Two years ago a conversation about quarterbacks Nick Foles and Colin Kaepernick would’ve gone like this: one guy’s very mobile, can be a reliable passer and seems to eat defenses for breakfast. The other is erratic and hasn’t led his team to a winning record. The script’s basically the same going into today’s 4:25 EST game on FOX between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers. It’s just that the QBs’ roles have been switched.
The 49ers enter today’s game 1-2 with a struggling Kaepernick and a defense still reeling from the loss of Aldon Smith. The 49ers QB will enter today’s Eagles game live without having lost any swagger, though in reality he should be treading a bit more softly. In the first quarter of games this season, Kaepernick’s total QBR is a blistering 97.8. That’s 12 points higher than current league leader Peyton Manning. The only problem? His average QBR for the other three quarters is 34.5.
Eagles QB Foles, on the other hand, enters today’s 49ers game live having led his team to a 3-0 record after coming back from double digits in each game. Last season belonged to LeSean McCoy and the Eagles ground game, which led the league with 2,566 total yards and 5.13 yards per rush. This season it’s all about Foles, who’s got the #5 QBR (75.8) and the most passing yards in the league.
Foles should find even more success today as the 49ers continue struggling to replace Aldon Smith. Smith, who continues to serve his nine-game suspension, had 42 sacks in 43 career games. The 49ers will also likely be without tight end Vernon Davis, who missed the 49ers’ loss against the Cardinals last weekend with an ankle injury. Although he practiced this week, Davis is listed as a game-time decision for today’s Eagles 49ers game.
If you watch today’s Eagles 49ers game live and see the scoreboard favor San Francisco early, don’t get too (un)comfortable. Aside from Kaepernick’s numbers cited above, the 49ers have a first-half point differential of +43, but they’ve been outscored by 49 points in the second half. Conversely, Philly has been outscored by 27 points in the first half but have outscored opponents with a +50 point differential in the second half. In other words, this game won’t be over until the fourth quarter, no matter what the scoreboard says.
You can watch today’s Eagles vs 49ers game live on TV on FOX. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:25pm EST / 1:25pm PST from Levi’s Stadium. You can also watch Eagles vs 49ers game live online free streaming Week 4 using the FOX Sports video website or DirecTV’s website. The latter requires you to have a subscription to the NFL Sunday Ticket MAX package, but subscribers can watch the game online free via the DirecTV live stream on a smartphone, tablet or PC.