Eagles Hold Off 49ers, 27-24

The Eagles topped the 49ers 27-24, as Kevin Kolb and LeSean McCoy shined for the Birds offense.  Kolb completed 21-of-31 passes for 253 yards and an 8-yard touchdown to Brent Celek, but did lose a fumble. LeSean McCoy ran for 92 yards on 18 carries, including  a 29-yard touchdown run.

The 49ers opened the game with a methodical 11 play, 57-yard drive lasting more than 7 minutes. The drive was capped by a 7-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith to Michael Crabtree, putting San Francisco on top 7-0.

Philadelphia’s offense wasn’t to be outdone though, driving 75 yards on 10 plays in 5:30. Kevin Kolb exected perfectly on the drive, going 6-for-6 for 72 yards and th touchdown. Brent Celek was his favorite target, catching the 8-yard touchdown pass and a 32-yard strike on a play the Birds practiced several times this week.

Kolb rolled to the right and threw back across the grain to a wide open Celek for a 32 yards. A few plays later, after a LeSean McCoy touchdown run was wiped out due to a hold by Todd Herremans, Kolb escaped pressure in the pocket by breaking a tackle, rolled to his right and found Celek at the goal line.

The Eagles defense then came up with a big play, as Moise Fokou forced a fumble by Frank Gore with :16 left in the opening frame. Joselio Hanson recovered and the Eagles turned it into a field goal early in the second quarter to take a 10-7 lead.

Late in the half, the Eagles put together a 3 play, 53-yard drive. First, Kolb connected with DeSean Jackson for 20 yards and 4 yards on back to back plays, then LeSean McCoy found a hole and dashed 29 yards to the end zone. McCoy has 14 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown.

San Francisco managed a field goal on the ensuing drive, cutting the score to 17-10. Philadelphia got the ball back at its own 37-yardline with 36 seconds left in the half and all three timeouts, leaving Andy Reid and Kevin Kolb with a good test of their time management.

They couldn’t make anything of it, though, as King Dunlap, filling in for an injured Jason Peters, was beaten cleanly by Manny Lawson, who sacked Kolb and forced a fumble. That gave San Francisco another chance at points, but Joe Nedney missed a field goal at the end of the half.

Neither team mounted much offense during the third quarter, leaving the score unchanged at 17-10.  The Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a missed 53-yard field goal by David Akers, but the defense came through big on the following drive.  Well, at least Alex Smith came up little.

The quarterback rolled out, pressured by Brandon Graham, and simply dropped the football.  Quintin Mikell scooped it up and took it 52 yards for a touchdown, putting the Eagles on top 24-10.

After a stern talking to from 49ers head coach Mike Singletary, Alex Smith set the world on fire on the ensuing drive, finding Vernon Davis twice for 43 yards including the 7-yard touchdown.  After an extra point, the Niners trailed just 24-17 with 7:35 remaining.

The Eagles held the ball exactly 3 minutes before a David Akers field goal to make it 27-17 with 4:35 left.

The Eagles opened the fourth quarter with a missed 53-yard field goal by David Akers, but the defense came through big on the following drive.  Well, at least Alex Smith came up little.

The quarterback rolled out, pressured by Brandon Graham, and simply dropped the football.  Quintin Mikell scooped it up and took it 52 yards for a touchdown, putting the Eagles on top 24-10.

After a stern talking to from 49ers head coach Mike Singletary, Alex Smith set the world on fire on the ensuing drive, finding Vernon Davis twice for 43 yards including the 7-yard touchdown.  After an extra point, the Niners trailed just 24-17 with 7:35 remaining.

The Eagles held the ball exactly 3 minutes before a David Akers field goal to make it 27-17 with 4:35 left.  The 49ers quickly went back to work, scoring a touchdown with 2:02 left when Alex Smith found Frank Gore on a 1-yard pass.  After an extra point, the Eagles lead was just 27-24.

On a 2nd and 13 play, LeSean McCoy took a pass  in the flats and turned it up the field, diving to the ground to avoid a hit 2 yards short of the first down when he could have picked it up by staying on his feet.  Philadelphia failed to convert on 3rd and 2, with an incomplete pass from Kolb intended for Celek, and the 49ers were given one more chance.

With 1:28 left, San Francisco took over at its own 32-yardline with 1 timeout.  Smith found his tight end over the middle again on 2nd and 13, completing a pass to Vernon Davis for a 27-yard gain to th Eagles 44-yardline.

The 49ers couldn’t get much farther, as Trevard Lindley made a huge interception of Alex Smith on a deep pass that sailed to the middle of nowhere as Smith was hit by Trevor Laws on his release.

The Eagles were able to run out the clock and hang on for the 27-24 win.

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