Late on Jan. 11, 2026 in Philadelphia, the San Francisco 49ers edged the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 in a wild-card matchup. Brock Purdy connected with Christian McCaffrey on a 6-yard touchdown that gave San Francisco the lead late in the fourth quarter, and a trick play involving receiver Jauan Jennings produced another decisive score. The victory sends the 49ers to the NFC divisional round at top-seeded Seattle next weekend. The game also featured a significant injury: star tight end George Kittle left with a right Achilles issue late in the first half.
Key Takeaways
- Final score was 49ers 23, Eagles 19 on Jan. 11, 2026, in Philadelphia, eliminating the defending champions.
- Brock Purdy finished with 262 passing yards and two interceptions; the 49ers limited Philadelphia to just three points off those turnovers.
- Christian McCaffrey caught the go-ahead 6-yard TD late in the fourth quarter and was a central playmaking figure.
- Jauan Jennings produced a trick-play touchdown pass on a 29-yard connection to McCaffrey and finished with 66 receiving and 48 rushing yards.
- Quinyon Mitchell intercepted Purdy twice; Mitchell, fresh off an All-Pro nod, recorded his first two interceptions of the season in the postseason.
- Jalen Hurts was held to 168 passing yards and one touchdown; the Eagles managed only 36 total yards in the third quarter on 16 plays.
- George Kittle was carted off with a right Achilles tendon injury late in the first half and did not return.
- Saquon Barkley rushed for 106 yards; Jake Elliott kicked a 33-yard field goal in the fourth to briefly restore a Philadelphia lead.
Background
The 49ers entered the playoffs as a wild-card team aiming to advance on the road, while the Eagles came in as the defending Super Bowl champions defending a roster built around Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley. San Francisco and Seattle split the regular-season series, and the 49ers will now travel to face the NFC’s top seed. San Francisco’s offense has been driven by Purdy and McCaffrey, and the team leaned on creative play-calling late in the season to manufacture scoring against top defenses.
Philadelphia’s season centered on maintaining momentum from a title run; however, questions about offensive continuity resurfaced amid another in-season coaching shuffle. The Eagles’ offense, coordinated by Kevin Patullo, struggled to find consistent rhythm after halftime in this game. Historically, the Eagles have used trick plays successfully in big moments, but this game reversed that dynamic when San Francisco executed its own misdirection to score.
Main Event
The game opened with both teams trading touchdowns on their opening possessions. Purdy completed all three passes on San Francisco’s first drive for 74 yards and capped it with a 2-yard TD to Demarcus Robinson; Robinson finished with 111 receiving yards. Philadelphia answered when tight end Dallas Goedert ran a 1-yard sweep for a score, becoming the first NFL postseason tight end to record a rushing touchdown.
San Francisco’s trick play unfolded on the first play of the fourth quarter: Jennings took a pitch, rolled right and threw a 29-yard touchdown to McCaffrey, giving the 49ers a 17-16 lead. Jennings contributed both as a rusher (48 yards) and receiver (66 yards) and also threw that scoring pass. Philadelphia briefly reclaimed the lead when kicker Jake Elliott made a 33-yard field goal later in the quarter to go up 19-17.
Purdy and the 49ers answered late. Purdy found McCaffrey for a 6-yard touchdown late in the fourth to push San Francisco ahead 23-19. Purdy threw for 262 yards on the day but had two passes intercepted by cornerback Quinyon Mitchell; the Eagles converted those takeaways into only three points. Philadelphia’s final chance ended when Jalen Hurts’ fourth-and-11 pass fell incomplete with 43 seconds remaining.
A crucial turning point came when George Kittle was injured late in the first half after being pushed out of bounds on a 6-yard catch; he was carted off and did not return. Kittle’s absence removes a key run-and-pass weapon from the 49ers’ game plan heading into the divisional round. On the Eagles’ sideline, a visible spat late in the first half required security to separate A.J. Brown from coach Nick Sirianni following a punt.
Analysis & Implications
San Francisco’s ability to manufacture points with unconventional plays paid immediate dividends. The trick play that produced a 29-yard TD flipped a historical script—Philadelphia, known for pulling off a Super Bowl trick play last season, was undone by similar misdirection. That flexibility in play-calling enhances the 49ers’ profile heading into Seattle, where creative schemes will be needed to unsettle a top seed.
Philadelphia’s offense sputtered after halftime, generating only 36 yards in the third quarter on 16 snaps. That lack of sustained drives put pressure on the defense and left the Eagles unable to control the clock or chase a higher-scoring game plan. The performance intensifies questions about the offensive coordinator role and whether schematic adjustments are necessary to maximize Jalen Hurts’ remaining prime years.
Kittle’s Achilles injury injects immediate uncertainty into San Francisco’s short-term prospects. If he misses extended time, the 49ers will need to reallocate tight-end snaps and rely more heavily on McCaffrey and wide receivers in matchups where tight-end production can swing red-zone efficiency. Conversely, the 49ers’ resilience without Kittle in this game suggests depth and play-design can partially offset such a loss, at least for a single-elimination contest.
On personnel narratives, Quinyon Mitchell’s two interceptions underscore his emergence as a postseason disruptor after earning All-Pro recognition. For Philadelphia, the continuation of inconsistent offensive outputs undercuts a roster otherwise loaded with talent and raises near-term questions about coaching continuity and play-calling in critical moments.
Comparison & Data
| Stat | 49ers | Eagles |
|---|---|---|
| Final Score | 23 | 19 |
| Brock Purdy Passing Yds | 262 | – |
| Jalen Hurts Passing Yds | – | 168 |
| Top Receiver | Demarcus Robinson, 111 yds | A.J. Brown / Dallas Goedert, key plays |
| Turnovers | 2 INTs (Purdy) | — |
| Notable Injury | George Kittle (right Achilles) | Lane Johnson (inactive) |
The table summarizes key box-score items: Purdy’s 262 passing yards and Robinson’s 111 receiving yards were bright spots for the 49ers, while Hurts’ 168 yards and the Eagles’ minimal third-quarter production were limiting factors. Special teams and field-goal kicking kept the game close; Eddy Pineiro’s 36-yard kick sent the teams into halftime with a narrow margin. The numbers highlight a low-output third quarter for Philadelphia and an efficient red-zone conversion for San Francisco late in the game.
Reactions & Quotes
San Francisco players and staff framed the win as a collective, grind-it-out effort that emphasized trust and focus on individual plays. Below are representative, concise remarks and their context.
“We just focused on one play at a time,”
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers running back
McCaffrey emphasized the team’s mentality during a tightly contested match, noting sustained resilience through momentum swings and the late go-ahead score that sealed the win.
“Our team fights,”
Christian McCaffrey, 49ers running back
That line was offered when discussing locker-room morale after a game that featured both an emotional sideline incident in Philadelphia and a serious injury to a teammate.
“We had chances but couldn’t sustain drives after halftime,”
Team official comment, Philadelphia Eagles
An Eagles representative summarized the offensive struggles that defined the second half and contributed to the defending champions’ early exit.
Unconfirmed
- Long-term prognosis for George Kittle’s right Achilles tendon is pending medical testing; official timelines for return have not been released.
- Whether Lane Johnson will be available for Philadelphia’s next season windows remains undecided; his practice participation had been limited before the game.
- Any immediate staff changes on Philadelphia’s offensive coaching staff have been suggested by performance, but no formal personnel moves were announced at the time of this report.
Bottom Line
The 49ers advanced to face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks after a road win built on late-game creativity, timely execution and a stingy response to turnovers. San Francisco showcased both high-leverage play design and the capacity to win without consistent offensive dominance across every quarter. However, George Kittle’s Achilles injury introduces a meaningful variable for their divisional-round preparations.
For the Eagles, the loss highlights offensive inconsistencies that ultimately nullified a championship defense; Jalen Hurts and the core offensive personnel produced moments of effectiveness but not sustained control after halftime. Philadelphia now faces questions about play-calling, personnel availability and how to preserve the remaining prime years of its top players.