2023 NFC Championship Preview

By: Garret Kryzanowski

After two rounds of the NFC playoffs the championship game is finally set with the San Francisco 49ers travelling to Lincoln Financial Field to play the host Philadelphia Eagles.

The Eagles were dominant almost the entire NFL season starting 13-1 before a Jalen Hurts shoulder injury led to 1-2 finish in there last three games. Doubts were cast as to whether the Eagles had enough left in the tank to win the Super Bowl after the injuries piled up towards the end of the season.

In the Divisional round against the rivaled New York Giants the Eagles made a statement early and often that they were the number one seed in the NFC for a reason climbing out to a 28-0 lead and a 38-7 final victory or a fiesty New York team that many people thought could win outright. The questions on Jalen Hurts injured shoulder were silenced almost instantly as he had two touchdown passes in the first quarter to Dallas Goedert and Devonta Smith. He would follow up with a rushing touchdown of his own in the second quarter, allowing Eagles fans to sigh in relief, the Eagles are Championship week bound and they are looking dangerous.

In the other NFC Divisional game we saw the San Francisco 49ers taking on the Dallas Cowboys in there record ninth postseason matchup. The 49ers after starting the season 3-4 rattled off 10 straight wins to end the season even after there backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo broke his foot in a week 13 win over the Dolphins the 49ers recovered and even benefited from the promotion of third string quarterback Brock Purdy, but could they win in the playoffs with him?

The answer to that question, yes. After a slow start in the Super Wild Card weekend game against the Seattle Seahawks Brock Purdy bounced back from a slow start to throw three touchdown passes in a 41-23 win. In the Divisional Round however, it would be a different story as the Cowboys defence was one of the best in the league stifling not only Purdy but the star power of the entire 49ers offense, who had to settle for only field goals in the first half of the game. The second half wasn't much better as both defences held the offences in check before running back Christian McCaffrey scored the 49ers only touchdown of the game on the first play of the fourth quarter. That would prove to be enough as San Francisco would hold on to win 19-12 over dallas, booking a trip to the NFC Championship for the third time in four years.

So here we are, its Championship weekend in the NFL and the George Halas trophy is up for grabs as the Eagles host the 49ers.

The two top teams in the NFC going head to head for the right to play in the Super Bowl. Can the 49ers top ranked defence slow down the elite offence of the Eagles? Can the Eagles finally do what no team has done since week 13 and force Brock Purdy into mistakes? This is a heavyweight fight everyone wanted and we all know thing for sure, neither team is going to back down.

This game is going to feel like old school football, hard hitting, establishing the run and seeing who will break first. Now, I don't think either team will break but the deciding factor will be the quarterback play of both teams. Which quarterback will make the least mistakes? Which quarterback won't be rattled by the moment? One team has the edge in this department and that is the Philadelphia Eagles. Jalen Hurts should be the MVP of the league and the former Alabama and Oklahoma product has played in these moments before. Nothing has ever fazed Jalen Hurts and I don't expect that to change against the 49ers. He lives for these moments and we will all witness that on Sunday.

With the Eagles having the edge at quarterback in Jalen Hurts, I expect the Philadelphia Eagles to be representing the NFC in the Super Bowl on February 12, 2023 in Arizona. My final score prediction, 27-23 Eagles.