BLUE 1,026 Posted September 26, 2014 By JORDAN GARRETSON STATS Writer (AP) -- The Philadelphia Eagles have overcome repeated deficits - and substantial offensive line attrition - for their best start in 10 years. The San Francisco 49ers have opened in disappointing fashion for the second consecutive season. They're hoping Week 4 again proves to be the start of a turnaround Sunday when Philadelphia visits San Francisco. The Eagles (3-0) are one of three remaining undefeated teams following last Sunday's 37-34 home win over Washington. They became the first club in league history to win its first three games despite trailing by at least 10 points in each. "We stick together and there's a great camaraderie," said Nick Foles, who leads the NFL with 326.0 passing yards per game. "In the locker room during games like that, we lean on each other instead of blaming each other." Philadelphia amassed 379 yards of offense against a Redskins defense that had previously given up an NFL-leading average of 234.5. Jeremy Maclin continued his strong start, catching eight passes for 154 yards and a touchdown, and rookie Jordan Matthews scored on two of his eight receptions. The Eagles are second in the league with 33.7 points per game. "We can score quick and we can score in bunches," said Maclin, who is averaging 98.7 receiving yards - fifth-most in the NFL. Despite being 3-0 for the first time since a 7-0 start in 2004, Philadelphia has had to deal with a lack of continuity along the offensive line after no starter missed a game in 2013. Center Jason Kelce is the latest to be hit by injury and will undergo sports hernia surgery, likely sidelining him for at least eight weeks. Right tackle Lane Johnson is serving the last of a four-game suspension after testing positive for a banned substance. Allen Barbre, his initial fill-in, broke his ankle in the opener against Jacksonville, and left guard Evan Mathis is set to miss at least six more weeks with a knee injury. "I don't have a level of concern," coach Chip Kelly said. "I just ask who's available, and let's play." The beleaguered unit hasn't allowed a sack in back-to-back games but could be making things more difficult for LeSean McCoy, who carried the ball 19 times for 22 yards against the Redskins. The 1.2 yards-per-carry average was the worst of his career in a game in which he ran at least 10 times. The 49ers (1-2) own the same three-game record for the second straight year after last Sunday's 23-14 loss at Arizona and are looking to avoid their worst start since going 0-5 in 2010. They rebounded last year to win 11 of their final 13 games en route to an NFC championship appearance, but it's not clear if this group has the same resolve after blowing two second-half leads. The 49ers led 14-6 at halftime against the Cardinals and 20-7 after three quarters of the previous week's 28-20 defeat to Chicago. They remain the league's only team yet to score in the fourth quarter. "We've been in this position before where there is an ebb and a flow to the season. We're in it now," coach Jim Harbaugh said. "That's the great challenge for our football team and I have great confidence that we'll attack it." San Francisco may want to get back to establishing the run after having just nine carries by its running backs against the Cardinals and 18 against the Bears. The team's backs ran 25 times for 116 yards in the opener versus Dallas. Frank Gore's six carries against Arizona matched his fewest in his last 51 regular-season games. His 276 rushes last year tied for eighth-most in the league. Offensive coordinator Greg Roman said Gore's lack of carries was a function of San Francisco's game plan, which intended to use the pass early to set up the rushing attack later. "In a perfect world, you're letting Frank and the offensive line take over the game at the end of the game," Roman told the team's official website. "But we weren't in that situation, so we were never really able to transition into that." Foles owns a 127.8 passer rating over his last seven road games with 21 TDs compared to two picks, helping Philadelphia go 6-1. The 49ers are looking to avoid back-to-back home losses for the first time since 2010. San Francisco leads the all-time series 17-12-1 and snapped a five-game skid to the Eagles in the last meeting, winning 24-23 in Philadelphia on Oct. 2, 2011. Gore had 127 yards rushing while McCoy was held to 18. Source: Hosted.Stats.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 27, 2014 Time for a real test, Philadelphia. San Fran is gonna steamroll this team. 34 20 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Thanatos 2,847 Posted September 27, 2014 This San Fran? The one that just got roflstomped by the Cardinals? The one that has been outscored 52-3 in the second half? The Colts weren't a real test btw? Eagles gonna roll. 17 31 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 27, 2014 (edited) We'll do our usual shitty-first-half/stellar-second-half performance, but our offensive line is so bad, it won't be good enough. 28 20 Edited September 27, 2014 by SteVo 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted September 27, 2014 The Colts will never be a real test until Andrew Luck completes the conversion into Peyton Manning 2.0. Because the talent he has around him is incredibly lackluster. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) The Colts will never be a real test until Andrew Luck completes the conversion into Peyton Manning 2.0. Because the talent he has around him is incredibly lackluster. Luck proved he is a challenge with all the great teams he beat last year. We have one team that plays poorly in the first half and balls out in the 2nd and another team who starts fast and comes to a halt toward the end of the game. I won't underrate the 49ers dangerous potential especially with how suspect our defense is. In the pick em I went with the 49ers, but I'm feeling different right now and going to roll with my Eagles who have shown they can fight for a full 60 minutes. 34 27 Edited September 28, 2014 by Dutch Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 28, 2014 49ers are going to run the ball all over the Eagles with their unbalanced line and Caep, but I think the Eagles defese will force a turnover or two and I think Nick Foles will take care of the football. Eagles 37 9ers 35 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 28, 2014 We'll do our usual shitty-first-half/stellar-second-half performance, but our offensive line is so bad, it won't be good enough. 28 20 Are you worried about the pass pro? 9ers D poses no threat of that whatsoever. Still pretty tough to run on this D-line but Foles and co. will shred. 34 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted September 28, 2014 Are you worried about the pass pro? 9ers D poses no threat of that whatsoever. Still pretty tough to run on this D-line but Foles and co. will shred. 34 24 Yes, though not as worried as I am about the run offense. We have backups starting at LG and C, and Foles isn't known for being good with pressure in his face. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted September 28, 2014 (edited) Eagles declared ILB Mychal Kendricks (calf) inactive for Sunday's Week 4 game at San Francisco. The Eagles will have to go with a hideous three-headed monster of Casey Matthews, Emmanuel Acho and Marcus Smith once again. It's a major upgrade for the entire 49ers offense. The rest of the Eagles inactives: Matt Barkley, Josh Huff, Jaylen Watkins, Jason Kelce, Kevin Graf and Taylor Hart. Vernon Davis (ankle) is active for Sunday's Week 4 game against the Eagles. Davis is ready to rock in a plus matchup against an awful Eagles defense that's without their best cover linebacker, Mychal Kendricks. Vance McDonald is a healthy scratch. The rest of the 49ers inactives: WR Quinton Patton, CB Trumaine Brock, QB Josh Johnson, C Marcus Martin, OL Dillon Farrell and DL Tank Carradine. Edited September 28, 2014 by Vin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 29, 2014 The Eagles offense was off, yes but the 9's D deserves props. Zero points allowed technically. Shut down Shady. Don't think the reffing was very good. 2-2 I'll take it. Good comeback win after the special teams wanted to lose the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted September 29, 2014 I kind of want San Fran to get back to the playoffs, now, with all this scrutiny about Jim Harbaugh. It appears that neither the FO or (some of) the players are grateful to him for making this franchise relevant again. Ditching Harbaugh would be incredibly moronic. 9er fans need to be scared, especially if this season goes south. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
seanbrock 1,684 Posted September 29, 2014 Our offensive line really needs to get healthy. McCoy had no room whatsoever and Nick Foles was battered worse than one of Ray Rice's wife. Lane Johnson comes back next week, lets hope we can get our shit together. 49ers were definitely the better team today though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crash3021 101 Posted September 29, 2014 Niners D was stellar holding the Eagles to 0 points and just barely over 200 total yards. The pass rush is still non-existent for the most part, but the rush defense excelled holding Shady in check (and I know a lot of that had to do with the Eagles offensive line missing a few key starters, but they still have to tackle one of the shiftiest backs in the league) They smartly returned to the type of smash-mouth football in the 2nd half (Frank Gore ) that should be the identity of this team instead of having Kaep chuck the ball all over the yard because they won't be going anywhere if he does that. Despite the special teams miscues, they remained resilient and came out with the W fitting the D shut the door with a game-clinching goal line stand. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted September 29, 2014 This San Fran? The one that just got roflstomped by the Cardinals? The one that has been outscored 52-3 in the second half? The Colts weren't a real test btw? Eagles gonna roll. 17 31 Didn't know 23-14 was such as an ass kicking That Panthers-Ravens game yesterday fits that definition 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crash3021 101 Posted September 29, 2014 Didn't know 23-14 was such as an ass kicking That Panthers-Ravens game yesterday fits that definition Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted October 1, 2014 Congrats to the 49ers fans. That was a very important win for them. I our offensive generated no points which is an amazing feat. However, while I don't want to take credit away from the 49ers defense, but I think we hurt ourselves with missed opportunities more then anything. Foles missed a lot of big plays over throwing open receivers that had beaten their defenders. Yes, our running game stunk and the 49ers shut it down but I am very convinced that if we would have capitalized on those missed passes, we could have put the 49ers away without our running game. No one man deserves the blame in that loss because collectively our offense played bad. I also understand that our offensive line is battered and injured but I can't use that as a cop out saying that's the reason why Foles didn't perform well. Actually observing the plays, there were a lot of opportunities missed out on due to inaccurate passes when Foles wasn't under any duress and had a clean pocket and no pressure but simply missed and overthrown his targets. I counted at least 4 big plays. However, the 49ers capitalized on our missed opportunities and created their own with clutch turnovers and stayed in the game and ultimately won it. Great job on their part. This is Foles 3rd game where he looked incredibly below average. No reason to panic just yet because we are only 3-1 but our team won't be able to consistently win or compete if he continues to perform like that. Again, I understand the offensive line situation and our running game but even considering those things, there will still a lot of plays left on the field and those plays should have been made by Foles. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
