5 stats that defined 49ers’ loss to Eagles in NFC Championship

The 49ers lost ugly to the Eagles in the NFC Championship game on Sunday, and these five stats paint a clearer picture of why it happened.

The San Francisco 49ers had won 12 games in a row dating back to October, and that win streak included two victories in the postseason.

Unfortunately for head coach Kyle Shanahan and Co., a 13th win was not on the table.

The Niners fell in ugly fashion to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game, losing 31-7 and witnessing a crashing halt to one of the more dominant stretches in recent franchise history.

And it’s a shame a team of that caliber won’t be able to compete for a sixth Super Bowl title later this February.

The final score tells a pretty daunting tale for San Francisco fans, one that’ll be discussed all offseason.

Yet the score is only a part of the story, and these stats reveal the truth behind why the 49ers ultimately lost.

49ers glaring stat vs. Eagles: Josh Johnson has 13 pass attempts

There were undoubtedly a number of turning points throughout the game that went in Philly’s favor. Still, none were as critical as quarterback Brock Purdy having to exit after suffering an elbow injury at the tail end of the Niners’ opening possession.

Purdy would return, of course, but he couldn’t throw more than 5 yards or so because of the injury.

And the only reason he returned to action was that his backup, Josh Johnson, had to exit with a concussion.

Johnson attempted 13 passes during his interlude, completing seven but not making much of an impact.

Ironically, Johnson ended up leading the three San Francisco players (including running back Christian McCaffrey) in pass attempts during the game.

When that is part of the context, that team typically loses against a top-tier opponent.