One way or another, Penn State would be represented in the Super Bowl on the NFC sideline as the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers both had former Nittany Lions on the roster. This year it will be Miles Sanders, the former Penn State running back, who will be hoping to celebrate a Super Bowl victory as the NFC champion, and he played a big role in the NFC championship game victory by the Eagles on Sunday.
Sanders capped the game's opening drive of the game with a touchdown run right up the middle of the San Francisco defense without a defender managing to lay a hand on him.
Sanders and the Eagles were held in check for most of the first half after that opening touchdown drive, but Sanders broke a 7-7 tie later in the second quarter for what proved to be the game-winning score in the Eagles' 31-7 victory.
Sanders rushed for 42 yards on 11 carries against one of the NFL's top defenses in the 2022 season.
Sanders will play in his first Super Bowl in two weeks against either the Kansas City Chiefs or Cincinnati Bengals. The Eagles are hoping to win their second Super Bowl in franchise history.
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a 13 yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a 13 yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a 13 yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a 6 yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) celebrates his touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles scores a 13 yard touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 29, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) scores a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship game at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles warms up prior to the NFC Championship Game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers and Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles shake hands following the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia defeated San Francisco 31-7. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers and Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles shake hands following the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia defeated San Francisco 31-7. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers and Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles hug following the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia defeated San Francisco 31-7. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JANUARY 29: Miles Sanders #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 29, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Story originally appeared on Nittany Lions Wire
