NFC Championship Game 2023: Winner, Score Predictions for 49ers vs. Eagles

While fans aren't getting the sort of bitter divisional grudge match we saw in last year's contest between the Los Angeles Rams and San Francisco 49ers, this year's NFC Championship Game promises to be an intense one.

The 49ers are back in the title game and will visit the Philadelphia Eagles with a trip to Super Bowl LVII on the line. They were the top two seeds in the conference and also feature two of the best defenses in the NFL.

San Francisco finished the year ranked first in both yards and points allowed, while Philly ranked second in yards allowed and eighth in points surrendered.

This should be a fast-paced, physical and tightly contested game, and with the most coveted of postseason tickets at stake, it should not want for drama.

Here's a look at all you need to know about this year's NFC title game, including scheduling info, the latest odds and some predictions.

Date: Sunday, January 29

Time: 3 p.m. ET

TV and Live Stream: Fox, Fox Sports App

Money Line: Eagles -145 (Bet $145 to win $100), 49ers +125 (Bet $100 to win $125)

Line: Eagles - 2.5

Over/Under:46.5

*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook

There will be no shortage of storylines to follow on Sunday afternoon, perhaps the most notable of which is the ascent of rookie 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy.

The 23-year-old, the final player selected in the 2022 draft, took over the starting role after season-ending injuries to Trey Lance and Jimmy Garoppolo. He posted a stellar 107.3 passer rating in the regular season and has a 109.9 rating in the playoffs.

San Francisco has yet to lose with Purdy under center, and according to Charean Williams of ProFootballTalk, he'll be only the fifth rookie QB to start a modern conference championship game.

There was a slight chance Garoppolo (foot) could return in time for this game, but it seems likely Purdy will get another start.

Another big story will be the health of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.

The 2020 second-round pick took a major step in 2022, earning his first Pro Bowl nod, but he suffered a shoulder injury late in the season and missed two of the final three games.

Hurts appeared healthy during last week's rout of the New York Giants, but he still isn't at 100 percent.

"It's definitely a nagging thing," he told Peter King of ProFootballTalk.

The idea that whichever quarterback makes the fewest mistakes will be the winner may be a clichéd, but it will be true on Sunday. One quarterback is injured while the other has a mere seven career starts, and each will be facing an elite defense.

The margin for error will be razor-thin.

While the defense and the quarterbacks will take center stage on Sunday, this game will also feature loads of offensive skill talent.

The Eagles alone boast the likes of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, Miles Sanders and Kenneth Gainwell. The 49ers have elite players at receiver, tight end and running back in Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey.

It's McCaffrey, Samuel, Elijah Mitchell and San Francisco's second-ranked rushing attack that could give the 49ers an edge in this matchup. Head coach Kyle Shanahan knows how to create spacing and big plays on the ground. Against an Eagles defense ranked 24th in yards per carry allowed (4.6), there could be mismatches.

The Eagles' best chance of success may come from attacking a 49ers defense ranked 20th in passing yards allowed. While Philly has its own talented ground attack (ranked fifth in yards), the 49ers do a great job of stopping the run.

San Francisco ranks second in both rushing yards and yards per attempt (3.4) allowed.

While the Eagles have the quarterback and the offensive firepower to take advantage of an inconsistent secondary, Hurts' shoulder injury could be a problem. Nick Bosa and the 49ers pass rush definitely will.

Bosa alone has accounted for a league-high 18.5 sacks and 56 quarterback pressures. As a team, San Francisco has logged an impressive 44 sacks.

The Eagles' pass rush, which logged a whopping 70 sacks in the regular season, could be a nightmare for the less-experienced Purdy. If Philadelphia can get out to a big lead early and force the 49ers to throw, San Francisco will have a tough time coming back.

The prediction here is that the 49ers lean heavily on their ground game and defense while allowing Purdy to play game manager—a formula that worked against a good Dallas Cowboys team last week.

If it works again, Philadelphia's inconsistency against the run should allow San Francisco to pull the upset by the slenderest of margins.

Prediction: 49ers 24, Eagles 22

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