5 Stats that will decide the Eagles versus 49ers NFC Championship Game

3. The Eagles ranked first versus the pass in 2022 and almost set the NFL record for total sacks. They will get to Brock Purdy.

Two good defensive stat deserves two more, and we didn’t have to get deep a la Pro Football Focus for this. Simply put, when playing a rookie signal-caller, as is the case this weekend, it’s good to know your team excels in coverage and knows how to create pressure.

Though criticized for his refusal to send the blitz as often as some would like, Jonathan Gannon‘s guys still managed to get to opposing quarterbacks, racking 70 sacks, a mark that was just two shy of the 1984 Chicago Bears’ NFL-record 70-sack total. They also finished first in the NFL versus the pass and racked up 17 interceptions. Hey, we’ll take it, and we won’t mind seeing a few quarterback takedowns and picks this weekend.

4. Lane Johnson hasn’t given up a sack in forever and won’t on Sunday.

Well, you had to know that this was coming. Lane Johnson versus Nick Bosa might be the most important battle on the field this Sunday. Lane isn’t 100 percent healthy and probably won’t be for the remainder of the season, but in the NFC Championship Game, he faces one of the biggest tests of his career, keeping Bosa off of Jalen Hurts.

Lane decided against season-ending surgery to allow himself the opportunity to be a part of this postseason run with his teammates. He missed the final two games of the regular season, but before that, he hadn’t allowed a sack in 28 straight games. He didn’t allow one during his return in the Divisional Round either.

Simply put, if Lane neutralizes Nick Bosa, the chances of an Eagles win improve dramatically, and guess what? We think he can get the job done!