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The San Francisco 49ers got their work done on the road, upsetting the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, in the Wild Card Round to advance to the playoffs.
The 49ers will go on to face their NFC West rival the Seattle Seahawks, who found their way out of the No. 1 seed in the NFC this year.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ season is coming to a dramatic end, and they’re close to the red zone with one minute left in the fourth quarter.
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Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers gives the ball to Christian McCaffrey #23 in the third quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
Like the Wild Card games before theirs, the Eagles and 49ers come down to the wire, and it looks like whoever holds the last possession will bring it home.
But Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts couldn’t connect with DeVonta Smith on third-and-11, forcing a season-ending fourth down on the next play. He went back, scanned the field and cut to tight end Dallas Goedert, the man who scored the Eagles’ two touchdowns in the contest.
However, 49ers linebacker Eric Kendricks read the play well, jumped the route and hit an incomplete with 43 seconds left to give San Francisco the win.
EAGLES’ NICK SIRIANNI, AJ BROWN COMPLAIN OTHERS WERE DISTANCED IN FIXED SEASON VS 49ERS
Before that game-deciding play, Brock Purdy and the 49ers offense needed to respond to an Eagles field goal that made the score read 19-17 on the Jumbotron at Lincoln Financial Field in favor of the home team. Purdy did just that, going 10 plays and 66 yards to finally find Christian McCaffrey on third and goal for his second score of the game to take a 23-19 lead after Eddy Pineiro missed another punt.
It wasn’t McCaffrey’s most impressive touchdown of the game, however, as that came off the arm of wide receiver Jauan Jennings instead of Purdy early in the fourth quarter.
Saquon Barkley of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
The tactical play worked well for head coach Kyle Shanahan, as Purdy flipped the ball to Jennings, who then pitched it to McCaffrey for a 29-yard touchdown pass. McCaffrey made a great catch over the shoulder of the man who also threw the ball in the 49ers’ Super Bowl a few seasons ago.
The game was a defensive battle on both sides, as Hurts and Purdy had their fair share of fouls, though the latter was seen in the box. Purdy threw two interceptions, both to First-Team All-Pro linebacker Quinyon Mitchell.
But the 49ers, some of whom played limited games during the regular season, were flying all over the field looking for coach Robert Saleh, and it paid off in the end.
Saquon Barkley had a big game on the ground, however, with 106 yards on 26 carries. But Hurts had just 14 yards on five attempts.
Meanwhile, McCaffrey was held to just 48 yards on 15 carries, despite having 66 yards on six catches. Also, Demarcus Robinson, the game’s first touchdown scorer, led the way with 11 yards on six catches for the 49ers.
Brock Purdy of the San Francisco 49ers throws the ball during the second quarter of the NFC Wild Card playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images)
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Unfortunately for San Fran, they advanced to the next round possibly without tight end George Kittle, whose only catch in the game led to what is believed to be a torn Achilles for the 32-year-old. The loss goes without saying considering his leadership qualities and stellar play this year.
With the 49ers’ win, the Divisional Round is in place, once again, with the Los Angeles Rams heading to Chicago to face the Bears after their win over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night.
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