49ers are off to a perfect start after knocking off the Eagles
By Jeff Kerr
• 1 min read
A dominant first half by the Philadelphia Eagles led to a halftime deficit, as Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers offense managed to weather the storm and control the second half in a 17-11 victory at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday. Garoppolo was efficient in the victory, finishing 22 of 30 for 189 yards and a touchdown -- finding momentum late in the first half to spark San Francisco to the win.
Garoppolo led the 49ers on a 12-play, 97-yard drive late in the first half to give San Francisco a surprising 7-3 halftime lead, capped by an 11-yard pass to Jauan Jennings just 12 seconds before halftime. Philadelphia had 203 total yards to San Francisco's 64 before the backbreaking drive that gave San Francisco the lead for good.
Garoppolo also rushed for a touchdown in the fourth quarter, which capped a 16-play, 85-yard drive that took 8:59 off the clock and gave San Francisco a 14-3 lead. The touchdown ended up being the deciding score in a game that was controlled by Philadelphia for the first 26 minutes.
The Eagles left six points on the board in the first 30 minutes. Jake Elliott had a field goal blocked in the first half and the Eagles failed to take advantage of a Jalen Hurts 91-yard pass to Quez Watkins, which was the longest pass play for the Eagles since Michael Vick threw a 91-yard touchdown to DeSean Jackson against the Dallas Cowboys in 2010.
Hurts finished 12 of 23 for 190 yards and led the Eagles with 10 carries for 82 yards and rushed for a score -- the lone touchdown for the Eagles that came with 4:02 to play. The 49ers were able to hold the ball the rest of the way and come away with a victory.
Why the 49ers won
The 49ers offense controlled the second half, but credit for this one goes to the defense and special teams. San Francisco held Philadelphia's offense to one touchdown and 328 total yards (75 of which came when the 49ers were protecting a 17-3 lead). The 49ers didn't force any turnovers, but held Philadelphia to three points in a first half the Eagles should have had at least nine points. A blocked Elliott field goal attempt kept the game 3-0 and a fourth-and-goal stop kept the 49ers offensive game plan alive.
The zone-run scheme gassed the Eagles in the second half, and San Francisco was able to preserve the lead and hold on for the victory. Garoppolo started the game 7 of 13 for 60 yards, but finished 15 of 17 for 129 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing touchdown. The defense and special teams allowed Garoppolo time to find his rhythm and keep the chains moving for the 49ers.
Why the Eagles lost
Plenty of miscues by the Eagles in this one, not taking advantage of a first quarter which they outgained the 49ers 114-15 in total yards -- yet only led 3-0. Philadelphia ran 27 plays for 196 yards, but only netted three points. The defense then allowed two long drives of 97 and 85 yards that gave the 49ers a commanding 14-3 lead which they couldn't recover.
A special teams block and turnover on downs deep in 49ers territory led to San Francisco taking over the game. The Eagles offense struggled losing Brandon Brooks on the offensive line (chest) and pass rush took a hit when Brandon Graham injured his Achilles and was done for the game (and possibly the year). Just too much to overcome against a very good 49ers team.
Turning point
The 49ers stopped the Eagles on a fourth-and-goal at the 3-yard line, a play which Nick Sirianni tried to recreate the "Philly Special." Hurts took the ball and handed it off to DeVonta Smith, who reversed the ball back to Greg Ward -- as he attempted to throw it to Hurts. San Francisco sniffed out the play and Ward tried to throw the ball to Hurts, but the pass wasn't even close.
San Francisco followed with a 12-play, 97-yard drive to close the half, capped with Garoppolo's 11-yard touchdown to Jennings to give the 49ers the lead for good. If the Eagles score on that fourth-down play, they are up 10-0 and the game may have a different outcome.
Play of the game
Garoppolo's 40-yard pass to Deebo Samuel set the stage for the 49ers to take the lead one play later. On Garoppolo's best throw of the day, the 49ers quarterback threaded the needle between two Eagles defenders and found Samuel down the seam for a 40-yard completion -- the longest pass play of the day for San Francisco.
That pass put the 49ers in field goal range -- and set up Garoppolo to find Jennings on the next play for the score with 12 seconds remaining in the first half. Garoppolo was 7-for-7 for 77 yards on that touchdown drive, which is what the 49ers needed to take control of the game.
The quote
"I don't think I called good plays in that area (the red zone). My fault." -- Sirianni after the loss to the 49ers.
Sirianni owned up to the series of plays in the red zone in the second quarter where the Eagles got no points. The Eagles had the ball at the 49ers' 1-yard line with a 3-0 lead, and the Eagles plays went like this:
- 1st-and-goal: Incomplete pass to Zach Ertz
- 2nd-and-goal: Miles Sanders 3-yard loss
- 3rd-and-goal: Hurts outside run for 1 yard
- 4th-and-goal: "Philly Special" incomplete pass from Ward intended for Hurts
The 49ers stopped the Eagles on the fourth-down play and never looked back.
Up next
The 49ers (2-0) play their first home game of the year at Levi's Stadium against the Green Bay Packers on "Sunday Night Football". The Eagles (1-1) have an NFC East showdown against the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium on "Monday Night Football".
