Eagles-Niners: The halves and half-nots

THIS COULD be one really strange game.

Or not.

If offensive averages from the first 3 weeks of the season hold, the Eagles will outscore the 49ers 25-1 in the second half, after falling behind 20-9 in the first half. Final score, Eagles 34, 49ers 21.

Leaving aside for the moment that it's really, really hard to find a way to score one point by itself, there are all sorts of reasons why it won't happen this way. Foremost is the fact that 3 weeks of something happening doesn't set it in stone; there is no reason why the Birds are destined to be a second-half team all year, though they're outscoring opponents 74-24 in the second half so far, and they're being outscored 54-27 in the first half. And the 49ers are unlikely to spend the rest of the season piling up a 59-16 advantage in the first half, while being outscored 52-3 in the second half.

These are two of the more talented teams in the NFC, both looking to put together a full 60-minute game, both more likely to do so sooner than later.

"They want to finish better. We're saying we want to start better," Eagles wideout Jeremy Maclin said by way of summary yesterday.

The Eagles somehow are 3-0 despite a defense that is tied for 27th in the league in points allowed. That has been the gist of their first-half troubles - the defense can't seem to get off the field until coordinator Bill Davis makes halftime adjustments. But it isn't one little thing they can easily fix.

"Indianapolis did a really good job running the ball against us, the Washington Redskins did a really good job of throwing the ball and controlling the clock against us - two entirely different approaches," coach Chip Kelly noted yesterday.

Right tackle Todd Herremans said the Eagles, despite their record, are a bit like San Francisco; in some ways, narrow escapes the past 2 weeks felt like losses. They will go west, Herremans said, looking for "a little cleaner game, a little more dominant game" than they've played.

The 49ers, 1-2 after going to the NFC Championship Game 3 years in a row (and the Super Bowl the season before last), are the NFL's most penalized team thus far, with 36 in three games, for 303 yards. Several of these flags have fallen at crucial times; the new emphasis on defensive holding/pass interference has been a problem for their secondary. San Francisco opponents have 17 first downs by penalty.

"I think everybody around the league is adjusting to the new rules," said Eagles tight end Zach Ertz, who will be returning to the area where he grew up and where he starred, at Stanford. "[Wide receiver] Anquan Boldin said the other day that they think they've had the brunt of the rules change, they've had some calls go against them they feel shouldn't have."

The 49ers' defense is missing NaVorro Bowman (knee) and Aldon Smith (suspension).

In last Sunday's loss to Arizona, the San Francisco offense was missing two pillars, right tackle Anthony Davis and tight end Vernon Davis. Both have practiced some this week and could return against the Eagles - in fact it seems likely Vernon Davis will, at least.

Anthony Davis would be a huge upgrade over sub Jonathan Martin. But Vernon Davis, who caught 13 touchdown passes a year ago, would seem to be very significant, against an Eagles team that again will be missing inside linebacker Mychal Kendricks, out with a calf strain.

Davis is a safety net for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who often rambles out of the pocket, looking to make a play.

"Quarterbacks go to these guys [superstar tight ends] because they're big bodies, usually they're on safeties downfield, you can kind of throw it up - they're going to catch it or they're not going to let an interception happen," said Eagles outside linebacker Connor Barwin. "He changes the game. You have to be more honest at outside 'backer, when you cover a guy like that."

Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins figures to get much of the work of covering Davis.

"This is not the first time I've gone against him," Jenkins said yesterday. "He's a unique individual . . . probably the fastest player [in the NFL] at the tight-end position. He's big and strong. He can block.

"His speed is all it's hyped up to be. He's a huge vertical threat, and a big part of what they do offensively. I'm definitely going to have my hands full."

After last week's 427 yards surrendered to Washington, Eagles fans might have some concerns not only about Davis but about Boldin (16 catches, 169 yards), Michael Crabtree (19 for 187), and Stevie Johnson (13 for 162), the wideouts in a scheme that likes to go vertical.

Kaepernick might not get rid of the ball as quickly as Kirk Cousins did last week, but he is hard to rush effectively, given his size (6-4, 230) and his ability to escape. Kelly talked yesterday about how the 49ers use more designed runs for their quarterback than anyone in the league; Kaepernick has run 26 times for 129 yards. Here again, Kendricks would come in handy, as a possible "spy." First-round rookie Marcus Smith might have the size and speed for the task, but Smith - moved inside to help out after Kendricks went down against Indianapolis - probably won't be on the field much before third down.

The Eagles' offense has to debut yet another line combination, on the road - Jason Peters, Matt Tobin, David Molk, Dennis Kelly and Herremans. Tobin and Molk are making their first NFL starts.

"It's a different group, but we've build a camaraderie throughout offseason and throughout camp," Foles said. "I've been in there with those guys before."

Blog: ph.ly/Eagletarian