The Philadelphia Eagles will not go back-to-back. In a grueling, back-and-forth battle at Lincoln Financial Field, the reigning champions were dethroned by a shorthanded but resilient San Francisco 49ers squad, 23–19. Despite leading for much of the game, Philadelphia was unable to sustain momentum in the second half, ending their season in front of a stunned home crowd.
The Scoreboard: A Tale of Two Halves
| Metric | San Francisco 49ers | Philadelphia Eagles |
| Final Score | 23 | 19 |
| Total Net Yards | 371 | 240+ (Estimated) |
| Takeaways | 0 | 2 (Quinyon Mitchell) |
| Rushing Leader | Christian McCaffrey (48 yds) | Saquon Barkley (45+ yds) |
| Passing Leader | Brock Purdy (2 TDs) | Jalen Hurts (1 TD) |
| Time of Possession | 27:45 (Approx) | 32:15 (Approx) |
The Turning Point: The Trick Play & The McCaffrey Closer
Philadelphia entered the fourth quarter with a 16–10 lead, but the Niners’ “next-man-up” mentality took over.
- The Trick Play: On the first play of the final frame, wide receiver Jauan Jennings threw a perfectly placed 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey to give San Francisco their first lead of the second half.
- The Final Dagger: After the Eagles retook a 19–17 lead, Brock Purdy led a clinical drive capped by a 4-yard touchdown strike to McCaffrey with just 2:59 remaining.
- The Final Stand: Jalen Hurts had one last chance with all three timeouts, but his pass on 4th-and-11 fell incomplete with 43 seconds left, sealing the Eagles’ fate.
Individual Performance Deep Dive
The Standouts
- Quinyon Mitchell (PHI): The defensive bright spot, Mitchell recorded two interceptions against Brock Purdy, giving him four career postseason picks.
- Dallas Goedert (PHI): Accounted for both of the Eagles’ touchdowns, one on a 1-yard run and another on a clutch 9-yard fourth-down catch.
- Christian McCaffrey (SF): The game’s MVP collected 114 total scrimmage yards and two touchdowns, proving to be the difference-maker despite a makeshift offensive line.
The Struggles
- The Passing Game: Jalen Hurts was unable to establish a rhythm with A.J. Brown, who failed to record a single catch after the first quarter.
- The Ground Attack: Saquon Barkley fought for every yard but was met with the full force of a 49ers defense that held the Eagles to just 114 yards of total offense in the second half.
- Special Teams: Jake Elliott missed a crucial extra point in the first quarter, which forced the Eagles into an awkward scoring position late in the game.
Social Media & Fan Fallout: Scrutiny at the Linc
While the action on the field was intense, the narrative off the field was equally heated as Eagles fans faced renewed national criticism.
- “Worst Fan” Allegations: Viral videos and accounts alleged that some fans threw beer cans at 49ers supporters as they entered the stadium.
- The Bar Ban: Philadelphia bar Ladder 15 went viral for an email refusing to host a 49ers fan group, stating they “cannot in good conscience” host anything related to the Niners.
- The “Limp” Finish: Social media was flooded with frustration from Birds fans regarding the offense’s second-half collapse, with many questioning if a reported sideline “blow up” between Nick Sirianni and A.J. Brown affected the team’s focus.
What’s Next for the Birds?
The Eagles’ reign ends at the Wild Card round. They now enter the 2026 offseason with significant questions about offensive consistency and the future of their coaching staff. San Francisco advances to the Divisional Round to face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks.
