Defending Champions Eagles Fall Short in Wild-Card Playoff Heartbreaker

In a tightly contested playoff matchup, Brock Purdy led the 49ers on a decisive late touchdown drive that sealed victory and ended the Eagles’ season. Despite a strong first half and multiple opportunities to reclaim the lead, Philadelphia’s offense sputtered in crucial moments, leaving them unable to overcome San Francisco’s persistence. The defeat marks the defending champions’ earliest playoff exit and concludes a season that began with high expectations but ultimately fell short of a repeat run.

Early Momentum and Tight Scoring Through Three Quarters
The game began as a back-and-forth battle, with both teams striking early. The 49ers scored first on a short touchdown pass, but the Eagles responded with a rushing touchdown from Dallas Goedert to level the score.

Philadelphia’s offense appeared energized as they added a second touchdown before halftime, giving them a narrow lead heading into the locker room. However, moments of inconsistency — including field position issues and missed opportunities — foreshadowed struggles that would become more pronounced in the second half.

Turning Point: Trick Play and 49ers’ Late Drive
San Francisco flipped the momentum in the second half, capitalising on a cleverly executed trick play early in the fourth quarter. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings, running a reverse, threw a deep touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey that stunned the Eagles and put the 49ers in front.

Philadelphia briefly regained a slim advantage with a long field goal, but that lead would prove temporary. With under three minutes remaining, Purdy engineered a 66-yard go-ahead drive, culminating in a short touchdown pass to McCaffrey that effectively ended Philadelphia’s season.

Offensive Woes and Missed Chances for Eagles
The Eagles’ offense, which boasted one of the league’s most expensive rosters, struggled to find consistent rhythm after halftime. Quarterback Jalen Hurts, last season’s Super Bowl MVP, completed just 168 passing yards and was unable to convert key third-down opportunities while under pressure from San Francisco’s defence.

Philadelphia earned a set of downs deep in opposition territory late in the game, but a sack and subsequent incomplete passes ended their final drive with no score. “I just didn’t make the play,” Hurts said afterward, underscoring the frustration felt by the team as their season came to a close.

Pressure and Physical Play Define the Contest
The game was intense throughout, with both defences rising to the challenge and creating pressure in critical moments. San Francisco’s ability to force rushed decisions and limit big plays put constant strain on the Eagles’ offensive plan. Philadelphia’s defence also made impactful plays, including turning over Purdy on a couple of occasions, but the offence could not capitalise enough to tilt the contest back in their favour.

Injuries and Emotional Highs Turned Lows
The 49ers overcame their own setbacks, including losing tight end George Kittle to an Achilles injury in the second quarter. Despite this blow, San Francisco maintained focus and executed in key situations — particularly on the final drive, which required precision and calm under pressure.

For the Eagles, the emotional arc from last season’s triumph to this early exit will be a stark contrast, as a year that began with hope now concludes after a loss that fans and analysts alike will scrutinise for weeks.

Looking Ahead: 49ers Advance, Eagles Rebuild
With this wild-card win, the 49ers will travel to face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round, carrying momentum and confidence from their come-from-behind performance.

Meanwhile, the Eagles enter the offseason with questions about playcalling, consistency and roster optimisation. As champions one year, they now face a long period of reflection — and perhaps retooling — as they seek to return to title contention in 2026.