Philadelphia, Pa. — This heavyweight matchup feels more like an NFC Championship than a Wild Card game. San Francisco brings a traveling brand of football built on a physical run game, play-action efficiency, and a defense that looks to punish opponents snap after snap. Philadelphia plays a similar style, but enters with the advantage of recent postseason success as the defending Super Bowl champions. Both teams are loaded with playmakers and feature above-average quarterbacks capable of elevating their rosters to the highest level.
Betting Lines (ESPN)
- Spread: Eagles -5.5
- Moneyline: Eagles -250 | 49ers +205
- Over/Under: 44.5
Resume Check
San Francisco finished the regular season 12–5, earning the No. 6 seed after finishing third in a loaded NFC West. This is a battle-tested group making its fifth playoff appearance in the last seven seasons. Kyle Shanahan continues to field one of the league’s most balanced offenses, pairing elite skill-position talent with a defense that has been among the NFL’s best when healthy. However, injuries have taken a toll. Nick Bosa is out for the year, Trent Williams has missed time, and Fred Warner has been on injured reserve for over three months. San Francisco is hopeful both Williams and Warner can return this weekend — a potential swing factor in this matchup. Linebacker Dee Winters has stepped up in their absence, leading the team with 101 tackles.
Philadelphia enters at 11–6 after winning the NFC East, though the season hasn’t been without turbulence. Locker-room tension surrounding star wide receiver A.J. Brown created questions at times, but the Eagles have responded when it mattered most. As the reigning champions, they enter the postseason with both pressure and belief, comfortable playing tight, physical football late in games.
Star Players to Watch
49ers:
Brock Purdy has been the engine of San Francisco’s offense, throwing for 2,167 yards and 20 touchdowns in just nine starts this season. The offense revolves around three-time All-Pro Christian McCaffrey, who carried the unit with over 2,100 total yards and 17 total touchdowns. Tight end George Kittle is another key piece to monitor after battling injuries early in the season but it is looking like he’ll be healthy for this game. Despite the injuries across the roster, San Francisco still features difference-makers capable of flipping the game if healthy bodies return at the right time.
Eagles:
Jalen Hurts controls everything Philadelphia does offensively and is surrounded by elite talent. Saquon Barkley powered the run game with 1,140 rushing yards, while A.J. Brown (1,003 yards) and DeVonta Smith (1,008 yards) give the Eagles one of the league’s best receiving duos. Tight end Dallas Goedert has been a dominant red-zone presence, hauling in 11 touchdown receptions. Defensively, Philadelphia is stacked across all three levels, with Jordan Davis and All-Pro Jalen Carter anchoring the interior, Zack Baun patrolling the second level, and defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell providing playmaking ability on the back end.
How Each Team Wins
Eagles win if:
- They control the line of scrimmage from the opening drive
- Finish red-zone opportunities with touchdowns
- Force San Francisco into long third-down situations where mistakes can happen
49ers win if:
- McCaffrey creates problems both as a runner and receiver
- The pocket stays clean for Purdy to attack downfield
- They steal one or two possessions early to quiet the Philadelphia crowd
Prediction
Once the postseason begins, the regular season no longer matters — both teams start 0–0. This game features stars on both sides of the ball and may be the hardest matchup to predict on Wild Card Weekend due to the number of variables involved. Still, home-field advantage looms large. Philadelphia is healthier, deeper, and feeds off its crowd as well as any team in the league.
Eagles 20, 49ers 16
A few key plays swing the game in Philadelphia’s favor, as their stars make just enough plays late to put away a depleted but still dangerous San Francisco team. The Eagles advance and will either host a Divisional Round matchup or travel to Chicago next weekend.
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