The San Francisco 49ers ate a loss at the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game. The brutal 28-7 loss snapped their 12-game winning streak and simultaneously ended their season one stop short of the Super Bowl, just like last season.
While the Niners dealt with persistent quarterback issues that they frankly couldn’t avoid, the defense lacked. They played well for a half, but things came undone in the second half. A brutal array of penalties and a pure lack of discipline led to their demise. They finished the game with 11 penalties for 81 yards. By comparison, the NFC Champion Eagles had just four for only 34 yards.
This was a rarity for the 49ers. Not just this season, but in franchise history. “Today is the 3rd time in franchise history that the 49ers have had 10+ penalties in a playoff game,” tweeted Pro Football Reference.
Today is the 3rd time in franchise history that the @49ers have had 10+ penalties in a playoff game.#NFL | #49ers pic.twitter.com/Hm0Up826WF
— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) January 29, 2023
If that wasn’t enough to fully describe the Niners’ terrible performance, ESPN Stats & Info swooped in. They tweeted, “The 49ers defense committed 3 penalties on the second Eagles touchdown drive alone, which ties their 3 total penalties they committed against Dallas last week.”
The 49ers defense committed 3 penalties on the second Eagles touchdown drive alone, which ties their 3 total penalties they committed against Dallas last week pic.twitter.com/6Q42KM0sbz
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 29, 2023
The NFL world ripped the Niners for their undisciplined play throughout the second half as the game winded down. Needless to say, everybody was willing to take a shot or troll them. Including some current players.
Way this game look we might be better than the 49rs😂😂😂
— Kayvon Thibodeaux (@kayvont) January 29, 2023
— AD_99 (@AaronDonald97) January 29, 2023
49ers incensed that three obvious penalties were correctly called on them.
— Mookie Alexander (@mookiealexander) January 29, 2023
Seeing a lot of bitching about the 49ers penalties. They're all legit. Eagles have gotten away with a few things, sure, but that doesn't change the Niners imploding from a discipline standpoint.
— Adam Silverstein (@SilversteinAdam) January 29, 2023
It a shame the #49ers didn’t have a chance to represent themselves at all today. The QB situation aside, nothing was right. Everything went against them, including their own discipline. They turned lemons into more lemons. Everything buckled under the weight of the game.
— Damon Bruce (@DamonBruce) January 29, 2023
Wow. #49ers discipline continues to wane.
Personal foul on Talanoa Hufanga. Just penalty after penalty.#49wz
— Rohan Chakravarthi (@RohanChakrav) January 29, 2023
The QB is a storyline for sure but the 49ers lack of discipline on defense has been a killer
— Daniel Shirley (@DM_Shirley) January 29, 2023
[Pro Football Reference, ESPN Stats & Info]
