PHILADELPHIA – The San Francisco 49ers are preparing for an intense divisional playoff confrontation in Seattle following a dramatic wild-card win over the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Philadelphia Eagles. Jauan Jennings, a wide receiver who occasionally plays as a backup quarterback, made a vivid impression postgame, signaling readiness and confidence ahead of the NFC faceoff.
Jennings expressed palpable enthusiasm, pounding his fists and declaring energetically, “CAN’T WAIT!” before exiting with a smile, suggesting San Francisco's best moments might still lie ahead in the postseason.
The 49ers’ victory was highlighted by a pivotal late fourth-quarter touchdown thrown by Brock Purdy to Christian McCaffrey, accompanied by a well-executed trick touchdown pass from Jennings to McCaffrey. This crafty play contributed to their 23-19 victory that eliminated the Eagles.
Reflecting on their recent Super Bowl appearance, Jennings remarked, “We went to the Super Bowl, so we’ve got to top that.” His touchdown pass capped off an impressive postseason career, joining reputable 49ers quarterbacks like Purdy, Joe Montana, and Steve Young in throwing multiple playoff touchdown passes.
The touchdown play, dubbed “Skyy Bang reverse pass” in honor of wide receiver Skyy Moore, came off a suggestion by offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, with coach Kyle Shanahan praising it as “a hell of suggestion.”
Unlike the more famous “Philly special” play of recent memory, this reverse pass injected fresh momentum into the 49ers' drive, delivering a critical blow to the Super Bowl champions.
Now, San Francisco faces the No. 1 seeded Seattle Seahawks in the NFC divisional round, having split the season series evenly. Betting agencies currently favor the Seahawks by 6.5 points in the upcoming playoff game.
Purdy delivered a solid performance with 262 passing yards, overcoming his previous NFC title game struggles in Philadelphia from three seasons ago. Despite two interceptions by All-Pro cornerback Quinyon Mitchell, the Eagles managed only three points off those turnovers, reflecting San Francisco’s resilience.
However, the 49ers face injury concerns as star tight end George Kittle exited with a right Achilles tendon injury during the first half and was ruled out for the remainder of the game.
Philadelphia, known for employing successful trick plays—including one that won them a Super Bowl—could not counter Jennings’ reverse pitch to McCaffrey, who caught a 29-yard touchdown in a challenging over-the-shoulder manner to put the 49ers ahead 17-16 early in the fourth quarter.
Following that, the Eagles managed a Jake Elliott 33-yard field goal to briefly reclaim a 19-17, but their offense stalled, managing only 36 yards on 16 plays in the third quarter. Despite Jalen Hurts’ status as Super Bowl MVP, he passed for just 168 yards with one touchdown, and the team could not extend their halftime lead.
Hurts’ final offensive effort concluded with an incomplete 4th-and-11 pass, ending their drive and hopes for a comeback. He admitted responsibility, stating, “I just didn’t make the play. I own it.”
The opening drives displayed potential with both teams exchanging touchdowns, but the game ultimately pivoted on San Francisco’s efficient defense and opportunistic offense.
Early in the game, Purdy completed three consecutive passes over 74 yards, finishing with a 2-yard touchdown to Demarcus Robinson. The Eagles answered with Dallas Goedert’s 1-yard rushing touchdown, notably making him the first tight end in postseason history to rush for a score.
Goedert continued to contribute with a 9-yard touchdown reception on fourth down, tying the game before a 36-yard field goal by San Francisco's Eddy Pineiro narrowed the gap to 13-10 at halftime. From there, the 49ers controlled the momentum.
Throughout the game, tensions flared on the Eagles sidelines; wide receiver A.J. Brown was restrained by security during a heated exchange with coach Nick Sirianni following a punt, signaling possible internal discord.
Injury concerns also affected the Eagles, with running back Saquon Barkley rushing for 106 yards but showing signs of fatigue late in the game. He was seen using a stationary bike on the sideline to maintain readiness.
The 49ers’ victory provides hope for their second road playoff win this season, as they aim to capitalize on their recent success and corrective measures after past disappointments.
Looking forward, the 49ers seek to build momentum against Seattle, who have shown competitive balance throughout their season encounters. Meanwhile, the Eagles confront the possibility of another coaching change at offensive coordinator, wrestling with how to better harness the potential of Hurts, Barkley, and their receiving corps in future campaigns.