At a Glance
- No. 6 seed San Francisco stuns No. 3 seed Philadelphia 23-19 on the road
- Brock Purdy throws for 262 yards and two touchdowns
- George Kittle exits with a right Achilles injury in the second quarter
- Why it matters: The 49ers advance to face Seattle next weekend for a shot at the NFC Championship
The San Francisco 49ers have knocked the Philadelphia Eagles out of the NFC playoffs with a dramatic 23-19 road victory at Lincoln Financial Field. The upset propels the sixth-seeded 49ers into next weekend’s NFC Divisional Round showdown against the Seattle Seahawks.
How the Game Unfolded
San Francisco entered Sunday as a six-point underdog, per NBCSports.com, yet never flinched in a hostile environment.
Brock Purdy continued his hot streak, completing 18 of 31 passes for 262 yards and two touchdowns-though he also threw two interceptions.
Christian McCaffrey’s impact came mainly through the air. The All-Pro running back:
- Hauled in six receptions
- Gained 66 receiving yards
- Caught two fourth-quarter touchdown passes
On the ground, McCaffrey managed 48 rushing yards on 15 carries.
Defense Steps Up
San Francisco’s defense, missing several key contributors, limited the Eagles’ potent but inconsistent attack. The unit bent but never broke, preserving the narrow margin in the final minutes.
Injury Blow
Star tight end George Kittle suffered a right Achilles injury in the second quarter and was ruled out for the remainder of the game. The severity of the injury and his availability for next week have not yet been announced.
Road Ahead
The 49ers split their regular-season series with Seattle-winning the opener in Seattle and losing the finale at home last weekend. Now they face the Seahawks again, this time with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line.
San Francisco’s dream of playing in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium remains alive. To reach it, the team must win two more road games, starting next weekend in the Divisional Round.
