49ers defeat Eagles 23-19 in Wild Card round, lose Kittle for the playoffs

49ers’ Christian McCaffrey and Dominick Puni (right) celebrate touchdown
49ers’ Christian McCaffrey and Dominick Puni (right) celebrate touchdownElsa/Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 during their Wild Card matchup on Sunday, but lost star tight end George Kittle for the remainder of the playoffs.

49ers running back Christian McCaffrey finished the game with 114 total yards and two receiving touchdowns.

Quarterback Brock Purdy tossed 262 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions on 18-of-31 passing. 

Demarcus Robinson had a big game for the Niners, posting a game-best 111 yards on six receptions with one touchdown.

Eagles QB Jalen hurts finished with 182 total yards and one touchdown on 20-of-35 passing. 

Saquon Barkley had 105 yards on 26 carries, while Devonta Smith led the team with 70 receiving yards on eight receptions.

Full game recap + highlights

First half

Both teams would open up the game with a touchdown on each of their first drives. 

The 49ers got the ball first and scored first after Purdy tossed a two-yard touchdown pass to Robinson to go up 7-0. 

Philly would respond right away with a one-yard Dallas Goedert touchdown run to cap off a 10-play, 63-yard drive. Kicker Jake Elliott would miss the ensuing extra point.

After both teams couldn't get anything going the rest of the first quarter, the Eagles found paydirt for the second time on Sunday evening to take a 13-7 lead. 

Goerdert would find the endzone for the second time, this one being a nine-yard touchdown pass from Hurts. The veteran tight end would finish the game with 33 receiving yards on four receptions. 

He became the first tight end in NFL playoff history to have a rushing and receiving touchdown in the same game.

49ers star tight end George Kittle would exit on a cart during the second quarter with under six minutes left after getting injured on his lone catch of the game.

He was later ruled out for the game and the rest of the season after being diagnosed with an Achilles tear. The Niners' Eddy Pineiro would hit a 36-yard field goal to cut the Eagles' lead to 13-10 before heading into halftime.

Some more controversy started to happen on the Eagles' side after head coach Nick Sirriani and wide receiver A.J. Brown got into it with just under two minutes left in the first half. 

We'll update the article here following the post-game press conference, should Brown or Sirriani comment on the situation. 

Second half

After going three-and-out on their first offensive drive of the game, the Eagles would get the ball back eight plays later.

Following a Jalen Carter sack, Eagles All-Pro defensive back Quinyon Mitchell for the first turnover of the game. Unfortunately for the Eagles, they would be forced to punt on their drive following the pick.

Philly would only drive for 23 yards on 10 plays after getting the ball near midfield on a muffed punt. Elliott would hit a 41-yard field goal to extend their lead to 16-10, but the 49ers came knocking on the next possession.

In a wild trick play, 49ers receiver Jauan Jennings would throw a 29-yard touchdown strike to a ride opening Christian McCaffrey to go up 17-16. 

The Eagles would have a moment of deja vu after being forced to punt, but got the ball back three plays later after Mitchell would go on to record his second interception of the game, giving his team's offence great field position. 

But, once again, the Eagles would have to settle with another Elliott field goal to go up 19-17 with exactly eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.

It would make it six straight drives for the Eagles without finding the end zone.

Meanwhile, the 49ers would find the end zone yet again after Purdy connected with McCaffrey on a four-yard touchdown pass (Piniero would miss the extra point) to go up 23-19. 

Following a dropped pass from Hurts to Brown over the middle of the field, the Eagles QB would find his trusted tight end in Goedert to pick up a crucial 15-yard first down on a 4th & 5.

It would be Goedert's fourth catch of the game and accounted for almost half of his total yards at that time (33). 

But they would eventually turn it over on down in San Fran territory with 40 seconds left, effectively ending their season

 

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