NFL best bets and predictions Week 13
When quarterback Brock Purdy went down with an injury, the 49ers went down without a fight in the NFC title game in Philadelphia. But that was then — more than 10 months ago — and things are different now.
Purdy is healthy and playing at a high level, running back Christian McCaffrey is on a roll and San Francisco has won three in a row going into Sunday’s rematch with the Eagles, who coasted to a 31-7 win en route to the Super Bowl. Things are so much different that the 49ers are 3-point road favorites against the team with the NFL’s best record at 10-1.
First of all, Philadelphia has been playing with fire and its record is deceiving. The Eagles were outgained in each of their past four games (505-378 by the Bills; 336-238 by the Chiefs; 406-292 by the Cowboys; 472-374 by the Commanders) yet won all four by one score.
The Philadelphia defense was on the field for 92 plays last week in a 37-34 overtime victory over Buffalo, and that defense yielded 341 rushing yards in the past two games and ranks near the bottom of the league in passing yards (255.7) and passing touchdowns (23) allowed for the season. The Eagles’ offensive leader, quarterback Jalen Hurts, has already committed 14 turnovers after turning it over eight times all of last season.