The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 in the Wild Card round of the NFL playoffs on Sunday, January 11, 2026, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The 49ers' victory eliminated the defending Super Bowl champion Eagles from the postseason.In a game that encapsulated the gritty, unpredictable nature of postseason football, the San Francisco 49ers, battling an extensive injury list, marched into Lincoln Financial Field and stunned the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles with a hard-fought 23-19 victory on Sunday, January 11, 2026. This Wild Card triumph, sealed by timely trickery and defensive resolve, ended Philadelphia's repeat aspirations and propelled the resilient 49ers into the NFC Divisional Round. The narrative leading into the game centered on San Francisco's adversity. With key defensive players like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa already sidelined by injury, the 49ers faced further hardship when star tight end George Kittle was carted off in the second quarter with an Achilles injury. Yet, in the face of a raucous Eagles crowd, the "laundry"—as comedian Jerry Seinfeld's theory goes, the uniform itself—found a way to win. A Tale of Two Halves and a Trick-Play Turning Point The game started as the potential offensive slugfest many predicted, with both teams trading opening-drive touchdowns. However, the offenses soon bogged down, and the Eagles carried a 13-10 lead into halftime, fueled by two Dallas Goedert touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving). The Eagles' offense, which had struggled with consistency late in the season, managed only six points after the break, drawing the "boo birds" from the home crowd in the third quarter. The pivotal moment arrived early in the fourth quarter. The 49ers, known for their innovative play-calling, deployed a stunning trick play: a reverse handoff to wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who then launched a perfect, over-the-shoulder 29-yard touchdown pass to running back Christian McCaffrey. This audacious call put San Francisco up 17-16 and seized the momentum.
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Defense and Unlikely Heroes Seal the Win While the offense provided the flash, it was the 49ers' defense that secured the upset. Despite being undermanned, the unit—featuring players who were on the practice squad just weeks ago—held Jalen Hurts to a paltry 168 passing yards. After the Eagles briefly retook the lead with a field goal, Brock Purdy (who threw for 262 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions) connected with McCaffrey for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the 49ers a 23-19 advantage with under three minutes to play. The Eagles had one last chance, driving deep into San Francisco territory. But on a crucial fourth-and-11 from the 21-yard line, veteran linebacker Eric Kendricks, signed in November, broke up Hurts' pass intended for Goedert, clinching the win and sending the Eagles home in silence. The victory was a testament to coach Kyle Shanahan's leadership and a "never-quit attitude" that defines his team. The 49ers now advance to face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks in the Divisional Round, having already split the season series with their NFC West rivals. The Eagles, meanwhile, face an offseason of tough questions regarding their coaching staff and offensive performance after a season that ended "with a thud".
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