What was already an iconic rivalry between two legendary franchises — the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles — added another chapter to the history books during the 2023 NFC Championship game. Both the 49ers and Eagles relied heavily on their top-tier defenses in order to make it to the Championship game in the first place. Yet, a barrage of injuries for one team at the most important position on the field made what should have been a fantastic conference championship game a one-sided affair.
Both of these teams are back with a vengeance in the 2023-24 NFL season — and considering how each of their respective seasons have started, it wouldn’t surprise anybody if San Francisco and Philadelphia rematched during the 2024 playoffs. Of course, these franchises will have to make it there first.
In this article, we’ll analyze the head to head history between the 49ers and the Eagles, make note of their rivalry background, break down their 2023 NFC Championship game, and predict if they’ll meet again in 2024.
49ers vs Eagles Head to Head History
The San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles have played each other a total of 36 times. Of those, the 49ers hold the all-time edge in wins, with an overall record of 20-15-1. These two teams have also met twice in the playoffs, and have split that series 1-1.
The first ever matchup between San Francisco and Philadelphia came on October 6, 1951, when the Eagles beat the 49ers 21-14. The most recent matchup between these teams was on January 29, 2023, when the Eagles beat the 49ers 31-7.
San Francisco holds the longest winning streak in this series, having beat Philadelphia 5 straight games between September 23, 1984, and November 29, 1992.
San Francisco 49ers vs Philadelphia Eagles Stats
Date | Visitor | Visitor Score | Home | Home Score | Result | Game Type |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
01/29/2023 | San Francisco 49ers | 7 | Philadelphia Eagles | 31 | W | NFC Championship |
09/19/2021 | San Francisco 49ers | 17 | Philadelphia Eagles | 11 | L | Regular Season |
10/04/2020 | Philadelphia Eagles | 25 | San Francisco 49ers | 20 | W | Regular Season |
10/29/2017 | San Francisco 49ers | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | 33 | W | Regular Season |
09/28/2014 | Philadelphia Eagles | 21 | San Francisco 49ers | 26 | L | Regular Season |
10/02/2011 | San Francisco 49ers | 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | 23 | L | Regular Season |
10/10/2010 | Philadelphia Eagles | 27 | San Francisco 49ers | 24 | W | Regular Season |
12/20/2009 | San Francisco 49ers | 13 | Philadelphia Eagles | 27 | W | Regular Season |
10/12/2008 | Philadelphia Eagles | 40 | San Francisco 49ers | 26 | W | Regular Season |
09/24/2006 | Philadelphia Eagles | 38 | San Francisco 49ers | 24 | W | Regular Season |
09/18/2005 | San Francisco 49ers | 3 | Philadelphia Eagles | 42 | W | Regular Season |
12/21/2003 | San Francisco 49ers | 31 | Philadelphia Eagles | 28 | L/OT | Regular Season |
11/25/2002 | Philadelphia Eagles | 38 | San Francisco 49ers | 17 | W | Regular Season |
12/22/2001 | Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | San Francisco 49ers | 13 | L | Regular Season |
11/10/1997 | San Francisco 49ers | 24 | Philadelphia Eagles | 12 | L | Regular Season |
12/29/1996 | Philadelphia Eagles | 0 | San Francisco 49ers | 14 | L | NFC Wild Card |
10/02/1994 | Philadelphia Eagles | 40 | San Francisco 49ers | 8 | W | Regular Season |
01/03/1994 | Philadelphia Eagles | 37 | San Francisco 49ers | 34 | W/OT | Regular Season |
11/29/1992 | Philadelphia Eagles | 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 20 | L | Regular Season |
10/27/1991 | San Francisco 49ers | 23 | Philadelphia Eagles | 7 | L | Regular Season |
09/24/1989 | San Francisco 49ers | 38 | Philadelphia Eagles | 28 | L | Regular Season |
11/03/1985 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13 | San Francisco 49ers | 24 | L | Regular Season |
09/23/1984 | San Francisco 49ers | 21 | Philadelphia Eagles | 9 | L | Regular Season |
09/03/1983 | Philadelphia Eagles | 22 | San Francisco 49ers | 17 | W | Regular Season |
11/30/1975 | San Francisco 49ers | 17 | Philadelphia Eagles | 27 | W | Regular Season |
12/02/1973 | Philadelphia Eagles | 28 | San Francisco 49ers | 38 | L | Regular Season |
10/03/1971 | San Francisco 49ers | 31 | Philadelphia Eagles | 3 | L | Regular Season |
12/21/1969 | Philadelphia Eagles | 13 | San Francisco 49ers | 14 | L | Regular Season |
10/15/1967 | San Francisco 49ers | 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | 27 | L | Regular Season |
11/20/1966 | Philadelphia Eagles | 35 | San Francisco 49ers | 34 | W | Regular Season |
09/20/1964 | San Francisco 49ers | 28 | Philadelphia Eagles | 24 | L | Regular Season |
09/27/1959 | Philadelphia Eagles | 14 | San Francisco 49ers | 24 | L | Regular Season |
10/19/1958 | San Francisco 49ers | 30 | Philadelphia Eagles | 24 | L | Regular Season |
11/25/1956 | San Francisco 49ers | 10 | Philadelphia Eagles | 10 | T | Regular Season |
09/27/1953 | Philadelphia Eagles | 21 | San Francisco 49ers | 31 | L | Regular Season |
10/06/1951 | San Francisco 49ers | 14 | Philadelphia Eagles | 21 | W | Regular Season |
San Francisco 49ers lead series 20-15-1 Points Scored: Philadelphia Eagles 816, San Francisco 49ers 777
49ers vs Eagles Head to Head Analysis
Analyzing the historical game log between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers, several key insights emerge:
- Overall Series Record: The San Francisco 49ers lead the series with a record of 20-15-1. This indicates a competitive edge for the 49ers over the Eagles in their historical matchups.
- Recent Trends:
- The Eagles have shown stronger performances in the most recent games, including a significant win in the 2023 NFC Championship game.
- The fluctuating nature of the results in the last decade suggests a dynamic rivalry where either team could emerge victorious in any given matchup.
- Postseason Impact:
- The teams have met twice in the postseason, with each team securing a win. The most notable being the Eagles’ win in the 2023 NFC Championship.
- These postseason games have been critical, potentially altering the course of each team’s season.
- Close Contests and Overtime Games:
- Several games have been decided by narrow margins, underlining the intense competition between the two teams.
- The 2003 matchup that ended in overtime with a 49ers victory exemplifies the tight contests in this rivalry.
- Dominant Phases:
- The 49ers have had periods of dominance, particularly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, consistent with their overall successful era in the NFL.
- The Eagles have had their moments of success, especially in recent years, reflecting their resurgence as a competitive team.
- High Scoring Affairs:
- The total points scored in this series are relatively close, with the Eagles scoring 816 points and the 49ers scoring 777 points.
- This close points tally, despite the 49ers leading in wins, suggests that many of the games have been high-scoring and closely contested.
- Notable Games:
- The 1994 and 1993 games, where both teams scored over 30 points and the results were in favor of the Eagles, highlight the potential for high-scoring and exciting matchups.
- The 2023 NFC Championship game is a significant entry in the rivalry’s history, showcasing the Eagles’ dominant performance in a crucial game.
In summary, the rivalry between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers is marked by its competitiveness, close scoring games, and significant postseason encounters. The series has seen fluctuating dominance between the two teams, with recent years slightly favoring the Eagles.
49ers vs Eagles Rivalry
The Eagles and 49ers are two of the most accomplished franchises in NFL history. Both teams first entered the league before 1950, and have 11 conference championships between them (4 for the 49ers, and 7 for the Eagles). Yet, one glaring difference between these two teams’ histories is that the 49ers have won 5 Super Bowls, while the Eagles have only 1 to their name — although the Eagles Super Bowl win did come more recently than any that the 49ers have won.
Despite their shared success in the same conference, there isn’t much resentment between these two teams. In fact, when Eagles receiver A.J. Brown was asked about the 49ers earlier this year, he said, “I don’t think it’s any bad blood on our side, but we respect them,” Brown said. “Of course, they gonna come ready to play in (Week 13). That’s gonna be a hard battle. Best team wins.”
Which proved to be the case in the 2023 NFC Championship game.
49ers vs Eagles 2023 NFC Championship
After finishing the 2022-23 regular season with a 14-3 record, the Philadelphia Eagles secured the #1 seed in the NFC playoffs, and earned a first round bye. They went on to beat the New York Giants 38-7 in the Divisional round, which earned them a spot in the 2023 NFC Championship.
The 49ers finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 13-4 record, and earned the #2 seed in the NFC. They beat the Seattle Seahawks 41-23 in the Wild Card round, then defeated the Dallas Cowboys 19-12 in the Divisional round to earn a date with the Eagles in the NFC Championship game.
In Philadelphia, the Eagles started the NFC Championship with the ball — and proceeded to score a touchdown on their opening drive, from a 6-yard run from Miles Sanders. During the 49ers’ first drive, quarterback Brock Purdy was sacked, and suffered an arm injury that forced him to miss the entire first half.
Several possessions later, 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had a dominating series for the 49ers offense, as he got the ball on six of their next seven plays, gaining 44 of the drive’s 46 yards and finishing it off with a 25-yard touchdown run, tying the game 7-7. Unfortunately for San Francisco, it was all Eagles from there.
On Philadelphia’s next drive, they marched 66 yards in 20 plays, and Miles Sanders once again completed the series with a 13-yard touchdown run, making it 14-7 Eagles.
Then 49ers backup quarterback Josh Johnson fumbled a snap on their next possession, which was recovered by Philadelphia. This ultimately set up a 10-yard touchdown run for the Eagles at the end of the first half, giving them a 21-7 lead as they returned to the locker room.
On San Francisco’s opening drive of the half, Josh Johnson was knocked out of the game with a concussion, forcing the sore-armed Purdy to lead the team’s offense (who ended up having a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his throwing arm, which he had to receive surgery for in the offseason). Midway through the third quarter, the Eagles went on another long scoring drive, this one covering 72 yards in 16 plays, and ended with a 1-yard touchdown run by quarterback Jalen Hurts.
Now down 28–7 in the fourth quarter, San Francisco lost the ball on their next drive attempting to convert a 4th-and-3 on their own 47-yard line. Eagles running back Kenneth Gainwell then ran down the clock with 8 consecutive carries for 30 yards, setting up the final points of the game on Jake Elliott’s 31-yard field goal with 5:20 left in the game. This made the score 31-7 in favor of the Eagles, which is how the game ended; sending the Eagles to the Super Bowl and ending the 49ers season.
49ers vs Eagles 2023-24 Team Analysis
The San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles are slated to face each other during Week 13 of the 2023-24 NFL regular season, on December 3, 2023, in Philadelphia.
Some 49ers fans still claim that they had the better team than the Eagles last season, and that if Brock Purdy didn’t get hurt, they would have won the NFC Championship game. Yet, if this season is any indication, the Eagles (currently 8-1) have proven to be the much better team than the 49ers (currently 5-3). Yet, it’s worth noting that both teams started the season 5-0 — but Brock Purdy (now fully healed from his arm surgery) has struggled mightily in recent weeks, which has cost the 49ers 3 straight defeats. While they’re still in first place of the NFC West Division and have plenty of time to turn things around, they’ll need to right the ship soon if they want to rematch the Eagles in the 2024 playoffs.
The Eagles seem certain to repeat last season’s success. Whether the 49ers will be able to do so remains a mystery.
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