{"id":666202,"date":"2026-01-10T13:29:28","date_gmt":"2026-01-10T13:29:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/666202\/"},"modified":"2026-01-10T13:29:28","modified_gmt":"2026-01-10T13:29:28","slug":"49ers-5-keys-to-wild-card-upset-of-defending-champion-eagles-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/666202\/","title":{"rendered":"49ers’ 5 keys to wild-card upset of defending champion Eagles"},"content":{"rendered":"

PHILADELPHIA \u2013 Only one team gets the first crack at dethroning last season\u2019s Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The 49ers, for all their injuries and faults, can do the honors in Sunday\u2019s wild-card visit to Lincoln Financial Field.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe confidence level is sky high,\u201d fullback Kyle Juszczyk said.<\/p>\n

The 49ers (12-5) crashed back to earth last Saturday night, however. With the NFC playoffs\u2019 No. 1 seed at stake and a six-game win streak in tow, they bowed 13-3<\/a> to the now-top-seeded Seattle Seahawks at Levi\u2019s Stadium, where the 49ers would have needed just three more wins to hoist the Lombardi Trophy on Feb. 8 in Super Bowl LX<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt sucked what had happened and not capitalizing on a really good opportunity, but we are in the playoffs and we don\u2019t have time to dwell on the negative things,\u201d quarterback Brock Purdy said. \u201cWe\u2019ve got to move on and flip the page pretty quickly because our season\u2019s on the line now.\u201d<\/p>\n

None of the 49ers\u2019 eight Super Bowl trips included a wild-card game, but they\u2019ve won four straight in that round and are 6-2 overall, including a 2021 win at Dallas and \u201922 against Seattle. Seven wild-card teams have won the Lombardi Trophy in the Super Bowl\u2019s 59-year-history, the first being the 1980 Oakland Raiders against \u2026 the Eagles.<\/p>\n

Purdy and the 49ers triumphed in their last Philadelphia visit, 42-19 on Dec. 3, 2023. However, their last playoff trip went sideways fast, with Purdy tearing his elbow ligament in a 31-7 loss in the 2022 season\u2019s NFC Championship Game.<\/p>\n

\u201cI try not to hold onto grudges, because it clouds your judgment when you think about stuff that doesn\u2019t matter,\u201d tight end George Kittle said. \u201cThe only thing that matters to us is beating the Eagles \u2014 who we haven\u2019t played in two years \u2014 back in the Linc, where it\u2019s going to be an awesome environment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Here are five ways the 49ers can win:<\/p>\n

\"PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) pitches the ball to running back Saquon Barkley (26) during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 59 football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Feb. 9, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo\/David J. Phillip)\u00a0<\/p>\n

1. GANG TACKLE BARKLEY<\/p>\n

Perhaps too much attention is on the 49ers\u2019 depleted linebacker corps. When it comes to tackling Saquon Barkley<\/a>, the 49ers need any and all racing to the scene with full force to bring down the 2024 rushing champion.<\/p>\n

Eric Kendricks, who\u2019ll be the 49ers\u2019 fourth starter at middle linebacker this season, said Barkeley is \u201cjust an instinctual runner. As soon as you kind of count him out or think he\u2019s down, he\u2019s making a pivot move, a spin move. He stays real low to the ground. He has a lot of power. It\u2019s up to us to swarm.\u201d<\/p>\n

After 18 missed tackles and 180 rushing yards in last weekend\u2019s loss to Seattle, the 49ers indeed better have learned their lesson, starting up front with a four- or five-man line that must make life easier for the in-flux linebacker corps.<\/p>\n

Hurts has run for his fewest yards in four seasons as the Eagles\u2019 starter, but the 49ers are aware of his escapability. After their 2023 win, they claimed they created a blueprint to stop him, by slowing up their pass rush<\/a> to seal off lanes (seven carries, 20 yards).<\/p>\n

\"TeammatesTeammates approach San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback Brock Purdy (13) as he celebrates in the end zone after scoring a touchdown in the first quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

2. OFFENSIVE ONSLAUGHT<\/p>\n

Touchdowns on six consecutive drives in their 2023 win seemingly exorcised whatever ghostly feels Purdy may have had from his elbow injury against Philly in the NFC Championship Game. \u201cI already went there in 2023 and played after what had happened in \u201922, so I feel like that\u2019s out of the way and ready to move on,\u201d Purdy said.<\/p>\n

What happened last month gives the 49ers assurance they can go on another scoring spree, even if it\u2019s against the NFL\u2019s fifth-stingiest scoring defense.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve been executing at a high level the whole season and just because we had one down game I don\u2019t think that takes away from anyone\u2019s confidence,\u201d Juszczyk said. \u201cWe\u2019re still the same team, still the same guys.\u201d<\/p>\n

The more their offense is on the field, the less vulnerable their defense will be. And the ultimate matchup dictating this game should be coach Kyle Shanahan\u2019s play calls against those of Vic Fangio, the Eagles\u2019 defensive coordinator who held that role on the 2011-14 49ers.<\/p>\n

\"SanSan Francisco 49ers\u2019 Christian McCaffrey (23) runs with the ball against the Chicago Bears in the fourth quarter of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Chicago Bears 42-38. (Jose Carlos Fajardo\/Bay Area News Group)\u00a0<\/p>\n

3. SHOOTING STAR<\/p>\n

Purdy must outplay Jalen Hurts. Christian McCaffrey must outduel Barkley. George Kittle must produce more than Dallas Goedert. And Jauan Jennings must top A.J. Brown as productive yet combustible wide receivers.<\/p>\n

So many household names are at the skill positions, and yet no one is more at the center of their offense\u2019s universe than McCaffrey. \u201cProbably one\u00a0of the best all-purpose backs to ever do it,\u201d Barkley told Philadelphia media. \u201cI\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0know if\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0better than Marshall (Faulk) yet; he\u2019s\u00a0getting there.\u201d<\/p>\n

For perspective, McCaffrey accounted for a greater percentage of the 49ers\u2019 production in all those categories than in his spectacular 2023 season. He\u2019s run for 1,202 yards (66% of the 49ers\u2019 total). He\u2019s made 102 receptions (25.6%) for 924 yards (21.4%). He\u2019s scored 17 touchdowns (35.4%) over all 17 starts.<\/p>\n

And yet, McCaffrey is starting anew, entering the fourth playoff run of his nine-year career. \u201cI feel great, playing playoff football with everything ahead of us,\u201d said McCaffrey, who\u2019s scored at least one touchdown in all seven of his career playoff games.<\/p>\n

\"SanSan Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Robert Quinn during the second half of the NFC Championship NFL football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo\/Chris Szagola)\u00a0<\/p>\n

4. DON\u2019T GET BULLIED<\/p>\n

Four minutes remained in their NFC Championship Game duel when Trent Williams yanked a defensive back to the ground and threw a punch at a linebacker. Next time in Philadelphia, Dre Greenlaw got in a sideline tusstle with the Eagles\u2019 security czar, \u201cBig Dom\u201d DiSandro.<\/p>\n

The 49ers don\u2019t need to keep the streak alive in getting one of their players ejected. But they must be ready for a physical battle as they take on the Rocky Balboa-esque underdog role against the defending champs.<\/p>\n

Jalen Carter is one of the marquee defensive tackles the 49ers will have encountered this season, and coordinator Klay Kubiak said of their Eagles\u2019 front: \u201cAll their interior players are really strong physical guys, and they\u2019ve got really good edge setters.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) throws a pass for a first down on a third down play as San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa, second from left, chases him during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 3, 2023, in Philadelphia. San Francisco’s Fred Warner (54) looks on. (AP Photo\/Matt Slocum)\u00a0A.P. Photo<\/p>\n

5. SOUND OF SILENCE<\/p>\n

Rarely has the 49ers offense needed a silent count on the road this season, aside from the occasional third down or the season-opening chaos in Seattle. Philadelphia is different.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s going to be loud,\u201d right tackle Colton McKivitz said. \u201cKyle (Shanahan) showed some clips of us in \u201923 there and the (previous) NFC Championship Game and us using silent on first and second down, which we try to avoid.\u201d<\/p>\n

The 49ers expect to open with a silent count to combat the Eagles\u2019 crowd noise. Their starting offensive linemen are familiar with each other, not to mention center Jake Brendel\u2019s head-bob signals and Purdy\u2019s pre-snap cadence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s a huge advantage when you do go into an environment that\u2019s loud and also we\u2019ve played a lot of big games,\u201d McKivitz said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBrock does a a tremendous, tremendous job of handling the snap even with the silent cadence,\u201d \u00a0Juszczyk said. \u201cIt\u2019s more difficult but the payoff is better. There\u2019s nothing like going into hostile territory and getting a win.\u201d<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

49ERS WILD-CARD HISTORY<\/p>\n

1985 at New York Giants, 17-3 loss<\/p>\n

1996 vs. Philadelphia, 14-0 win<\/p>\n

1998 vs. Green Bay, 30-27 win<\/p>\n

2001 at Green Bay, 25-15 loss<\/p>\n

2002 vs. New York Giants, 39-38 win<\/p>\n

2013 at Green Bay, 23-20 win<\/p>\n

2021 at Dallas, 23-17 win<\/p>\n

2022 vs. Seattle, 41-23 win<\/p>\n

* * *<\/p>\n

WILD-CARD SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS<\/p>\n

1980 Oakland Raiders<\/p>\n

1997 Denver Broncos<\/p>\n

2000 Baltimore Ravens<\/p>\n

2005 Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n

2007 New York Giants<\/p>\n

2010 Green Bay Packers<\/p>\n

2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"PHILADELPHIA \u2013 Only one team gets the first crack at dethroning last season\u2019s Super Bowl champion, the Philadelphia…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":666203,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2080],"tags":[220,2947,7,1921,929,6,84,1161,252,2624,2623,9],"class_list":{"0":"post-666202","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-san-francisco-49ers","8":"tag-49ers","9":"tag-49ers-hq","10":"tag-football","11":"tag-inside-sports","12":"tag-latest-headlines","13":"tag-nfl","14":"tag-nfl-playoffs","15":"tag-san-francisco","16":"tag-san-francisco-49ers","17":"tag-sanfrancisco","18":"tag-sanfrancisco49ers","19":"tag-sports"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@nfl\/115871047414972238","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/666202","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=666202"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/666202\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/666203"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=666202"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=666202"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=666202"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}