The NFL playoffs always promise drama, and this year’s Wild Card round delivered a matchup that had fans on the edge of their seats: the San Francisco 49ers versus the Philadelphia Eagles. Both squads entered the 2025 campaign as favorites to contend for the Super Bowl, but only one would survive this high-stakes showdown. What unfolded in Philadelphia on January 11, 2026, was a story of resilience, disappointment, and the ever-turning wheel of NFL fortune.
Let’s set the stage. The San Francisco 49ers, led by head coach Kyle Shanahan, battled through a regular season riddled with injuries. Key contributors like Nick Bosa, quarterback Brock Purdy, and stalwart tackle Trent Williams all spent time on the sidelines. The loss of wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk under controversial circumstances only added to the adversity. Yet, the 49ers stayed competitive, nearly clinching the NFC West and home-field advantage—a testament to their depth and grit.
On the opposite sideline, the Philadelphia Eagles began the year with sky-high expectations. After dethroning Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs to win the previous Super Bowl, the Eagles carried a chip on their shoulder into 2025. Their journey through the NFC East was less turbulent than expected; rivals like the Dallas Cowboys and the Commanders failed to mount a serious challenge, and Philadelphia secured the division crown with an 11-6 record. But the season’s narrative soon shifted from dominance to inconsistency, especially on the offensive side of the ball.
According to Yahoo Sports, the Eagles’ offense, coordinated by Kevin Patullo, never truly found its rhythm. While the 2024 championship squad had a knack for in-game adjustments—improving from 24th in points per drive on opening possessions to fifth over the rest of the game—the 2025 Eagles started strong (sixth in points per drive on opening possessions) but plummeted to 25th on subsequent drives. This inability to adapt proved costly, and Patullo’s future with the team is now under scrutiny. As the report noted, "The 2025 Eagles were sixth in points per drive on their opening possession, but dropped to 25th on all following drives."
Despite these offensive woes, Philadelphia’s defense remained a force. The unit ranked second in EPA per play and boasted multiple All-Pro-caliber talents. The midseason acquisition of edge rusher Jaelan Phillips injected new life into the pass rush. Before Phillips arrived, the Eagles were 14th in pressure rate; after the trade, they soared to fifth. Yahoo Sports highlighted, "Jaelan Phillips was a defense-changer after the trade that brought him to Philadelphia." The defense, however, couldn’t mask all the team’s shortcomings, especially as the playoffs loomed.
When game day arrived, the Eagles were hoping to draw on their home-field advantage. But the 49ers, undeterred by the raucous Philadelphia crowd and their own road-warrior status, executed their game plan with clinical efficiency. The result? The Eagles fell at home in the Wild Card round, ending their hopes of defending their Super Bowl title. As confirmed by multiple reports, "The Eagles are out of the playoffs after losing at home to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round. It was a disappointing end to the season, as they were unable to defend their Super Bowl title."
For the 49ers, the victory was hard-earned and sets up a tantalizing Divisional Round clash with the Seattle Seahawks. Given the playoff seeding, San Francisco will once again be the away team, with their only chance to play at home coming if they reach the Super Bowl in Santa Clara. The road ahead remains challenging, but Shanahan’s squad has proven time and again that adversity brings out their best.
Meanwhile, the Eagles’ offseason has officially begun, and the front office faces some tough decisions. With just over $14 million in effective cap space—ranking 16th in the league—the team is fairly locked into its current roster. There’s little room for contract restructuring, as most deals have already been optimized with small base salaries and option bonuses. If the Eagles re-sign tight end Dallas Goedert early, they could create some cap relief by reducing the $20.5 million figure set to hit when his contract voids on February 16.
Goedert’s future will be a focal point. He led the team and ranked ninth in the NFL with a 27.8% target share in the red zone, notching 10 red zone touchdowns—second only to Davante Adams. His production was one of the few bright spots in an offense that otherwise struggled to find consistency. Other key pending free agents include Jaelan Phillips, linebacker Nakobe Dean, and safety Reed Blankenship. Phillips, as mentioned, was a game-changer on defense, while Dean returned from injury to reclaim a starting spot. However, depth at linebacker and the team’s reliance on nickel packages may make Dean expendable in free agency.
Looking at positional needs, the Eagles must address the second outside cornerback spot. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean are standouts, but the team ranked just 24th in DVOA against WR2s. Adoree’ Jackson, in particular, was frequently targeted and struggled in coverage. Even if Goedert is re-signed, Philadelphia could use another tight end, given Grant Calcaterra’s issues as a blocker and his limited impact as a receiver. The edge rusher position is also in flux, with both Phillips and veteran Brandon Graham (who came out of retirement to help in 2025) currently unsigned for 2026.
The Eagles possess multiple picks in the upcoming 2026 NFL Draft, including first and second-round selections. One intriguing prospect is Caleb Lomu, an offensive tackle from Utah. Known for his mobility and polished technique, Lomu could be groomed as the long-term successor to Lane Johnson, continuing the Eagles’ tradition of building through the trenches. As Yahoo Sports put it, "Lomu moves well for his size, and has polished technique and can add even more weight and strength."
For fans and bettors, the Eagles’ season was a mixed bag. Philadelphia went 10-7 against the spread during the regular season, but only 8-7 as a favorite and an even 4-4 at home—a surprising stat for a team with championship pedigree.
So, what’s next for these storied franchises? The 49ers march on, eyeing another road upset and a potential Super Bowl homecoming in Santa Clara. The Eagles, meanwhile, are left to regroup, retool, and reflect on a season that began with promise but ended with questions. With key free agents, cap challenges, and draft capital at their disposal, the coming months will be pivotal in shaping Philadelphia’s path forward.
As the NFL offseason gets underway, all eyes will be on how the Eagles respond to this latest setback—and whether the 49ers can keep their playoff magic alive against the Seahawks. One thing’s for sure: in the NFL, the story never truly ends. It just turns the page to the next chapter.
