All eyes were on the San Francisco 49ers over the weekend as they played against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship on Jan. 29. The 49ers showed a stellar performance this past season, carrying a 12-game win streak into the weekend and giving fans hope that the Bay Area team would secure their first Super Bowl title since 1995. Despite the excitement surrounding the Super Bowl hopefuls, the 49ers lost to the Eagles in devastating fashion, 31-7. Injuries, missed calls, turnovers, and penalties left the fans disappointed and wondering what could’ve been.

The 49ers lost their top two quarterbacks early in the season and had to turn to their last pick in the 2022 NFL draft, Brock Purdy. Despite the reputation of “Mr. Irrelevant,” Brock Purdy shocked the sports world with his spectacular play. Throughout eight games, the rookie sensation had 16 touchdowns and only three interceptions, maintaining a flawless record at 8-0.

Along with Purdy, the Niners’ offense had several weapons in its arsenal, such as Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, Brandon Aiyuk, and Christian McCaffrey.

The Niners’ defense was also to be feared. The talented defense, led by defensive end Nick Bosa and middle linebacker Fred Warner, ranked first in many defensive categories.

Given a star-studded cast of players, the confidence among 49ers fans going into Philadelphia was at an all-time high.

The 49ers performed well for much of the first half. Trouble started once the Eagles were bailed out on their first drive by a fourth down catch that was falsely ruled a completion, allowing the Eagles to take a 7-0 lead within a minute after the call. Continuing the chain of misfortune for the 49ers, Purdy took a devastating hit and injured his elbow on their first drive of the game.

While shaken by Purdy’s injury, the Niners’ defense did not relent and continued to keep the game close. Josh Johnson, Purdy’s emergency replacement and a fourth-string quarterback, turned to the elite running back Christian McCaffrey to help salvage the game. McCaffrey delivered, accumulating 44 yards and managing four touches during the 49ers’ best drive of the day. On his final run of the drive, McCaffrey broke multiple tackles and cruised into the endzone to tie the game at 7-7.

The Eagles scored their second touchdown near the end of the first half with a clutch fourth down conversion, three defensive penalties, and great playmaking throughout the drive. The Niners got the ball back with just over a minute remaining, hoping for a spark just before halftime. However, Johnson fumbled on their 30-yard line seconds after the Niners had gotten the ball, giving the Eagles great field position with limited time remaining. The Eagles capitalized on the mistake and ended up scoring their third rushing touchdown of the day, making the score 21-7 at the half.

Returning from halftime the 49ers’ woes continued. Worse yet, Johnson would soon join Purdy on the bench, as the fourth-string quarterback sustained a concussion in the third quarter, leaving the Bay Area team with no capable quarterback.

From that point onward, the 49ers couldn’t climb back. Following Josh Johnson’s injury, Purdy had to re-enter the game. He was only able to throw once due to his elbow injury, and the 49ers were left hopeless. The Eagles were aware that the Niners were out of options, adjusting their defense to only stop the run. As time continued to run out, the 49ers’ season was coming to a definitive end.

The 49ers seemed to be primed for success with a solid coaching staff led by offensive genius, Kyle Shanahan, a competitive roster of six Pro Bowl players, and the early acquisition of star running back, Christian McCaffrey. Thanks to these factors, the team took a 3-4 record to 13-4 and won the NFC West.

While bad luck continued to loom over the legendary franchise throughout the season, the Niners’ put up a valiant effort with their first-ranked defense and breakout rookie Brock Purdy. They were the second seed in the NFC and went surging into the playoffs, winning the first two games.

Looking at the 49ers a week prior, the Bay Area team was favored to win both the NFC Championship game and the Super Bowl title. Along with the injuries, the Niners were penalized 11 times for 81 yards and turned the ball over twice, giving the Eagles break after break. Unfortunately, with their last two QBs falling to injury, and having one of the most penalized games in postseason history, the 49ers have only the offseason to look forward to.

Since their last Super Bowl win, the Niners have made it to seven conference titles and two super bowls. With a Super Bowl appearance four years ago and three NFC title game appearances in the last four years, the 49ers keep looking for the answer to bring the Lombardi trophy back to the Bay Area.