie Logan and Cedric Thornton have been pretty quiet, while the Eagles still aren’t getting Vinny Curry enough snaps. Brandon Bair and Beau Allen have been getting regular snaps but haven’t done enough with them.
Ray McDonald and Justin Smith anchor the 49er defensive front. They’re a couple of solid veterans, and a couple battle-hardened guys like this that have been in plenty of big games are going to create problems for the interior of the Eagles’ offensive line. Smith leads the team with three sacks.
Advantage: 49ers
Linebackers
The Eagles are going to be without Mychal Kendricks for at least another week, which means the Eagles are going to continue to defy all logic and play Casey Matthews over Emmanuel Acho. Matthews continues to just be an absolute eyesore anytime he’s on the field, and I can’t understand why they can’t just commit to Acho and see what he’s got when its painfully obvious that Matthews is a complete and utter liability.
I would expect a much better game from Connor Barwin this week. He recorded just one assist against Washington, and he’s usually much more impactful than that. DeMeco Ryans is the team leader with 18 tackles, but hasn’t made any notable plays through three weeks. Trent Cole has been MIA since forcing a fumble in Week 1.
The 49ers are missing two key guys here in Navarro Bowman and Aldon Smith, but they’ve still got a couple of pretty good guys standing in Patrick Willis and Ahmad Brooks. Willis looks like he’s fallen off a bit from what he was a couple of years ago, but he’s still a top inside linebacker.
Advantage: 49ers
Secondary
I know Kirk Cousins dropped over 400 yards on the Eagles’ secondary, but I think this group played a lot better than people think. Bradley Fletcher, Brandon Boykin, and Malcolm Jenkins all made big plays for this group a week ago. Fletcher and Boykin broke up several key passes, including Boykin’s knock down on a third-down during the final Washington drive. Jenkins has made two game-changing interceptions in the last two games.
The complete and utter lack of a pass rush is the real culprit for why Kirk Cousins lit this defense up a week ago.
The 49ers have really been struggling in their defensive backfield. Starting corners Tremaine Brock and Chris Culliver have been pretty bad so far, while first-round pick Eric Reid is still trying to find his way in the league. Veteran Antone Bethea is the one dependable veteran that they’ve got.
I think the Eagles’ corners matchup very well against the 49er receivers. San Francisco doesn’t have many burners, and play a slower, more physical style that I think plays into the strengths of Cary Williams and Bradley Fletcher.
Advantage: Eagles
Special Teams
The Eagles’ special teams have been a major factor in each of the their wins. From clutch field goals from undrafted rookie kicker Cody Parkey, to kick and punt returns from Darren Sproles and Chris Polk, to solid execution of Jon Dorenbos and Donnie Jones, this is one of the league’s top special teams groups.
The Niner’s special teams don’t stand out much. Bruce Ellington is their primary returner on kicks and punts, and hasn’t done anything notable. Phil Dawson and Andy Lee are very reliable veteran kickers, but if I had my pick, I’d go Parkey and Jones over them easily.
Advantage: Eagles
Intangibles/Projected Outcome
The 49ers are a tough team to figure out.
Certainly this is a group that has taken a step back from what they were. The defense is without many key figures in the front seven and secondary, and they’re no longer an elite, shutdown group. The league has figured out Colin Kapernick, and the talented athlete hasn’t been able to counter with adjustments of his own.
And what you have is a team that is 1-2, with their only victory coming over the Cowboys. They self-destructed in a loss to the Bears in Week 2, and allowed a career backup in Drew Stanton to come in and beat them a week ago in a division loss to the Cardinals.
And yet, this is a group that I still respect. This is a franchise that has been to three straight NFC Championship games, and they’ve got their backs against the wall in this game. This is their opportunity to knock off one of the only undefeated teams in the NFC, and a win this week in front of their home fans would do a lot to restore respectability throughout the league. This is a much more important game for San Francisco than it is for the Eagles.
For the Eagles, they’ve now got to make a cross-country trip after three wild games, capped off by a nail-biting division game against the Redskins.
The Eagles have absolutely got to avoid the slow starts that they’ve been getting off to. Sooner or later, slow starts are going to catch up to this team.
The San Francisco defense is weakened, but the matchup against the Eagles’ offensive favors them immensely, and they should be able to take away the run and generate pressure on Nick Foles.
The Eagles have a chance to go out and win this game, but I think its very difficult to rip off four straight in the NFL, especially going out west to play a quality opponent.
Pick: San Francisco 24, Philadelphia 20
A few Key Players on 49ers who are dinged up and are Questionable
To Play Sunday
Safety A Bethea with high-ankle Sprain (replaced by Rookie Jimmie Ward)
TE Vernon Davis
Back-up TE Vance McDonald ( a receiving threat)
RT – Anthony Davis who has not played a game Yet leaving the soft, turnstile
Jonathon Martin to Play
LG -M Iupati will likely play, but is still hurting from off-season broken leg..
The 49ers opened up last week with 4-5 WR Sets on Offense dur to being thin at TE, so many of their usual double TE overstacked OL Sets will be minimized
With injuries along their OL & TE
I expect a wide-open Game and probably a shootout if the Eagles can
Defend the Rush early on…
As the week has gone on, I like the Eagles chances better and better
But they must get off to a decent start, move the ball, protect the ball
If 49ers come out and try to establish the Run with over stacked OL
Then I would like the Eagles to play a 4-3 with F Cox over Jonathon Martin
Bennie Logan and Beau Allen inside and C Thornton on the other end
And go with 3 LB’s with Ryans playing a more traditional MLB
This may not be a bad lineup to o
This may not be a bad lineup for Eagles to open the game to
See how the 49ers react..
Is Cox healthy for this game? I know that he has some back spasms, so there may be some creative defensive line rotations.
I would agree, I think that seeing the success of the ‘Skins running attack with that unbalanced cutback strategy, I would not be surprised to run something similar until the Birds prove they can stop it. Thornton has always been stronger versus the run, but don’t think he had one of his better games last week. Logan’s numbers were good, but from my watching the game it did not seem like he was making the stops at the line. Beau Allen is still young, not sure that he will ever be a dominate force, but I think that he can be a very good rotational player who provides a spark.
I think that the Eagles will play loose this game. Nobody really expects a win, and the pressure is much more on the niners with a “must win” game. I said it before and will stick with the prediction, I see the Eagles surprising a lot of people and play a full game here and blow the niners out. Even with the state of the offensive line, it will be a surprise to everyone. I also think that the niners are ready to implode, so hopefully the Eagles can help them get there.
GO BIRDS !!!!
Paulman …you change feelings like a senior with bladder issues changes his depends…lmao…this game obviously scares you..get an alpha dog ..greenman ,I’m in your camp and have stated so..the familiarity bill Davis has with this opponent ,makes me hopeful they don’t put there offense into predictable situations..I also strongly agree ,our pass rush would so much help our back end ..MATTHEWS IS AN ENIGMATIC POINT…why ? Agree with Denny ..he looks like a fish in the boat ,flopping and sliding ..he’s a very good special teamer and appears disciplined ,my only conclusion playing him over Ochoa.is he’s calling and trusted with signals …I can’t underestimate that ,but can’t that be taught to an obviously more gifted athlete in Ochoa?Williams put himself clearly in the cross hairs ,he’d best shut the fuck up and play his tired ass off…I sense a game that is won by Nick on the road ,where he plays as omfortable as a broken in pair of blue jeans at Levi’s stadium …if Foles outplays Kapernick and Luck ,on the road that would be a hell of an endorsement ,and as stated ,the birds better not wait on re-signing Mac and Spending some of the 20 mill wisely …I sense another big time game …the 600 pound ape is the O Line …like vinnie has shared his concerns ,let’s get out of dodge intact ,and a convincing W going into two potentially winnable games ,is a pretty enticing horizon for the holidays and beyond ..I sense $$$ a good run of jersey at the holidays …what will be a green Xmas
It’s what happens sometimes when you pass
50 Years of Age… The 49ers have lots of injuries,Suspensions and internal Turmoil going on so I like the Eagles chances better than I did earlier this week
It will come down to Turnovers, Special Teams Play,
Penalties and what Team can Run the Ball when it counts,
But make no mistake about it, this is a Must-Win for the
49ers at Home for them to lose and drop to 1-3 with 3
Conference losses to Bears,Cardinals & Eagles would
Severely dampen their Drive to making the 2014 Post-Season
I expect them to pkay with urgency, intensity and Playoff type of emotion
If Eagles can withstand the 1st Half and be close,
They got a good chance of winning..
But the Eagles will need to match their Energy and Intensity from
The get go…
49ers still have Seahawks Twice, Rams Twice, 1 vs Cardinals,
Then Broncos,Chargers Saints and Giants on their Schedule and
Would have to go 7-2 after a 1-3 Start if they lost to Eagles…
This is the 49ers 2014 Season right here I believe.
It’s the sport of Kings better than Diamond Rings
F-O-O-T-B-A-L-L.
Are you ready for some football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Go Eagles!!!
Nick Foles took a beating against Washington at home but McCoy left the game in worse shape than that —
David Amerson gave him a temple shot that required locker room concussion protocol attention but his only 22 yards on 19 carries bruised his ego more.
need a 100 from McCoy
and a 100 form Maclin today
I expect to see RB Polk get some Carries today
Alex Henery with a 51 yard FG? That’s weird.
Pman ..you know I speak in jest …love your insights ..I too expect a lot of the run games to be utilized ..the 49ers have gotten away from who they are ..I’m hoping they don’t figure it out …
This is a Game of attrition as 5-6 Players have left the field from both sides
(Boykin,Matthews, Crabtree, Anthony Davis)
Eagles getting their share of questionable calls
Poor Tackling by the Eagles is coating them big time..
Foles is off Target..as is Kapernick
Eagles DL Players well and bringing pressure on the pass
but not getting off blocks against the run.
Eagles LB’s versus the run are nowhere to be found..
Will the negative nitwits who wanted Byrd please stand up! Shiny toys
Three FA signings in the off season… Oops sparkles was a trade. 2 FA and one trade for a fifth rounder … Yet the assholes say it was a shitty off season
Remember….
Traded Brown to Bills for a 4th. Trade a 5th for Sproles.
Overall. Brown and a 5th for Sproles and a 4th.
Awesome.
GREAT START LETS GO BIRDS!!!!!!
So wait…I can’t see the game…but there are 21 points scored and not by the offense?
Harbaugh must be having a coronary.
lol
Eagles are good. Special teams awesome. Krapernick is horrible.
Only downer is holding penalties on Oline continually putting O in a hole. Foles is ok, but has missed two deep throws by about a foot each….if he had hit those, might be a blowout.
Bold in is a man
If by chance the eagles get out of this with a win it will be huge!
UGH. Annoying.
WHile the way Krapernick play, you know they’ll never win because there is no consistency, but he hits those (3rd downer to Boldin).
Aikman “he ad libs and just ‘makes a play!’
He’s right. That kind of shit is enteratining (and in this case annoying) but never wins consistently.
So far Krapernick has made 2 plays….the roll left – completely BS throwback to Gore for the TD and then this prayer to Boldin.
Anyone who thinks this is “good QBing” is delusional.
Jenkins nice stuff on the third and two
Soooo….that’s not illegal hit to the head on Cooper?
Anyway. I’ll be first to admit Foles ‘struggles’ are disconcerting.
No rhythm offensively we still have to take down field shots because that secondary can’t hold
McCoy has to adapt to this line a bit as well….those cutbacks aren’t there and he is definitely dancing too much.
It will be there for him in the 4th.
Foles has looked lie shit the first half of every game this year. If he was accurate and not miss wide open receivers this game would be a damn blowout with the defense and special teams playing well.
Nick Foles is keeping the niners in this game.
Ignore the troll….
If you respond youre a bigger dumbass then he is.
Did he gift the 49ers 7 points like your 78th favorite player gifted the birds jackass?
I wouldn’t call his play shit Songs. The niners are still a good team with very good players no matter how bad some want to write them off. Their defense has taken Shady out of the game with the help of poor run blocking. But you can’t just lay this all on Foles.
Niners are all over that cute underneath shit. Foles deep game has never been his stong point. Chip needs to come up with something to help the kid out.
Special teams and defense …a glaring omission no offensive scores …the adjustments have been startling at half time by the birds ,and just the opposite for Frisco..that and an 8 point lead..is hope ..I’ll take it…mick cut me…
Brandon Boykin is back
Boykins a ball hawk as is Wolfe (although he shit the bed on a solo tackle for the house)
He TOTALLY shit the bed on that tackle. That was pathetic…especially when he had the sideline as a defender as well…I would have blown a gasket if I was coaching D and he did that lmao.
Awful call on Carlos Hyde vs gore paulman.
Foles keeps missing wr deep this year. wtf.
It is a great QB comparison both young guns have missed a couple
There is a HUGE difference.
Foles is off by a foot on deep throws (2 this game). Krapernick continually thros to the other team. There have been at least 4 throws that have hit the Eagles before the 49ers today, And 3 more throwaways.
He is stinking against an Eagles D that has been shredded by Hoyer and Cousins.
Krapernick absolutely stinks.
Now Foles is struggling….admittedly, but to compare him to Krapernick is laughable
“Now Foles is struggling….admittedly, but to compare him to Krapernick is laughable”
You’re right.
One has been to the Superbowl and a NFC championship game.
The other…well…
Love you some Krapernick and Newton.
Again, what’s it like cheering for the Eagles and Kapernick at the same time?
BTW – keep railing against “your” QB, who has a seperated shoulder….and keep pining for Newton and now Krapernick…..
………………………..Eagles fan……………………………………….
Actually that has nothing to do with it.
From what I can tell Kaep isn’t exactly having a good game (neither is Foles apparently). With that said you statement was laughable.
You are right though. There is no comparison between the two.
Lol you two do nothing but troll each other.
Well,
I know I should stop.
But I can’t resist – he says such asinine things.
lol
I say asinine things?
Hmmmmmmm.
Seems to me you’re the one touting Krapernick and Newton as superstar QBs.
Which, by definition, is asinine.
Nice play by a corner the trend is set..now if this Swiss cheese line can pass block ,I’d like see dump offs and clock eating drives ,any score ….don’t you dare stop this fight…
Oh shit ertz..
Stop fumbling lease
Cary Williams sucks
He does, but that wasn’t a penalty.
Cary Williams FUCKING SUCKS
First td by Frisco in a second half ..of course sleepy legs williams…
Which only makes his griping even more intolerable. Make some plays and shut the fuck up already.
K seriously….Matthews buried on his pattern and so Foles can’t throw….this is not a penalty?
WTH is up with the offense?
On the tracking all I see is 3 and out. 3 and out.
And 2 turnovers?
Eh?
Eagles will lose 37-31. They gave a great effort
This is a big drive….even just to kill time.
Said it all week…Justin Smith would be a HUGE problem.
THIS IS THE REAL NICK FOLES!!!!
Bum ass had Celek wide open and throws a damn duck to the opposing team.
idiot
^^^^Silly Negro Alert^^^^
When was the last time Nick Foles put together a complete four quarters of good football?
Foles is playing pretty terrible as is the wr and rbs. O line holding their own niners secondary blanketing our wrs
yeah, you thin they would be playing better if Foles didn’t miss wide open receivers running free earlier?
hey, only 11-2 as a starter under Kelly, “NOT ENOUGH” No good quarters in there!
I really would like to see what Sanchez can do with the first team offense.
^^^^DUMBASS ALERT^^^^
So…if McCoy doesn’t run anywhere because of a bad oline….there’s no consideration that the same duct tape oline isn’t affecting the QB?
As I said all week….the Eagles should have gone in here nad handed the ball to Polk all afternoon and gotten the hell outtta dodge,
Now we have a RB who can’t move at all and a QB who is getting planted,
They still might win this game….but at what cost?
what is that…SFs 75th conversion on 3rd down?
Never accept that penalty and give another down.
If only we had a quarterback that can do that.
U do…you have RG 3
Accepting penalty and keeping defense on field evrn longer….noe Cole hurt. Not the right move Chip.
Sorry we could survive losing Mathis…but losing Kelce COULD NOT HAPPEN.
Losing Kelce elimnates the screen anything to the edge etc….HUMONGOUS LOSS.
Why give them another play?
And with all that…we still have a chance.