49ers’ Purdy knocked out by Eagles in NFC title game
San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy, 13 center right, makes a pass during the first quarter of an NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Scott Strazzante, Staff / The Chronicle
2023.01.29 – QB1 Brock Purdy’s magical run from being the last pick in the NFL draft to winning his first seven starts for the San Francisco 49ers ended with a Philadelphia Eagles knock out 31-7 loss Sunday.
Eagles Haason Reddick knocked Purdy out in the first quarter of the NFC championship game. Purdy was forced to return in the second half despite an elbow injury after QB2 Josh Johnson left with a concussion. But he threw only two passes and handed off the other plays.
“My arm felt like it stretched out, a lot of shocks all over from my elbow down to my wrist, front and back, pain all over,” Purdy said. “I couldn’t throw more than 5, 10 yards.”
Purdy will have an MRI on Monday to determine the severity of his injury, a theme quite familiar to the 49ers.
From Trey Lance to Jimmy Garoppolo to Purdy, the 49ers overcame quarterback injuries throughout the season, winning 12 straight games to reach their third conference title game in four years.
Down to their fourth-string QB for almost two quarters, the 49ers (15-5) had no chance against the Eagles (16-3).
“It’s tough, it’s frustrating,” tight end George Kittle said. “Life kind of punches you in the face sometimes and it is what it is.”
2023.01.29 – (49ers @ Eagles) NFL Video Highlights
San Francisco 49ers’ quarterback Brock Purdy, 13, fumbles as his wrist is hit by Philadelphia Eagles’ linebacker Haason Reddick, 7, in the first quarter during the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Scott Strazzante, Staff / The Chronicle
2023.01.22 – (49ers @ Eagles) NFL Video Highlights
Purdy, the seventh-round pick from Iowa State, was outstanding after stepping into the lineup in December. He threw for 1,374 yards, 13 TDs and four interceptions in the regular season and became a finalist for AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Purdy completed both of his passes before Reddick drilled his right arm on a play that was ruled a fumble. The Eagles recovered the fumble and the injury proved to be a game-changer.
“It sucks. Wish we had another shot at it with everybody, but that’s life, that’s the way it goes,” said running back Christian McCaffrey, who had a package of plays to play QB if Purdy didn’t go back in.
The 36-year-old Johnson was signed off Denver’s practice squad for his fourth stint with the 49ers after Garoppolo was injured in December. He had thrown just two passes this season before entering to face Philadelphia’s ferocious defense.
Johnson was 7 of 13 for 74 yards with one turnover before Ndamukong Suh’s hit took him out of the game.
A fifth-round pick by the Buccaneers in 2008, Johnson is 1-8 as a starter in 15 seasons with 14 different teams, the most for a player in league history. He also played in the United Football League, Alliance of American Football and XFL.
Johnson was over matched in his first playoff experience.
“I was proud of how they fought,” Niners coach Kyle Shanahan said. “They got dealt a tough hand. I hurt for these guys. We felt really good about this game. It was tough circumstances. I’m really proud of them.”
2023.01.29 – 49ers @ Eagles (NBC Sports: Post-Game Show)
San Francisco 49ers’ running back Christian McCaffrey, 23, runs for a touchdown in the second quarter during the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pa., on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023. Scott Strazzante, Staff / The Chronicle
2023.01.29 – 49ers @ Eagles (NBC Sports Post Game Show)
2023.01.29 – 49ers @ Eagles (NBC Sports: Post-Game Show)
The 49ers played with no discipline, committing costly penalties throughout the game. They were flagged 11 times, including a couple penalties that changed possession.
On Philadelphia’s second scoring drive, a pass interference call on San Francisco’s Jimmie Ward on an incomplete pass on third-and-7 gave the Eagles a first down. An illegal contact penalty on Charvarius Ward gave the Eagles another first down later in the drive and Miles Sanders ran in from the 13 for a 14-7 lead.
Johnson fumbled two plays later, the Eagles recovered at the 49ers 30 and Boston Scott scored on a 10-yard run to make it 21-7 right before the half.
A roughing-the-punter penalty on San Francisco’s Jordan Mason gave the Eagles a first down at the 49ers 35 in the third quarter. Jalen Hurts finished that drive with a 1-yard TD run for a 28-7 lead.
Shanahan made a mistake on the opening drive that led to Philadelphia’s first touchdown. He didn’t challenge a 29-yard catch by DeVonta Smith on fourth-and-3 to the 49ers 6. Smith immediately signaled for the Eagles to run a play without a huddle and they quickly scurried to the line of scrimmage to do it.
Replays showed the ball appeared to hit the ground, so Shanahan missed an opportunity to overturn the call and change possession. Sanders then scored on a 6-yard run.
“I was going to throw (the challenge flag) anyway, but then they showed a replay up there (on the video board) and it looked like he caught it,” Shanahan said.
2023.01.29 – 49ers @ Eagles (KRUEGER: Post-Game Show)
Philadelphia Eagles QB Jalen Hurts passes during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
2023.01.29 – 49ers @ Eagles (KRUEGER: Post-Game Show)
2023.01.29 – 49ers @ Eagles (KRUEGER: Post-Game Show)
The Eagles broke the game open in the final two minutes of the first half, getting a rise out of a crowd that had been quiet with nervous energy since a touchdown on the opening drive.
EAGLES SOAR
Jalen Hurts had one of Philadelphia’s four rushing touchdowns and the Eagles soared into the Super Bowl, forcing both of San Francisco’s quarterbacks out of the game with injuries and beating the wounded 49ers in the NFC championship game on Sunday.
On the next Eagles’ drive, Sanders broke free again for a 13-yard run for a 14-7 lead, concluding a 14-play, 75-yard drive extended by three 49ers penalties.
Johnson bobbled a shotgun snap and fumbled on another drive, Reddick recovered at the San Francisco 30. Boston Scott scooted 10 yards for a touchdown and 21-7 lead.
Even with Hurts almost a non-factor — he had 97 yards passing in the first half — the Eagles were firmly in control. His 1-yard rushing touchdown on Philadelphia’s signature rugby-style QB sneak made it 28-7 late in the third quarter.
“We’ve got a chance to go out there and win it all,” Hurts said. “So we want to go prepare to go do that.”
With little hope San Francisco could not get anything going behind Johnson, the 49ers turned to Christian McCaffrey, a mid-season acquisition who led the team with 13 TDs in the regular season and playoffs, to get on the board. He broke three tackles on a 23-yard touchdown run that made it 7-7 in the second quarter.
That turned out to be the only moment of hope for Shanahan’s Niners, who managed 164 yards of offense and 11 first downs.
“You’re never out of the fight,” McCaffrey said. “We believed it and it just didn’t turn out our way. We got beat and wish we had another shot at it with everybody.”
The game disintegrated in the waning minutes and Philadelphia’s K’Von Wallace and San Francisco’s Trent Williams were ejected for their roles in a brawl. Williams yanked Wallace from behind and slammed him to the ground.
The moment only seemed to rile up Eagles fans even more as they soon waved their green towels and went wild as confetti fluttered around them.
“We’ve got one more game for the rest of our lives,” Sanders said.
IN THE HOUSE
First lady Jill Biden, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell, actor Bradley Cooper, comedian Kevin Hart, Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout and several 76ers, including Joel Embiid, attended the game.
INJURIES
49ers: Purdy left the game with an elbow injury after he was drilled in the arm by Reddick on San Francisco’s first drive.
UP NEXT
Eagles: Will play in the fourth Super Bowl in their franchise history when they face the Chiefs on Feb. 12 in Glendale, Arizona. Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs will be making their third Super Bowl appearance in four seasons; they won it all three years ago.
49ers: The off-season.
Related: 49ers send Cowboys home advance on to NFC title game (15-4)
Related: See below – 49ers Mostert Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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