The Philadelphia Eagles have to bury their dream of defending their title. The Wild Card Round ends against the San Francisco 49ers.
By Kevin Obermaier
Defending the title is off the table.
The Philadelphia Eagles lost to the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs. The champion lost 19:23 (13:10) at Lincoln Financial Field.
The 49ers got off to a perfect start. On the second play of the game, Brock Purdy found Demarcus Robinson for 58 yards, and shortly afterwards the quarterback served his receiver in the end zone – 7-0 for San Francisco after three minutes.
But the Eagles also scored a touchdown on their first drive: Tight end Dallas Goedert carried the ball from one yard to six points. However, as kicker Jake Elliott missed the extra point in strong gusts of wind, the 49ers remained in front.
Goedert’s second touchdown six minutes before halftime – this time after a pass from Jalen Hurts – initially did not count due to a penalty, but the referees took the flag back. Philadelphia took the lead 13-7.
And things got even worse for San Francisco: Tight end George Kittle tore his Achilles tendon just before halftime.
Kicker Eddy Pineiro then shortened the score from 36 yards to 10:13. However, a Purdy fumble wiped out further 49ers points and the deficit remained three points at halftime.
49ers at Eagles: Receiver wirft Touchdown-Pass
The third quarter began as the second had ended: with Purdy losing the ball. Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell intercepted a pass from the 49ers playmaker. But Hurts and the Eagles offense didn’t capitalize on it.
In general, the defenses of both teams increasingly dominated. Only shortly before the final quarter were there points to be seen again: Elliott converted a field goal from 41 yards to make it 16:10.
The last quarter started brilliantly: 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings threw a touchdown pass to the previously almost invisible Christian McCaffrey (like he did in the Super Bowl two years ago) – and suddenly San Francisco was leading again.
But just as the momentum shifted completely to the 49ers, Purdy made his second interception – and again it was Mitchell who intercepted the ball. Elliott took advantage of the mistake and made it 19:17 for the Eagles from 33 yards.
But McCaffrey was there now. The 29-year-old kept the following drive alive with several first downs – and completed it with his second touchdown catch – this time after a pass from Purdy.
Pineiro missed the extra point, but that no longer mattered – the Eagles were unable to make it 19:23 on their final drive.
NFL: Three NFC West divisional playoffs
The divisional playoffs on the NFC side are now certain.
The 49ers will face the top-seeded Seattle Seahawks away from home – a duel that only took place in Week 18 of the regular season. San Francisco lost there 3:13.
In the other game, the Chicago Bears face the Los Angeles Rams at home.
