San Francisco 49ers stun defending champs in Wild Card thriller

The San Francisco 49ers exacted revenge and ended the Philadelphia Eagles‘ quest for a repeat, escaping with a hard-fought 23-19 road victory in a tense NFC wild card showdown.

Purdy’s redemption in Philadelphia
Quarterback Brock Purdy, whose 2021 NFC Championship Game appearance in Philadelphia ended early due to a severe elbow injury, returned to the scene and delivered when it mattered most. Though he threw two interceptions, Purdy amassed 262 yards through the air and engineered the decisive fourth-quarter drive. His 6-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey with just over four minutes remaining put the 49ers ahead for good, capping a gritty performance that showcased his resilience.

The trick play that turned the tide
In a poetic twist, the 49ers used a trick play to take their first lead of the second half against the team famous for the “Philly Special.” Early in the fourth quarter, wide receiver Jauan Jennings took a pitch, rolled to his right, and launched a perfect 29-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey. The bold call gave San Francisco a 17-16 advantage and swung momentum firmly in their favor.

Eagles’ offense stalls when it matters
Despite forcing two turnovers, the Eagles could only convert them into three points. The offense, led by Jalen Hurts, never found a consistent rhythm, managing just 36 total yards in the entire third quarter. Hurts finished with 168 passing yards and one touchdown, but Philadelphia’s final drive ended with an incomplete pass on fourth down with under a minute to play, sealing their elimination.

Injury concern for kittle
The win did not come without a significant cost for the 49ers. Star tight end George Kittle was carted off the field late in the first half with a right Achilles tendon injury, casting doubt on his availability for the upcoming divisional round.

Looking ahead
With the victory, the San Francisco 49ers advance to face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional playoffs. The two NFC West rivals split their regular-season meetings, setting the stage for a highly anticipated rubber match with a trip to the conference championship on the line. For the Eagles, the loss marks a stunning end to their title defense, leaving the organization with significant questions to address in the offseason.

Source: Associated Press