Domo's Eagles-49ers scouting report

WHEN THE EAGLES RUN THE BALL

A year after leading the league in rushing, the Eagles' ground game is struggling. With their line decimated by injuries, including last week's loss of invaluable center Jason Kelce, the Eagles averaged just 2.1 yards per carry against Washington. A team that averaged 5.1 yards per carry last season is averaging just 3.8 through the first three games. The Eagles had just two rushing first downs Sunday. LeSean McCoy was held to 22 yards on 19 carries. He's gained zero or negative yards on 23 of his 60 rushing attempts. Forty of his 60 carries have picked up two yards or less. Darren Sproles, who had 11 carries (for 71 yards) in the Eagles' Week 1 win over Jacksonville, has had just six carries in the last two games. The Eagles will be facing a 49ers defense Sunday that is seventh in the league against the run with an offensive line that will include a center and left guard with zero career starts and a right guard with 12.

Edge: 49ers

Without suspended Pro Bowl edge-rusher Aldon Smith, the 49ers' pass rush isn't nearly as fearsome as it's been in years past. They have just four sacks, only one in the last two games. They need Ahmad Brooks to step up his pass-rushing game, but he has just one sack and one hurry in 154 snaps in the first three games. Smith's replacement on the other side, Dan Skuta, hasn't been much better. Still, given the inexperience of the Eagles' offensive line with Kelce, Evan Mathis and Lane Johnson out, it hardly is a given that Nick Foles is going to have a lot of time to throw the ball. Foles is coming off his best game of the young season. He threw three touchdown passes and no interceptions and completed 66.7 percent of his passes against the Redskins. The Eagles' wideouts, who had just 17 catches for 245 yards in the first two games, had 21 for 262 yards against the Redskins.

Frank Gore rushed for 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns last season, but age is catching up with 31-year-old running back. He's averaging just 3.9 yards per carry in the first three games and was held to 10 yards on six carries in last week's loss to Arizona. Gore's days as the team's workhorse runner are over. He's sharing carries with second-round rookie Carlos Hyde. But the Niners haven't been able to run the ball nearly as well as they have in years past. They're averaging just 112 rushing yards per game, which is more than 25 yards less a game they averaged last year. Their most dangerous running threat is quarterback Colin Kaepernick. The Niners call more designed quarterback runs than any team in the league. For the most part, the Eagles' have done a solid job against the run. They've held their first three opponents to just 3.5 yards per carry and have allowed just one run longer than 15 yards.

WHEN THE 49ERS PASS THE BALL

So far, the decision to release Alex Henery and keep Cody Parkey is looking like gold. Parkey has made 8 of 9 field goal attempts in the first three games, including two 51-yarders. He also has had just five of his 17 kickoffs returned. The Eagles' return game has dramatically improved this season. Chris Polk replaced Nolan Carroll as the primary kickoff returner last week and had a 102-yard return for a touchdown as well as a 35-yard return. Punt returner Darren Sproles has had a pair of 22-yard returns and an 18-yarder already. Punter Donnie Jones is off to a slow start. He's 26th in the league in net average (36.9) and has had 8 of 15 punts (57.1%) returned. Last year, just 34.1 percent of his kicks were returned. Niners punter Andy Lee has one of the league's strongest legs. He has a 46.1-yard career average and is third in net average this season (44.7). Kicker Phil Dawson has had just three of 13 kickoffs returned so far.

Playing on the road with two green starters on your offensive line never is a good thing. The loss of center Jason Kelce figures to have an impact on the Eagles' ability to play tempo. The Eagles have won five of their last six meetings with the Niners, including the last four on the west coast.

Domo's prediction: 49ers 27, Eagles 17

-- Eagles LG Matt Tobin v. 49ers RDE Justin Smith. Talk about jumping into the deep end of the pool. Tobin is making his first career start and it will be against one of the best 3-4 ends in the game.

Advantage: 49ers

-- Eagles RB LeSean McCoy v. 49ers ILB Patrick Willis. Willis doesn't have fellow Pro Bowler NaVorro Bowman next to him, but McCoy doesn't have three of his five starting offensive linemen. McCoy, the defending NFL rushing champ, is averaging just 2.9 yards per carry.

Advantage: 49ers

Hot

Eagles: WRs Jeremy Maclin and Jordan Matthews. Targeted 19 times, they combined for 16 receptions, 213 yards and 3 TDs v. Redskins.

49ers: WR Michael Crabtree. Has 17 catches and 2 TDs in the Niners' last two games.

Not

Eagles: RB LeSean McCoy. Forty of his 60 carries this season have gained two yards or less.

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