49ers Rally Past Eagles In Wild Card Thriller

The San Francisco 49ers have made a habit of thriving in adversity, and their latest triumph in Philadelphia only cements their reputation as one of the NFL’s most resilient teams. On January 11, 2026, the 49ers marched into Lincoln Financial Field and toppled the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles in a dramatic Wild Card Weekend showdown. With a fourth-quarter comeback, a crucial injury to star tight end George Kittle, and a roster that embraced the “next man up” mentality, San Francisco found a way to prevail against daunting odds.

It was a game that demanded creativity, grit, and a little bit of magic from head coach Kyle Shanahan and defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. The 49ers overcame a late deficit, leaned on unlikely heroes, and executed a series of bold plays to secure a 23-19 victory, punching their ticket to the Divisional Round against their NFC West rivals, the Seattle Seahawks.

The action began with a bang as quarterback Brock Purdy connected with Demarcus Robinson for a spectacular 61-yard catch and run, beating standout rookie corner Quinyon Mitchell and setting the tone for San Francisco’s offense. Two plays later, Purdy found Christian McCaffrey for an 11-yard gain, and the drive was capped off by another Robinson reception—this time for a touchdown. The 49ers jumped out to an early 7-0 lead, showing a flash of the explosive playmaking that had eluded them for much of the season.

But the Eagles, true to form, responded quickly. Deommodore Lenoir’s aggressive play allowed Saquon Barkley to break free for a 29-yard rush, and A.J. Brown continued to torment the 49ers’ secondary with a series of key receptions. Philadelphia’s offense, which had converted a league-high 70 percent of their red zone trips into touchdowns, methodically drove down the field. A jet sweep to Dallas Goedert brought the Eagles within a point, but Jake Elliott’s missed extra point meant the 49ers clung to a 7-6 advantage.

San Francisco’s next drive stalled, and the defense found itself under siege. Lenoir struggled in coverage, and the Eagles’ relentless ground attack—anchored by Barkley and Tank Bigsby—racked up nearly six yards per carry by the second quarter. The Eagles eventually punched in another touchdown, taking a 13-7 lead after a penalty wiped out a defensive stop. The 49ers’ defense, however, began to stiffen, forcing multiple three-and-outs and holding the Eagles to field goals instead of touchdowns.

Disaster struck for the 49ers when George Kittle, their All-Pro tight end and emotional leader, suffered an apparent Achilles injury on the first play of the next drive. With Kittle sidelined, the offense needed new answers. Jauan Jennings stepped up with a clutch 45-yard reception, setting up Eddy Pineiro’s field goal to trim the deficit to 13-10.

Despite the loss of Kittle, Shanahan got creative. He leaned on fullback and utility man Kyle Juszczyk, who delivered a vital 27-yard reception to keep the chains moving. The 49ers’ offense sputtered at times—mistimed passes, a costly interception by Purdy, and a missed opportunity before halftime—but the defense kept them in the game. Rookie Marques Sigle and veterans Eric Kendricks and Garret Wallow made critical stops, while the secondary forced the Eagles into tough third-down situations. Philadelphia, a team known for dominating on fourth down, was held to 0-for-8 at one point.

Heading into the fourth quarter, the 49ers found themselves trailing but with momentum shifting in their favor. Shanahan dialed up a trick play that will be talked about for years: Jauan Jennings, lined up as a receiver, took a reverse and lofted a deep pass to Christian McCaffrey for a touchdown. According to Next Gen Stats, it was the deepest touchdown reception by air yards in McCaffrey’s career. The bold call gave the 49ers a 23-19 lead after Pineiro missed the extra point, electrifying the San Francisco sideline and sending shockwaves through the Philadelphia crowd.

The Eagles, desperate to answer, mounted one last charge. DeVonta Smith hauled in a pair of first-down receptions, and Dallas Goedert converted a crucial fourth down. But the 49ers’ defense, led by Saleh’s aggressive play-calling, held firm. On a pivotal 4th & 11, Eric Kendricks broke into the throwing lane, nearly intercepting Jalen Hurts and sealing the Eagles’ fate.

Statistically, the 49ers ended up outgaining the Eagles, who managed only 5-for-16 on third downs. San Francisco’s defense forced two turnovers and repeatedly stymied Philadelphia’s vaunted red zone attack. Brock Purdy, despite two interceptions, engineered the game-winning drive and showed poise under pressure. Demarcus Robinson emerged as the team’s most reliable wideout, finishing with over 100 receiving yards and a touchdown. "The defense did a remarkable job, holding the Eagles to 19 points and coming up with stops when it mattered most," said Saleh postgame, as reported by ESPN.

Shanahan’s willingness to adapt and trust his depth was evident throughout the contest. With Kittle out, Juszczyk, Jennings, and McCaffrey each played expanded roles, and the offensive line held up against a ferocious Eagles pass rush. The “next man up” mentality, instilled by Shanahan and Saleh, was on full display as backups and role players seized their moment on the biggest stage.

The victory sets up a high-stakes Divisional Round trilogy matchup against the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers, seeded sixth, will travel to Lumen Field to face the NFC’s top seed and a familiar foe. San Francisco took the first regular-season meeting in Seattle back in September, but the Seahawks got their revenge in Week 18 at Levi’s Stadium. With Seattle’s top-ranked scoring defense fresh off a bye and the notoriously raucous home crowd behind them, the 49ers face another uphill battle.

Yet, if this season has proven anything, it’s that San Francisco can’t be counted out—no matter the opponent, location, or adversity faced. The 49ers’ road to Super Bowl LX continues, and with Shanahan and Saleh at the helm, this group believes no task is too tall. As the NFL playoffs roll on, all eyes will be on Seattle, where the next chapter of this heated rivalry is set to unfold.

For now, the 49ers and their faithful fans can savor a resilient, hard-fought win in Philadelphia—a game that showcased heart, ingenuity, and a relentless pursuit of victory. The journey isn’t over yet, but this Wild Card triumph will be remembered as a testament to San Francisco’s unbreakable spirit.