EAGLES OFFENSIVE WOES LEAD TO SEASON-ENDING LOSS TO 49ERS

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts talks to the media after 23-19 loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs. Photo from philadelphiaeagles.com

The same confounding issues that plagued the Eagles, especially the offense, all year reared its ugly head Sunday against the undermanned San Francisco 49ers in the NFL Wild Card round...predictable offense, untimely penalties and a banged up offensive line all led to a 23-19 loss in front of 69,879 faithful members of Eagles Nation.

The Birds (11-7) will limp into the off season with question marks swirling around offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo, A.J. Brown, offensive line depth, Lane Johnson’s future.

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni was asked after the game his initial thoughts on why the offense really had such a good first half, but stalled there in the second half.

“Felt like that was kind of our story as the year progressed,” Sirianni said. “Good first half, didn't do a good enough job coaching, didn't do a good enough job executing in the second half, in that third quarter particularly. Some penalties got us behind the sticks, and we had a hard time overcoming them.”

49ERS OPENING DRIVE WAS A STUNNER

The 49ers slammed the Eagles heralded defense with quick score to go up 7-0.

On a second and ten from the from the Eagles 16-yard line, 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy passed to Christian McCaffrey down the middle for 11 yard gain, tackled by Quinyon Mitchell.

Purdy then passed to Demarcus Robinson down the middle for 61 yard gain to the Birds 16-yard-line, tackled by Adoree' Jackson.

Purdy then passed to McCaffrey down the middle for 11 yard gain, tackled by Quinyon Mitchell

McCaffrey then rushed to the right for 3 yard gain, tackled by Jalen Carter.

From the two, Brock Purdy passed to Demarcus Robinson down the middle for a two-yard touchdown

The Eagles replied with 10-play, 62-yard drive highlighted by a 29 yard run by Saquon Barkley.

Dallas Goedert scored on a one-yard run.

Jake Elliott's struggles continued when he missed the extra point.

The Eagles took a 13-7 lead after a 94-yard drive that was capped by a nine-yard pass to Goedert.

Dallas Goedert may have played his last game as an Eagle. Photo by Al Thompson

The Birds gave up another gash play on a six play, 59-yard drive, a 45-yard completion to Jauan Jennings. The drive saw the 49ers lose Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle for the game.

The defense eventually held San Francisco to a Eddy Pineiro 36-yard field goal to make the score 13-10.

It was reported after the game, Kittle suffered and Achilles tear and will undergo a long rehab.

Except for two gash plays...the Eagles defense was getting it done. The Birds offense was just not as robust as it should be with how many players the 49ers are missing on defense.

The same pattern that plagued the Eagles all year surfaced in the second half…the Eagles offense went into hibernation.

The third quarter started with the Eagles getting the ball first and a chance to extend their lead.

But it may have been the most predictable series of year.

First down: Nice eight-yard run by Barkley for eight yards.

Second and seven: The Eagles might as well have shown a sign to the 49ers defense “We are going to hand the ball to Saquon and ram him into the middle of the line.” One-yard loss.

Third and three: Hurts throws a little dump pass to Barkley that should have done the job. Barkley dropped the pass.

Punt.

After that three-and-out, the 49ers went on a drive that looked like it was headed for pay dirt. But All Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell intercepted Purdy near midfield.

Could the Eagles offense capitalize on the turnover?

No. Cam Jurgens was called for holding after a ten-yard run by Jalen Hurts. It killed the drive.

The Eagles defense forced a 49ers three-and-out.

A poor punt helped the Birds start their own 46-yard line. The Eagles drove to the 49ers 23-yard line with the short drive stalled.

Elliott booted a 41-yard field goal in the face of the stiff wind with 2:15 left in the third.

But San Francisco wasn't done.

Eagles running back reflects on loss to 49ers, Photo by Al Thompson

With 2:11 left in the third quarter, Purdy drove his team to the Eagles 29-yard line. Using a trick play, Jennings took a handoff from Purdy, then passed to McCaffrey to the right for 29-yard touchdown to  Jalen Carter was called for a personal foul that made the extra point pretty easy for Pineiro.

The score was now 17-16 in favor of the visitors.

The Eagles started their first drive of fouth quarter from their own 35-yard line.

A holding call on wide receiver Darius Cooper negated a first-down play to Barkley.

The drive was destroyed...another three-and-out.

Punting into the wind, the 49ers started their next drive at their own 31.

Purdy intercepted by Mitchell once again at Eagles 38-yard line..

Eagles start their drive at their38. Even with the help of a 15-yard penalty, the Eagles could only get to the 49ers 15-yard line before the drive stalled.

Elliott booted a 33-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 19-17 lead.

With right minutes left on the clock, Purdy, who finished 18 of 31 for 262 yards, two TD passes and two interceptions, led the 49ers on a 10-play, 66-yard drive that ended with a four-yard touchdown pass from Purdy to McCaffrey.

Eagles left guard was asked if he thinks he can get his body back to where it was that made him a three-time Pro Bowler...he replied, "I don't know." Photo by Al Thompson

EAGLES FINAL DRIVE WAS AN A.J. BROWN DISASTER

Hurts took over at the Eagles 35-yard line with 2:54 left in the fourth quarter; plenty of time for a drive.

Hurts threw a dime to A.J. Brown down field from the Eagles 40, only to see the ball sail through Brown’s hands. Many observers felt Brown could have scored on the play.

He made some great throws to Goedert for 15 yards, two to DeVonta Smith for ten and 15 yards respectively to get the Birds to the 49ers 20-yard line 1:28 left on the clock.

Hurts was sacked by backup defensive end Kelon White for a one-yard loss that cost 33 seconds.

Then a missed catch by Smith inside he ten.

On fourth down, Hurts’ pass to Goedert had little chance with three defenders on him.

Season over.

PLAYERS COMMENTS FROM BOTH LOCKER ROOMS

“They made more plays than us,” Nakobe Dean said after the game at his locker. “We let them got off big plays that hurt us.”

Dean said he thought they were going to pull it out.

“I thought we were going to win this game until that fourth down incomplete pass.” Dean said. “It hit me when they started the kneel downs that a lot of these guys I won't be back with next year, including myself.”

Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson played hurt all season. He was not himself all year.

When asked why the running game and the offense was never able to get back to being close to last year, Dickerson looked the floor of his locker and said, “I don't know.”

When asked he believes he can get his body healed to where it's been in the past Dickerson replied, “I don't know.”

Pro Bowl linebacker Zack Baun’s comments were mostly on his teammates and how felt about them.

“I'm really proud of this team,” Baun said at his locker after the game. “We had our ups and downs. Dealing with you guys (media) at times can be difficult. I think we did a really good job of sticking together. Obviously, it's not the outcome we wanted. But I'm proud of this team.”

Did Baun think the team was feeling the pressure of being defending champions?

“No. I just heard Nakobe (Dean) over there...this is the Philadelphia Eagles. With the front office we have, the people we have, the players we have, the staff we have...there are high expectations. You expect to win. And that's just what it is.”

49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson on keeping confident through a tough game.

“We were able to stick through it, even though we had a lot of guys go down, like George. Jake (TE Tonges), which we needed him to do. It was awesome...it gave us a little spark. This team is resilient. We've got to keep moving forward.”

Tonges finished with three targets and a six-yard reception.

San Francisco right guard Dominick Puni on how Purdy stayed focused even after his two interceptions.

“Same as the first drive; he doesn't waver,” Puni said at his locker. “I love him. He's awesome. He's a great quarterback. The way he handles the huddle is the same if we're down thirty, or up thirty.

"He's going to be the same guy. He makes sure we're locked in and focused. He throws to picks...a lot of quarterbacks might waver and start playing a little different. He's not that guy.”

Saquon Barkley, who rushed 26 times for 106 yards, said in a one-and-done format, the hottest team prevails.

“In the playoffs in the NFL, it's not the NBA,” Barkley said. “You don't get seven games, best of seven. Here it's whoever is the best that day. They were the better team. Congrats to those guys. They have hell of a lot of (good) players...Christian (McCaffrey) I thought he did a great job today. I wish him nothing but the best.”

McCaffrey finished with 48 yards rushing on 15 carries. He caught six passes for 66 yards and two scores.

Like Baun, Goedert was reflective. He talked about what was likely his last game with the Eagles, the team that drafted him in 2018.

“It's going to be hard saying goodbye to this team,” said Goedert, who scored both Eagles touchdowns Sunday. “It's always tough. We grew as a family. I got a lot of love for my brothers on this team.”

He was asked why the offense could never get its act together. He also talked about the penalty by Darius Cooper.

“A lot of the things that happened are part of the game,” said Gordert, who caught four passed for 33 yards. “Whether it's holding...players make plays...a lot of moving, stuff like that happens. (Darius) Cooper was just finishing his block; it's tough when the DB comes in and gets that call. You hope as he grows as a player, he'll know when to let go.”

HURTS ON WHETHER THE OFFENSE WAS BEING HONEST WITH ITSELF EARLIER IN THE SEASON AND WHY IT IS SO HARD TO REPEAT.

“I think winning is hard,” said Hurts, who finished20 of 35 got 168 yards, one TD pass and one sack. “Nothing about it is easy, especially when you're trying to repeat.

“Everything was clear for us and what we wanted to accomplish this year and we came up short, and so you have no choice but to learn from it, especially if you have a great passion about it.

“And that's my approach. That's my approach with it all. I think when I look at this game, and I know this is a little different, it kind of answers a question that you asked before, we've got to take advantage of our opportunities when they're there and we've got to be smart and rhythmic in what we do and how we do it.

“Ultimately, when I see our defense get the ball back like that, I mean, we've responded with touchdowns and those are the times we capitalize, especially on short fields. I take ownership for not being able to put points on the board.

“It all starts with me and ends with me. And so there's a sense of a lot there that you can learn from. I think as a team, as a collective group and personally for me as a quarterback, how you see the game, how you feel the game, and ultimately just, ‘Okay, how can I find a way to win?’ We weren't able to do that today.”

Hurts on what makes repeating as champions especially difficult:

“That's the first time that this team has been in that situation and this unit has been in that situation,” Hurts said. “To have the opportunity to do it, and hopefully we have another opportunity to do so at some later date, but I look at how you respond to it all and so I think for this year and this team and this collective team, there's a lot that we've gone through our experiences this year to learn from and you just want everyone to be intentional on learning from it.” *

Email Al Thompson at al.thompson@footballstories.com