49ers vs. Eagles: A prospector's guide

We're back with another edition of the Prospector's Guide. Clearly me skipping the Bears game and getting back in for the Cardinals game was not the difference for the 49ers. Hopefully something else straightens things out.

The San Francisco 49ers host the Philadelphia Eagles in a 1:25 p.m. PT game that should be televised in most US markets. We'll haev the 506sports.com broadcast maps shortly, but at this point, the only places it will definitely not air will be Minnesota and Atlanta. We'll see how else is plays out.

This marks the first matchup between these two teams have faced off since 2011. That game marked the fourth straight year they played, as well as the 9th time in 11 years. The 49ers won the 2011 matchup in thrilling fashion, snapping a 5-game win streak for the Eagles. They entered the game at 2-1, coming off a 13-8 win over the Cincinnati Bengals.

The 49ers would go on to win the NFC West and earn a spot in the NFC title game, but at that point, we really did not know what to make of the team. They had opened the year with a win over the Seattle Seahawks, thanks in large part to a pair of Ted Ginn touchdown returns. They then lost to the Dallas Cowboys in overtime after blowing a 14-0 and 24-14 leads. They beat the Bengals, and after a stop-over in Youngstown, Ohio, the 49ers arrived in Philadelphia facing a 1-2 Eagles squad. Philadelphia jumped out to a 23-3 lead midway through the third quarter. I think most of us assumed that was about it, but then the offense stormed back to win 24-23 lead.

That game was the first signature win of the Jim Harbaugh era, and Justin Smith secured it late with a monster play. The Eagles were driving and looked ready to get into field goal range. The Eagles had a 2nd and 5 at the 49ers 49, when they ran a short pass play to Jeremy Maclin. The Eagles receiver turned upfield to gain 17 yards, getting him down to the 49ers 32. All seemed lost, but before the play ended, Justin Smith caught him and stripped the ball. Dashon Goldson pounced on the ball before it went out of bounds, and the 49ers held on for a huge win.

Bizarre fact: My dad was in town that day for the New England Patriots-Oakland Raiders matchup that afternoon. I was with him at the Oakland Coliseum for the game. I spent the hour or so leading up to the start of that game listening to the radio broadcast of the 49ers game on the NFL Mobile app. It was kind of a surreal experience

Here are some NFL Network highlights from the game.

Series Highlights
Matchups: 31
Series Record: 49ers lead series 18-12-1
49ers Home Record vs. Eagles: Series tied 8-8
First Meeting: 10/6/51, Eagles win 21-14, at Phi.
Last Meeting: 10/2/11, 49ers win 24-23, at Phi.
Current Streak: Won 1
Longest 49ers Win Streak: 5 (9/23/84 - 11/29/92)
Longest Eagles Win Streak: 5 (9/18/05 - 10/10/10)
Most 49ers Points: 38 - 2 times (Last 9/24/89), 49ers win 38-28, at Phi.
Most Eagles Points: 38 - 2 times (Last 9/24/89), 49ers win 38-28, at Phi.
49ers Shutouts: 1, (12/29/96), 49ers win 14-0, at SF (w)
Eagles Shutouts: None

WR Michael Crabtree

• Registered 9 recepts. for 105 yds. and 1 TD vs. Phi. (10/10/10), marking his first career 100-yd. performance. His 9 recepts. also set a new career high.

• Along with TE Vernon Davis (104 rec. yds.), the duo became the first set of 49ers teammates to eclipse the 100-yd. receiving pla- teau in the same game since 1/3/00 at Atl. [WR Jerry Rice (143 rec. yds.) and WR J.J. Stokes (130 rec. yds.)].

TE Vernon Davis

• Registered 5 recepts. for 104 yds. and 1 TD vs. Phi. (10/10/10)

RB Frank Gore

• In 6 career games against Phi., has registered 454 rushing yds. and 2 TDs.

• Since 2008, Gore is the only player in the NFL to register three 100-yd. games against Phi. [101 yds. vs. Phi. (10/12/08); 107 yds. at Phi. (12/20/09) and 127 yds. at Phi. (10/2/11)].

• Rushed for 107 yds. on 16 carries at Phi. (12/20/09), becoming the first player in 20 regular season games to rush for over 100 yds. against the Eagles.

DT Justin Smith

• Registered 2.0 sacks vs. Phi. on 10/10/10

• In his career, has registered 3.0 sacks, 2 FFs and 1 FR vs. Phi

• Stripped Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin with just over 2 minutes to go in the 4th quarter at Philadelphia (10/2/11), marking his 2nd FF of the season and 11th of his career

2014 Statistics