Advertisement

San Francisco 49ers vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Prediction, preview, pick to win

By The Sports Xchange
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz walks off the field after his team defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-24 at StubHub Center in Carson, California on October 1, 2017. File photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI
1 of 2 | Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz walks off the field after his team defeated the Los Angeles Chargers 26-24 at StubHub Center in Carson, California on October 1, 2017. File photo by Jon SooHoo/UPI | License Photo

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (0-7) AT PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (6-1)

KICKOFF: Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, Lincoln Financial Field. TV: FOX, Kenny Albert, Charles Davis, Pam Oliver (field reporter).

Advertisement

SERIES HISTORY: 32nd regular-season meeting. 49ers lead series, 18-12-1. The Niners have won the last two meetings, 26-21 in San Francisco in 2014 and 24-23 in Philadelphia in 2011. Before that, the Eagles had won five in a row.

KEYS TO THE GAME: The Philadelphia Eagles are an NFL-best 6-1, but injuries are starting to mount. The Eagles lost two of their most indispensable players, middle linebacker Jordan Hicks and nine-time Pro Bowl left tackle Jason Peters, on Monday night. Peters tore the ACL and MCL in his right knee. Hicks ruptured his Achilles tendon. Both are out for the season. For the 35-year-old Peters, it might mean the end of the line. And the Eagles had already lost running back Darren Sproles and special teams captain Chris Maragos to season-ending injuries.

Advertisement

"These are guys that are significant starters," coach Doug Pederson said. "Leaders on your football team. Captains of your football team. It can make an impact."

Added responsibility falls on Carson Wentz to make the right decisions and avoid costly turnovers. He has shown he's more than ready for the added burden. The second-year quarterback threw four touchdown passes against the Redskins on Monday. That gives him 11 in the last three games and a league-high 17 for the season. Last year, he threw 16 the entire season.

Before their 40-10 blowout loss to Dallas last week, the 49ers had kept their games close. They were the first team in NFL history to lose five consecutive games by three points or fewer. With this season all but lost, the coaching staff will have plenty of time to evaluate rookie quarterback C.J. Beathard. In the Dallas loss, Beathard's first start, he was 22-for-38 for 235 yards. He was sacked three times but did rush for a touchdown late, when the game was out of reach.

"Good or bad, playing, C.J. will learn from it," coach Kyle Shanahan said. "He's a tough kid. By no means was he perfect. He did make some plays in the game, and there were some he missed too."

Advertisement

MATCHUPS TO WATCH:

--

49ers QB C.J. Beathard vs. the Eagles' secondary. The rookie was sacked five times in his first career start a week ago against Dallas. Neither Niners wide receiver -- Pierre Garcon nor Marquise Goodwin -- has a touchdown pass this season. And to make matters worse for San Francisco, Eagles opponents have a passer rating of 45.1 against the Philadelphia blitz.

--

Eagles left tackle vs. 49ers' pass rush. With nine-time Pro Bowler Jason Peters lost for the year, the Eagles are trying to decide on a replacement. One candidate, right tackle Lane Johnson, will be staying put, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. Second-year offensive lineman Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Taylor Hart, who was re-signed this week after being cut in the preseason, are the most likely replacements.

PLAYER SPOTLIGHT: Eagles QB Carson Wentz. In his second year, Wentz has taken a big step forward. He has already eclipsed the touchdown pass total of his rookie season (16), and seven of the 17 have come against the blitz. On Monday night against Washington, he was 8-for-11 for 117 yards and two touchdowns against heavy defensive pressure. His passer rating when he has 2.5 seconds or less to throw: 138.1. Said Redskins coach Jay Gruden: "He's progressed at a rate as fast as anyone I've seen, really."

Advertisement

FAST FACTS: San Francisco rookie QB C.J. Beathard had 235 yards passing and ran for a touchdown in his first career start, a 40-10 loss to Dallas. ... RB Carlos Hyde is tied for second in the NFC with four rushing touchdowns. ... WR Pierre Garcon leads the team with 38 catches and 483 receiving yards. ... WR Marquise Goodwin led the team in Week 7 with 80 yards receiving. ... LB Elvis Dumervil has 120.5 career sacks, third most among active players. ... LB Ray-Ray Armstrong leads the team with 49 tackles -- fifth most in the NFC. ... Eagles QB Carson Wentz leads the NFL with 17 touchdown passes, and he's fourth in passing yards (1,852) and rating (104). Wentz had a career-high 63 yards rushing on Monday night against Washington. ... WR Nelson Agholor is seeking his fifth straight game with a touchdown catch. ... The Eagles lead the NFL with 31 runs of 10 or more yards. ... RB LeGarrette Blount, then with New England, had 124 yards on the ground the last time he faced the 49ers. ... DT Fletcher Cox has 3.5 sacks in his past five games. ... Rookie DE Derek Barnett had two sacks against Washington.

Advertisement

PREDICTION: After being humiliated a week ago, the winless 49ers must travel to the Eastern Time Zone to face the team with the league's best record. After a slow first quarter on Monday night, the Eagles offense scored on four of its next five drives to build a 14-lead. This is not the spot for San Francisco's first win

OUR PICK: Eagles, 29-10.

--Ched Whitney

Latest Headlines