Brooke Evans
The No. 6 seed San Francisco 49ers travel east to face the No. 3 seed Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in the first round of the postseason. Kickoff is set for 1:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, Jan. 11, in a win-or-go-home matchup.
The 12-5 49ers and 11-6 Eagles both enter the postseason off Week 18 losses. San Francisco leads the all-time series 21-15-1 and is 2-1 in the teams' last three meetings, all in Philadelphia.
The most recent playoff meeting came in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, a 31-7 Eagles win in which QBBrock Purdysuffered a torn UCL on the opening drive. Sunday's matchup adds another game to a rivalry that has shaped the NFC in recent years, with either the Eagles or 49ers playing in the last three Super Bowls. This game also features the two most recent AP Offensive Player of the Year winners: Saquon Barkley (2024) and RBChristian McCaffrey(2023).
Key Storylines:
- 49ers seek revenge for the 2022 NFC Championship in Philadelphia
- Brock Purdy vs. Jalen Hurts in a high-stakes postseason matchup
- Offensive Player of the Year showdown: Christian McCaffrey vs. Saquon Barkley
- San Francisco looks to bounce back after a Week 18 loss
49ers Outlook:
After a six-game win streak, the 49ers suffered an uncharacteristic loss in Week 18 to the Seattle Seahawks. San Francisco was within reach of clinching the No. 1 seed and a first-round bye, but instead slipped to the No. 6 seed and will open the postseason on the road.
Even as a Wild Card team, the 49ers 12-5 record stacks up across the NFC field, trailing only No. 1 Seattle. Under Kyle Shanahan, San Francisco has reached the NFC Championship Game in every postseason appearance and is 6-0 in Wild Card and Divisional Round games since 2019. The 2025 49ers are also the first team to finish third in its division despite winning 12 or more games.
The Week 18 loss was felt with TTrent Williamsand WRRicky Pearsallsidelined and TEGeorge Kittlemanaging an injury. With another week to reset, the 49ers hope to regain key contributors and added veteran LBEric Kendricksfor depth. Purdy led the NFL with a 111.5 passer rating from Weeks 11-17, while McCaffrey leads the NFL in touches (413) and is second in scrimmage yards per game (129.3) and scrimmage touchdowns (17).
Returning to Philadelphia brings history for Purdy, but his focus remains on the present.
San Francisco will be seeking a bounce-back performance with its season on the line. The offense has shown its power, finishing the year with three 40-plus point games and the league's best third-down efficiency. A win would make the 49ers the first franchise in NFL history to reach 40 playoff victories.
Eagles Outlook:
The reigning Super Bowl champions are coming off a Week 18 loss to the Washington Commanders but remain a dangerous postseason opponent, especially at home. Under Nick Sirianni, the Eagles are 5-0 at home in the playoffs.
Philadelphia's recent Wild Card history has been shaky, with three losses in its last four appearances. Still, the Eagles remain dangerous with Saquon Barkley in the backfield and Jalen Hurts in command. Barkley surged late in the season, while Hurts owns the NFL's best record (56-22) since becoming a full-time starter in 2021 and has six playoff wins.
Even with that star power, the Eagles offense has leaned more on efficiency than explosiveness in 2025, averaging 22.3 points per game (19th in the NFL), the lowest mark under Sirianni.
The Eagles also have injury concerns along the offensive line, but the bigger question entering the postseason is consistency against top competition. Philadelphia went 2-3 against teams with a winning percentage above .600, yet the Eagles have shown they can win when it matters most.
For San Francisco, communication and discipline will be critical against an Eagles offense that thrives on physicality. Philadelphia features a downhill run game with Barkley, a mobile quarterback in Hurts, and a short-yardage push that demands precision from all 11 defenders, especially in high-leverage moments near the goal line.
Potential Divisional Round Matchups:
A reseeding will take place after the Wild Card round. If the 49ers advance, here are the possible scenarios:
If the 49ers beat the Eagles and the Packers beat the Bears:
- 49ers at Rams (if the Rams beat the Panthers)
- 49ers at Panthers (if the Panthers beat the Rams)
If the 49ers beat the Eagles and the Bears beat the Packers:
- 49ers at Seahawks
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