Wild Card Round — January 11, 2026
Philadelphia, PA • Lincoln Financial Field
49ers Storm Past Eagles 23–19 in Wild Card Thriller
PHILADELPHIA, PA — In one of the most dramatic games of the 2026 NFL postseason, the San Francisco 49ers walked into Lincoln Financial Field and walked out with a hard-earned 23–19 Wild Card victory over the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
The win sends San Francisco to the NFC Divisional Round and reinforced what this team has shown all season — resilience, creativity, and the ability to deliver when the moment demands it.
Fast Start Sets the Tone
The 49ers wasted no time announcing their presence. On the opening drive, wide receiver Demarcus Robinson ripped through the Eagles secondary with a massive gain that immediately flipped field position.
Moments later, Brock Purdy capped the drive with a short touchdown strike to Robinson, giving San Francisco a 7–0 lead and silencing the Philadelphia crowd early.
The Eagles responded quickly. Tight end Dallas Goedert powered into the end zone on a rushing touchdown, though a missed extra point kept the score at 7–6.
Eagles Regain Control Before Halftime
Philadelphia’s offense found its rhythm in the second quarter. Quarterback Jalen Hurts led a composed scoring drive, finishing it with a touchdown pass to Goedert to give the Eagles their first lead of the game.
San Francisco moved the ball effectively between the 20s but entered halftime trailing 13–7, facing the challenge of overcoming both the scoreboard and the hostile environment.
Second-Half Adjustments Keep It Tight
The third quarter featured measured drives and field goals from both sides, with neither team able to fully seize momentum.
While Philadelphia leaned on ball control and the run game, San Francisco countered with efficiency and timely completions, keeping the contest within one possession entering the final quarter.
Trickery, Trust, and a Turning Point
Early in the fourth quarter, head coach Kyle Shanahan reached deep into the playbook.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings took a pitch, rolled right, and delivered a perfectly placed pass to Christian McCaffrey for a 29-yard touchdown — one of the most creative and memorable plays of the postseason.
The score gave the 49ers a 17–16 lead and shifted momentum squarely in their favor.
Philadelphia answered with a field goal to reclaim the lead, 19–17, but the 49ers never blinked.
McCaffrey Delivers the Knockout Blow
With the game on the line, Brock Purdy engineered a composed, confident drive deep into Eagles territory.
Facing goal-to-go, Purdy found Christian McCaffrey once again — this time on a short touchdown pass — giving the 49ers a 23–19 lead that would prove decisive.
The Eagles’ final possession ended in frustration as San Francisco’s defense held firm on fourth down, sealing one of the most impressive road playoff wins in franchise history.
Offensive Leaders
Brock Purdy: 18-of-31 passing, 262 yards, 2 TDs
Christian McCaffrey: 114 total yards, 2 receiving TDs
Demarcus Robinson: 100+ receiving yards, opening-drive TD
Eagles Notable Performances
Jalen Hurts threw for 168 yards and a touchdown, while Saquon Barkley powered the Eagles’ ground attack with over 100 rushing yards.
Dallas Goedert scored twice and remained Philadelphia’s most reliable offensive weapon throughout the contest.
Team Stats Snapshot
- Total Yards: 49ers 361, Eagles 307
- Passing Yards: 49ers 286, Eagles 167
- Rushing Yards: Eagles 140, 49ers 75
- Time of Possession: Eagles 35:39, 49ers 24:21
Injuries
George Kittle suffered a torn Achilles tendon in the first half and was ruled out for the remainder of the postseason.
What It Means
The victory marked San Francisco’s first postseason road win in Philadelphia and reinforced the team’s reputation as one of the most battle-tested playoff squads in the NFC.
With confidence soaring, the 49ers advance to face the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round.
Survive. Advance. Believe.
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