Brock Purdy and the undermanned San Francisco 49ers upset the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 in the wild-card round, extending their season despite a staggering list of absent stars.
At a Glance
- The 49ers played without Fred Warner, Nick Bosa, Brandon Aiyuk, George Kittle, Trent Williams, and others
- Jauan Jennings’ 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey gave San Francisco a fourth-quarter lead
- The win sets up a divisional-round matchup at top-seeded Seattle
- Why it matters: San Francisco’s resilience keeps alive a dream of playing the Super Bowl at home
San Francisco entered the game missing more than half of its usual starting lineup. Linebacker Fred Warner, edge rusher Nick Bosa, wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk, rookie receiver Ricky Pearsall, defensive lineman Mykel Williams, and linebacker Dee Winters were all out. The team was also without backups Tatum Bethune, Nick Martin, Kevin Givens, and Jacob Cowing.
Safety Ji’Ayir Brown exited early. Tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles in the first half. Right tackle Trent Williams, 37, returned from a hamstring injury but acknowledged he came back earlier than recommended.
The makeshift roster traveled to Lincoln Financial Field to face the reigning Super Bowl champions.
Jennings Delivers on Trick Play
With 14:55 left in the fourth quarter and the 49ers trailing 16-10, Purdy took the snap and handed to fifth-string wide receiver Skyy Moore on a jet sweep. Moore pitched back to Jennings, who had entered the season as the fourth receiver and was now the de-facto WR1.
Jennings, a 2020 seventh-round pick, lofted a 29-yard strike to McCaffrey, putting San Francisco ahead 17-16. It was the second postseason touchdown pass of Jennings’ career; he also threw a 21-yard score to McCaffrey in Super Bowl LVIII.
Postseason History for Jennings
- First player in NFL history with a perfect 158.3 passer rating in multiple playoff games for the same team, per NFL+
- Originally recruited to Tennessee in 2015 as a dual-threat quarterback
- Rated higher than Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, and Sam Darnold coming out of high school
Comparing Quarterbacks
Despite missing top targets, Purdy completed 3 of 5 passes that traveled 15 or more yards past the line of scrimmage for 122 yards and one interception. Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, with Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith available, attempted five such throws and completed none.
Purdy’s top three receivers by the end of the game included free-agent signing Demarcus Robinson and fullback Kyle Juszczyk.
Road to the Divisional Round
The victory sends the 49ers to Lumen Field to face the Seahawks, the NFC’s No. 1 seed. San Francisco opened the regular season there with a last-second win. A victory would move the team within one win of hosting the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium.
Warner could potentially return for the NFC Championship Game if the 49ers advance.
The Law of Equivalent Exchange
Head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh have previously taken healthier 49ers rosters to Super Bowls but lost to the Chiefs twice. This season’s unprecedented injuries have forced the staff to dig deeper into the roster, culminating in Jennings’ game-changing throw.
Philadelphia, meanwhile, exits the playoffs despite a mostly healthy roster. The Eagles’ repeat bid ends with questions about their high-priced stars and coaching staff.
Key Takeaways
- San Francisco’s 12-5 regular-season record came despite one of the league’s most severe injury lists
- The trick-play touchdown exemplified the team’s season-long adaptability
- A path to a home Super Bowl remains alive for the 49ers
- The Eagles’ early exit highlights the parity in a tightly contested NFC
