49ers Knock Out Defending Champion Eagles in Wild Card Thriller

The San Francisco 49ers upset the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23–19 in the NFC Wild Card Round at Lincoln Financial Field.

The San Francisco 49ers pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the NFL postseason, eliminating the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with a dramatic 23–19 win in the NFC Wild Card Round at Lincoln Financial Field.

Playing on the road and facing a hostile crowd, the 49ers showed poise, resilience, and just enough offense to move on to the Divisional Round, where they will face NFC West rival Seattle Seahawks, the conference’s No. 1 seed.

A Game That Came Down to the Final Drive

Like many of the Wild Card matchups this weekend, the game came down to the final possession. Trailing 23–19 with under a minute remaining, Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts had one last chance to keep Philadelphia’s season alive.

After an incomplete pass to DeVonta Smith on third-and-11, Hurts targeted tight end Dallas Goedert on fourth down. But 49ers linebacker Eric Kendricks read the play perfectly, jumping the route and knocking the pass away with just 43 seconds left sealing the upset for San Francisco.

McCaffrey Delivers When It Matters Most

Moments earlier, Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense had responded to a go-ahead Eagles field goal by putting together a clutch 10-play, 66-yard drive. The possession ended with Purdy finding Christian McCaffrey on third-and-goal for McCaffrey’s second touchdown of the game.

Although Eddy Piñeiro missed the extra point, the 23–19 lead proved to be enough.

McCaffrey’s most memorable moment, however, came earlier in the fourth quarter on a perfectly executed trick play. Purdy pitched the ball to wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who then launched a 29-yard pass to McCaffrey in the end zone a creative call that caught Philadelphia completely off guard.

Defense Takes Center Stage

Despite Purdy throwing two interceptions both picked off by First-Team All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell San Francisco’s defense consistently rose to the occasion.

Coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit swarmed the ball, pressured Hurts, and limited Philadelphia’s ability to extend drives. While Saquon Barkley had a strong performance with 106 rushing yards on 26 carries, Hurts was held to just 14 rushing yards on five attempts, a major factor in the Eagles’ offensive struggles.

Eagles Fall Short at Home

Philadelphia’s defense kept the game close, but missed opportunities ultimately cost them. The Eagles couldn’t capitalize late, and frustration was visible on the sideline as tensions flared during the tightly contested matchup.

Dallas Goedert accounted for both of the Eagles’ touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to overcome San Francisco’s timely plays on both sides of the ball.

Costly Win for San Francisco

While the victory sends the 49ers into the Divisional Round, it may come at a steep price. Star tight end George Kittle is expected to miss time after suffering what is believed to be a torn Achilles on his lone catch of the game a devastating blow considering his leadership and production throughout the season.

What’s Next

The 49ers now turn their attention to a divisional showdown against the Seattle Seahawks next weekend. Elsewhere in the NFC playoff picture, the Los Angeles Rams will travel to Chicago to face the Bears following their comeback win over the Green Bay Packers.

For now, San Francisco can celebrate a statement win one that ends the Eagles’ title defense and keeps the 49ers’ championship hopes alive.