The San Francisco 49ers sensationally defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, and were eliminated from the NFL playoffs in the wild card round.
The 49ers, already in a battered state without key players like Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and Ricky Pearsall due to injuries, also lost their talismanic tight end George Kittle to a torn Achilles tendon in the first half, ending their season.
But San Francisco’s playoff run isn’t over yet. They will face the NFC’s No. 1 seed, the Seattle Seahawks, in next week’s divisional round.
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings scores a trick play touchdown to Christian McCaffrey against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Despite losing Kittle and trailing by six points entering the fourth quarter, the 49ers took the lead on the next play, with receiver Jauan Jennings throwing a 29-yard scoring strike to Christian McCaffrey for a stunning trick play TD.
The Eagles’ offense slowed down significantly in the second half (limited to just 23 yards to that point), and they regained a 19-17 lead with a field goal off Brock Purdy’s second interception with eight minutes remaining.
However, Purdy fought back and took control of further scoring. This time, McCaffrey found himself in the end zone and scored the game-winning score with less than three minutes remaining.
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Christian McCaffrey scores his second touchdown of the night, sealing the victory between the San Francisco 49ers and the Philadelphia Eagles.
With the game on the line, the Eagles successfully converted on fourth-and-5 from their own 45-yard line, eventually driving to San Francisco’s 21-yard line before Jalen Hurts hit three consecutive incompletions to end the game. Recently acquired 49ers linebacker Eric Kendricks broke up a key fourth down pass from Hurts to Dallas Goedert.
Leader in statistics:
49ers
Passing: Brock Purdy, 18/31, 262 yards, 2 TD, 2 INT Rushing: Christian McCaffrey, 15 carries, 48 yards Receiving: DeMarcus Robinson, 6 catches, 111 yards, 1 TD
eagles
Passing: Jalen Hurts, 20/35, 168 yards, 1 TD Rushing: Saquon Barkley, 26 carries, 106 yards Receiving: DeVonta Smith, 9 catches, 70 yards
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Two-touchdown hero Christian McCaffrey is “proud” of his San Francisco 49ers team after their playoff win over the Philadelphia Eagles.
San Francisco jumped out of the blocks on offense and scored on the opening series, with DeMarcus Robinson capping off the drive with a monster 61-yard reception on just the second play from scrimmage and a 5-yard TD.
Philadelphia quickly responded, with Goedert scoring his first of two first-half touchdowns, including a run from the goal line and a 9-yard grab in the end zone to give the Eagles the lead in the second quarter.
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Philadelphia Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores his first career rushing touchdown and receiving TD in the first half against the San Francisco 49ers
After an explosive start, the 49ers’ offense suddenly stalled due to Kittle’s injury, and after going three-and-out twice, Eddie Piniello added a field goal to cut the Eagles’ lead to three points at 13-10.
Due to poor time management, San Francisco missed a chance to tie the score late in the first half, and Purdy fumbled outside the box as time expired, ending the game.
Despite leading, Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown had to be separated from head coach Nick Sirianni by chief security officer Dom DiSandro during a sideline scuffle late in the first half.
After the Eagles punted to end a drive that saw several drops on successive plays, Brown took off his helmet in frustration and yelled at Sirianni.
Purdy was selected to end the 49ers’ opening series in the second half – Quinnyon Mitchell went down with both quarterback interceptions – but the Eagles’ increasingly poor offense was unable to capitalize on that error.
A Jake Elliott field goal late in the third quarter increased Philadelphia’s advantage to six points again at 16-10, but the 49ers fought back in spectacular fashion in the final quarter to keep their Super Bowl dreams alive with a stunning road victory over the defending champions.
Watch every NFL Playoff and Super Bowl I game live from Levi’s Stadium on Sky Sports NFL.
