National Football League

49ers vs. Eagles highlights: Philly dominates NFC Championship Game

Updated Jan. 29, 2023 7:32 p.m. ET

Jalen Hurts and the powerhouse Philadelphia Eagles were in complete command while taking down the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game, 31-7, on Sunday.

With the win, Philly is headed to Super Bowl LVII in Arizona (Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App).

Breakout rookie quarterback Brock Purdy exited the game after the Niners' opening drive with an elbow injury. He returned early in the second half, after fourth-string QB Josh Johnson was forced out with a concussion, but was unable to throw the ball.

Here are the highlights!

Philadelphia Eagles 31, San Francisco 49ers 7

Flying high!

Instead of opting for a field goal on their opening drive, Philly made a statement by keeping its offense on the field.

On a crucial fourth down, Hurts went deep for DeVonta Smith, who made a monster 29-yard snag to put the Eagles deep in the red zone. After taking a closer look at the play, it appeared that Smith may not have caught the ball after all …

Home team takes the lead

… but it was too little, too late. Two plays later, Miles Sanders ran straight through the Niners defense and cashed in for a short score to put Philly up early, 7-0. It was Sanders' 12th rushing touchdown of the season.

Heading into Sunday's game, the Eagles were 8-0 this season when Sanders recorded a rushing score. He is one of five players in Eagles history to rush for 12 touchdowns in a single season (including the playoffs) and just one of four players to do so in the Super Bowl era, joining Hurts, FOX's LeSean McCoy, and five-time Pro Bowler Ricky Watters.

Shaky start

On the Niners' opening drive, Purdy tried to connect with George Kittle, but the ball came loose. The Eagles challenged the incomplete pass ruling, and the play was reversed, resulting in a Purdy fumble near midfield.

San Francisco's defense showed up when it mattered most, forcing Philly to go three-and-out after the turnover.

Injures mount for 49ers

Purdy didn't return for the Niners' following series. Backup QB Johnson took the field for San Francisco, which went three-and-out on the ensuing drive. Purdy briefly exited to the locker room before returning to the sideline, where his throwing elbow was wrapped and iced.

Johnson, a fifth-round pick in the 2008 NFL Draft, boasted a 1-8 record as a starter and a 58% career completion percentage headed into Sunday's game. The 36-year-old journeyman has been part of an NFL record 14 different teams.

Elsewhere, Nick Bosa, who wasn't on the field at the time, went down on the sideline after being run into and was tended to by the 49ers' training staff. He took the field on San Francisco's ensuing possession but exited before the drive ended.

These setbacks came after Niners star linebacker Fred Warner was momentarily injured on the second play of the game.

What could have been

The Eagles narrowly avoided a safety on their first drive of the second quarter and ended up going three-and-out.

Knotted up!

The Niners tied things up midway through the second quarter, thanks to this angry run from Christian McCaffrey, who missed two consecutive practices this week with a calf injury.

With that touchdown, McCaffrey had scored in nine straight games, matching the longest streak by a 49er since Terrell Owens (1998). McCaffrey's nine-game scoring streak is the third longest in Niners history (including the playoffs).

On the move!

The Eagles took a 14-7 late in the second quarter, courtesy of a 17-yard pickup from Kenneth Gainwell that set up a smooth 13-yard touchdown from Sanders — his second score of the game.

Turnover!

Johnson fumbled on the 49ers' following drive, coughing up the ball on San Francisco's own 36-yard line. The Eagles capitalized on the newfound possession as Boston Scott found the end zone with ease just a few plays later.

Just like that, Philly took a 21-7 lead into the break.

Heading into Sunday, the 49ers were 0-4 in games this season in which they had two or more giveaways.

QB chaos

Johnson left the game after going down on the Niners' first drive of the second half. He was later ruled out.

Purdy re-entered for one play — a handoff to McCaffrey — before San Francisco punted.

Pulling away

The Niners nearly forced the Eagles to punt late in the third quarter, but a roughing the kicker penalty gave Philly another chance. The drive continued, and Hurts took off for 14 yards to put the Eagles deep in the red zone.

As if that wasn't enough, an unnecessary roughness penalty put the Eagles on the 3-yard line, and Hurts ran it in himself to give his team a 28-7 advantage heading into the fourth quarter. With that score, Hurts passed Cam Newton for the most rushing touchdowns by a quarterback in a single season (including the playoffs) with 15.

Not how they drew it up

McCaffrey checked in at QB for the Niners late in the fourth quarter, but things certainly didn't go as planned.

Sealing the deal

The Eagles continued to pour it on as the second half winded down. Tensions ran high, as fights broke out between plays, resulting in the ejection of both Eagles safety K’Von Wallace and 49ers left tackle Trent Williams.

In the end, the Eagles secured the win at home, 31-7, with a late fumble recovery, punching their ticket to Super Bowl LVII (Feb. 12, 6:30 p.m. ET on FOX and the FOX Sports App) — their fourth Super Bowl appearance all-time.

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