Zachary Engberg
2 min read • January 28, 2023
Posted in
Possibly the best one-on-one matchup in the NFC Championship Game will come in a five-step window on the right side of the offensive line between perennial all-pros Nick Bosa and Lane Johnson.
Johnson, SIC score 80, suffered a significant core muscle injury in Week 16 that will likely require offseason surgery but will play through the torn adductor.
Johnson was strong in 67 snaps in his first game back against the Giants despite appearing to aggravate the injury during the contest and, according to ESPN reporter Tim McManus, hasn't allowed a sack in over 1,800 snaps since Nov. 22, 2020.
Bosa, meanwhile, logged five quarterback pressures and one TFL in the Divisional Round against the Smiths, including Tyron Smith who returned in Week 16 from a preseason hamstring avulsion fracture.
The fourth-year edge-rusher led the NFL with 18.5 sacks and made at least one sack and one TFL in 14 of 16 games but hasn't gotten home yet in the playoffs.
These two teams faced off in Week 2 of the 2021 season, which was Bosa's second game back from a torn ACL and Jalen Hurts' sixth career start at quarterback.
In that contest, Johnson allowed two QB pressures and Bosa had two sacks and one hit, including a 3rd-and-2 sack in the fourth quarter that helped seal the win, but neither came against Johnson.
As he does every game, Bosa will likely cycle from left-to-right and face both Johnson and Jordan Mailata.
The likely DPoY is listed at -166 to record a sack and has a 3.5 tackles total (+112) on FanDuel Sportsbook.
How much Bosa impacts the contest may depend on how well the Eagles' elite rushing offense can produce, simply because it will limit his opportunities to make a game-breaking play.
The Eagles, now 15-3, averaged 148 rushing yards per game and scored 32 touchdowns in the regular season – adding 268 yards and three scores against the Giants.
On the flip side, however, Philadelphia is 2-3 this season when it is held to fewer than 100 rushing yards, including both of Hurts' missed games, while the 49ers are 12-0 when they hold opponents to fewer than 99 yards.
he Eagles are favored by 2.5 points at home and the over/under is 46.5, according to FanDuel Sportsbook. Purdy's passing prop is at over/under 218.5 yards.
Philadelphia is the favorite to win Super Bowl LVII at +230 with Kansas City at +260, the Bengals at +280 and the 49ers at +320.
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Written by Zachary Engberg
