The Eagles week four collapse is complete, as the 49ers iced the game to win 24-23. The Niners were losing 23-3 in the middle of the 3rd quarter before Jim Harbaugh’s club mounted their impressive comeback on the road.
Two 3rd quarter touchdown passes from Alex Smith to DC natives Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis pulled the Niners within six. The Eagles offense disappeared in the second half and never threatened to add to their lead.
The comeback was complete when Frank Gore took it in from 12 yards out to tie the game. The PAT was good and the Niners took the one point lead. On the subsequent Eagles possession, Jeremy Maclin caught a 17 yard pass from Michael Vick but fumbled on the sideline in front of the Niners bench. The Niners recovered with 2:06 left to play. Also on the play, star left tackle Jason Peters appeared to suffer a serious knee injury blocking downfield for Maclin.
With the recovery, Frank Gore and the Niners demoralized the Eagles defense and ran the ball right up the middle and down their throat. Two quick first downs enabled the Eagles to run the clock out and ice the game.
The Eagles, a self-proclaimed “dream team”, are now 1-3 and are last in the division at the quarter mark of the 2011 season. They travel to Buffalo next week before coming to Washington to face a first place Redskins team that will be coming off a bye week.
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