The San Francisco 49ers overcame a season-long wave of injuries and a midgame loss to star tight end George Kittle to topple the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Even without Kittle, who suffered a torn Achilles in the second quarter, the 49ers leaned on big-play moments to break through Philadelphia’s vaunted defense. A trick-play touchdown pass from Jauan Jennings to Christian McCaffrey highlighted San Francisco’s ability to strike explosively, while the defense, cobbled together from replacements and backups, held strong when it mattered most. Linebacker Eric Kendricks, pressed into duty due to the team’s injuries, sealed the game with a fourth-down knockdown as the 49ers held the Eagles out of the end zone in the second half and forced four three-and-outs.
Philadelphia’s offense, which has struggled with consistency all season, couldn’t find a rhythm down the stretch. The Eagles started strong, with Saquon Barkley rushing for 106 yards and adding 25 receiving yards while the team scored 14 points on its first three drives. But the offense stalled, generating just two second-half field goals despite standout efforts from Barkley and tight end Dallas Goedert, who scored twice. A.J. Brown had a quiet night, catching three passes for 25 yards and dropping a critical fourth-quarter opportunity, leaving questions about his future as the Eagles prepare for the offseason.
San Francisco’s offense got a boost from an unexpected source in wide receiver DeMarcus Robinson. After a quiet regular season, Robinson exploded in the playoffs with six catches for 111 yards, including a 61-yard gain on his first reception that set up a touchdown. The Niners also used Christian McCaffrey as a dynamic weapon in the passing game, catching six balls for 66 yards and two scores despite being limited on the ground. Brock Purdy wasn’t flawless, committing two interceptions and struggling at times with the running game, drops, and misalignments, but the 49ers’ big-play ability kept them ahead when it counted.
The Eagles’ defense tried to carry the team late, with Quinyon Mitchell intercepting two Purdy passes in the second half, including one that gave Philadelphia a brief fourth-quarter lead. But the offense couldn’t capitalize, and San Francisco responded with a 10-play drive to score the go-ahead touchdown. The win sends the 49ers to the NFC Divisional Round for a rubber match against the Seattle Seahawks, setting up a clash between division rivals for a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
San Francisco’s victory showcased resilience on both sides of the ball. Kendricks led the 49ers with six stops, including two tackles for loss, and played every defensive snap without missing a tackle that cost more than a yard. Jauan Jennings made history as a wide receiver with a passing touchdown in the playoffs, joining Hall of Famer Bronko Nagurski as the only non-quarterbacks with multiple career playoff passing scores, and even outperformed Jalen Hurts in completions over 15 air yards on Sunday.
