49ers vs. Eagles: Brock Purdy, San Francisco dethrone Philly on late fourth-quarter TD drive
The San Francisco 49ers' season-long narrative of overcoming devastating injuries added another chapter Sunday, as they upset the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 in the NFC wild-card round. Despite losing star tight end George Kittle to a likely torn Achilles in the first half, the 49ers found a way to win in hostile, windy conditions, ending Philadelphia's bid for a repeat title.
The game was defined by offensive struggles in heavy winds, with both teams failing to find a consistent rhythm. San Francisco's breakthrough came via unconventional means. Early in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Jauan Jennings—a former high school quarterback—threw a perfect 15-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey on a trick play to give the 49ers a 17-16 lead. After the Eagles retook the lead with a field goal, quarterback Brock Purdy engineered a clutch drive, culminating in a 4-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey with 2:54 remaining to put San Francisco ahead for good.
Eagles' Season Ends Amid Offensive Stagnation and Internal Tension
The Eagles' season concluded in fitting fashion: with an offensive failure. Their final drive reached the 49ers' 20-yard line, but stalled. On a decisive fourth-and-11, Jalen Hurts' pass into triple coverage was batted away, sealing the loss. Philadelphia's offense, inconsistent all season, never found its footing. The struggles were highlighted by a sideline confrontation between head coach Nick Sirianni and star receiver A.J. Brown in the first half, a visible sign of the frustration plaguing the team.
San Francisco's defense, which kept the team in the game all night, delivered the final stop. The victory exemplified the 49ers' resilience in a season marred by injuries to key players like Deebo Samuel, Nick Bosa, and now Kittle. They advance to the divisional round, while the Eagles face a long offseason of questions about how a Super Bowl champion regressed so sharply, failing to execute when it mattered most.
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