NFL-Eagles thrash 49ers to reach Super Bowl

Jan 29 (Reuters) – A pair of rushing touchdowns from Miles Sanders helped the Philadelphia Eagles soar past the 49ers 31-7 in the NFC Championship on Sunday, after injuries hit San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy and backup Josh Johnson.

The win at home sees the Eagles off to the Super Bowl for the second time in five years, where they will face either the Kansas City Chiefs or the Cincinnati Bengals, with the two AFC contenders set to play later on Sunday.

The evening turned disastrous almost immediately for San Francisco as Pro Bowler Sanders drew first blood with a six-yard run to the end zone in the opening series and Purdy exited the game with an elbow injury on the Niners’ first possession.

Running back Christian McCaffrey broke through a swarm of defenders to put the Niners on the board in the second quarter but Sanders wrested the lead back immediately with a 13-yard touchdown.

Johnson, the Niners’ fourth-string quarterback after injuries previously sidelined starters Jimmy Garoppolo and Trey Lance, fumbled the ball late in the second quarter and the Eagles recovered, sending a shiver of despair through the away team as Boston Scott ran it into the end zone.

Purdy was forced back into the contest after Johnson smacked his head on the turf but was ineffective against the razor-sharp Eagles, as quarterback Jalen Hurts leapt into the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter and Jake Elliott made a 31-yard field goal in the fourth. (Reporting by Amy Tennery in New York Editing by Christian Radnedge)

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