© Reuters. January 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) and wide receiver AJ Brown (11) after the victory against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game in Lynn
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Author: Amy Tennery
(Reuters) – A pair of rushing touchdowns by Miles Sanders helped the Philadelphia Eagles roll past the 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship Game on Sunday after injuries plagued San Francisco running back Brock Purdy and backup Josh Johnson.
The win at home sends the Eagles to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years, where they will face either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Cincinnati Bengals, with the two AFC contenders playing later on Sunday.
“This is something you dream about as a kid,” Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni said in televised remarks.
“Just being able to do that together with a bunch of men who love each other, who bond with each other, who would do anything for each other, that’s pretty sweet.”
The Eagles set the tone early, converting on fourth down on the opening drive with a sensational one-handed catch by receiver DeVonta Smith before Pro Bowler Sanders scampered six yards into the end zone.
Things went from bad to worse for San Francisco as Purdy left the game with an elbow injury after Eagles linebacker Haason Reddick stripped him on the 49ers’ first possession.
Running back Christian McCaffrey broke through a crowd of defenders to put the Niners on the board in the second quarter, but Sanders immediately restored the lead with a 13-yard touchdown run.
Johnson, the Niners’ fourth quarterback after injuries previously sidelined starters Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, fumbled the ball late in the second quarter and the Eagles rallied, sending a shiver of desperation through the visiting team as Boston Scott drove it down the stretch. zone.
Purdy was forced back into the contest after Johnson hit his head on the turf, but was ineffective against the razor-thin Eagles, as running back Jalen Hurts scampered into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter and Jake Elliott made a 31-yard field goal in the fourth.
“This is a special town,” Hurts, 24, said before leading a euphoric crowd at Lincoln Financial Field in singing the Eagles’ fight song, “Fly, Eagles Fly.” “We have one more.”