San Francisco takes down the Eagles and now looks ahead to a divisional matchup in Seattle.
The NFC playoff picture came into focus over the weekend, and by Sunday afternoon in Philadelphia, the San Francisco 49ers made sure they would remain part of it.
After the Rams and Panthers traded blows and the Bears-Packers rivalry delivered its latest chapter, the final Wild Card game saw San Francisco pull off a statement win against the reigning Super Bowl champion Eagles in the City of Brotherly Love.
The 49ers’ upset was sealed in dramatic fashion.
With Philadelphia driving late, linebacker Eric Kendricks broke up a fourth-and-11 pass from Jalen Hurts in the final minute, preserving a gritty San Francisco victory and sending the visitors into celebration.
As the lowest seed to advance in the NFC, the 49ers now know exactly what awaits them next: a Divisional Round clash with the conference’s top seed, the Seattle Seahawks, at Lumen Field.
It will be the third meeting this season between the NFC West rivals, adding another layer of familiarity and intensity to an already heated matchup.
San Francisco claimed the first contest, while Seattle answered back with a 13-3 win in Week 18 that ultimately decided the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye.
Now, with a trip to the NFC Championship Game on the line, the rubber match couldn’t be bigger.
The challenge is compounded by circumstance. Head coach Kyle Shanahan openly lobbied for a Sunday kickoff to give his team extra recovery time, but the league scheduled the game for Saturday.
That decision puts the 49ers on their third short week in the past month, an issue Shanahan didn’t hide his frustration with. “Very strongly,” he said when asked how much he preferred a Sunday game, knowing full well the odds were slim.
Adding to the adversity is the loss of tight end George Kittle, who suffered a torn Achilles during the Wild Card win and is now unavailable for the remainder of the playoffs.
Kittle’s absence removes one of San Francisco’s most physical and emotional leaders, forcing the offense to adjust on the fly against a Seahawks defense that already proved capable of slowing them down.
Still, belief remains high inside the locker room. Shanahan welcomed the opportunity for redemption, noting how well Seattle played in the previous matchup while expressing confidence that his team can respond.
Wide receiver Jauan Jennings echoed that sentiment with enthusiasm. Asked about facing the Seahawks again, he didn’t hesitate. “Can’t wait!” Jennings said, punctuating his answer by banging on the podium.
For San Francisco, the path forward is clear but unforgiving. Another road upset, this time in one of the league’s loudest environments, is required.
Without Kittle, on short rest, and against a familiar foe, the 49ers are embracing the challenge, one more chapter in a rivalry that now decides who moves one step closer to Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium.