Despite injuries, the 49ers head to Philadelphia to face the Eagles, who are favored by 4.5 points, in a challenging NFL playoff matchup. By SportsGrid via VideoElephant
The San Francisco 49ers are the cockroaches of the NFL.
No matter the injuries, Brock Purdy interceptions or inability to secure the No. 1 seed, the 49ers outlasted the Philadelphia Eagles, 23-19, Sunday in the NFC wild-card round and will advance to play the Seattle Seahawks next week in the divisional round.
The Eagles had 2:54 needing a touchdown to take the lead after Christian McCaffrey’s touchdown gave the 49ers a 4-point lead. Their drive extended when Jalen Hurts found Dallas Geodert to convert a fourth down for the third time on the day.
The Eagles quickly got to San Francisco’s 21-yard line in the final minutes and faced a fourth-and-11 — and called a timeout.
The 49ers’ linebackers showed blitz but backed into coverage. Hurts tried to find Goedert again over the middle, but Eric Kendricks broke the pass up, starting the celebration. San Francisco improved to 9-4 in playoff games under Kyle Shanahan.
Here are our takeaways from the game.
Kendricks saves the day
The 49ers were down to third- and fourth-string linebackers after losing Fred Warner in October and his backup Tatum Bethune, in Week 18 to a groin injury.
Kendricks, a 33-year-old 11-year veteran, was a Pro Bowler in 2019 with the Minnesota Vikings. He played for the Dallas Cowboys last season after backing out of a deal to join the 49ers in free agency. But San Francisco came calling after Warner’s injury and signed him to the practice squad in November.
Kendricks wound up making the game-saving play by breaking up the fourth-down pass to Goedert. And despite all their injuries, the 49ers held the Eagles to just 307 yards of offense and 19 points. Kendricks finished 10 tackles, including two for loss, and the pass breakup.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley (26) runs against San Francisco 49ers’ Eric Kendricks (43) during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pa. Mitchell Leff Getty Images
Shanahan reaches deep into the playbook
The 49ers seemed dead in the water after losing George Kittle to an Achilles injury in the first half. But after their banged-up defense allowed a field goal over four possessions, Kyle Shanahan dialed up a wild play to give San Francisco the lead — and a much-needed jolt of energy.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Shanahan called for a reverse pass from Jauan Jennings to an open Christian McCaffrey, who tracked the pass and made a difficult over-the-shoulder catch for a 29-yard touchdown. Jennings made the throw while getting drilled by All-Pro defensive tackle Jalen Carter, who was flagged for roughing the passer.
The play was similar to one Shanahan called in Super Bowl LVIII against the Chiefs when Shanahan called a double pass from Jennings to McCaffrey, who ran 27 yards for a touchdown.
San Francisco 49ers’ Christian McCaffrey (23) catches a touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pa. Mitchell Leff Getty Images
Kittle suffers Achilles injury
The 49ers lost All-Pro tight end George Kittle to an Achilles injury with 6:03 remaining in the second quarter after his first reception of the game. Kittle was carted off the field, indicating a serious injury, after he was tackled by safety Marcus Epps at the right sideline. The team ruled him out shortly after, indicating a likely Achilles tear.
Kittle entered the game as one of the team’s few healthy stars. The 49ers, of course, lost Nick Bosa to a torn ACL in September and Warner in October to a fractured and dislocated ankle. Without Kittle, the remaining tight ends were Jake Tonges and Luke Farrell.
Kittle is one of many 49ers stars to be injured this season and unable finish the biggest game of the season. Before Sunday, Kittle (7), Warner (11), Bosa (15), Purdy (8), Brandon Aiyuk (17), Ricky Pearsall (8) and first-round pick Mykel Williams (8) combined to miss 74 games. The team overcoming those injuries defined the season.
San Francisco 49ers’ George Kittle (85) is carted off the field during the second quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pa. Mitchell Leff Getty Images
Brock Purdy does just enough
The 49ers got off to an ideal start with a six-play touchdown drive to open the game, including a 58-yard catch and run to Demarcus Robinson, who only scored one touchdown all season. Purdy completed all three of his passes, including the 2-yard score on the slant to Robinson.
Robinson’s 63 yards on the possession were more than any single game during the regular season.
The 49ers went three and out on their next two possessions and were unsuccessful on throws outside the numbers after hitting the middle of the field with three completions on the scoring drive. The 49ers had a chance at a game-tying field goal at the first half, but they had to burn a timeout when receivers Kendrick Bourne and Malik Turner couldn’t get aligned before a play. Purdy had a chance to get out of bounds with a second on the clock but fumbled beforehand, causing the clock to run out.
Purdy made his first major mistake of the game early in the third quarter when he missed an open Jennings and instead threw left to Skyy Moore who was blanketed by All-Pro corner Quinyon Mitchell, who intercepted the pass. Jennings tried Mitchell again with 12:04 in the fourth quarter on a pass over the middle to Jake Tonges. Mitchell cut in front of him and made his second interception.
It marked Purdy’s fourth straight game with an interception. It was his first multi-interception game since Nov. 24 against Carolina.
But Purdy made up for it by leading a 10-play, 61-yard drive ending with another touchdown pass to McCaffrey, his second of the half.
Purdy finished with 262 yards while completing 18 of 31. He had two touchdowns and two interceptions, finishing with a passer rating of 80.3.
San Francisco 49ers’ Brock Purdy (13) scrambles past Philadelphia Eagles’ Jalen Carter (98) during the fourth quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pa. Elsa Garrison Getty Images
49ers defense bends, but doesn’t break
The Eagles scored on their first possession — a Goedert 1-yard rushing score — but kicker Jake Elliott banged the extra point off the left upright making it 7-6. The 49ers got a stop on their second possession when Upton Stout broke up a fourth-down pass, though he missed a chance at intercepting it and returning it for a touchdown. It proved to be a missed opportunity with the offense going three-and-out on the next series.
Goedert scored his second touchdown on a fourth-and-2 leaving a confused Malik Mustapha behind him in the left flat. The Eagles converted two fourth downs on the possession. The 49ers allowed 89 rushing yards on the first three possessions.
Eagles fans started booing their offense midway through the third quarter after their third straight punt.
A penalty on rookie Marques Sigle, who was in the game for Ji’Ayir Brown, extended an Eagles drive early in the fourth quarter leading to a field goal.
Otherwise, the 49ers survived despite allowing 140 yards on the ground. Only 45 came in the second half.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Quinyon Mitchell (27) reacts after an interception during the third quarter in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday in Philadelphia, Pa. Mitchell Leff Getty Images
Lane Johnson’s absence
Eagles All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson was ruled inactive prior to the game after trying to give it a go at practice this week. He missed his eighth straight game with a Lisfranc injury to his left foot.
According to ESPN, the Eagles are 120-62-1 in games with Johnson at right tackle and 15-24 with him sidelined. That trend continued on Sunday.