> At a Glance
> – The No. 3 Eagles (11-6) host the No. 6 49ers (12-5) Sunday at the Linc
> – Vic Fangio has held Kyle Shanahan to 11, 6, 15 and 9 points in their four all-time meetings
> – Brock Purdy ranks fifth in NFL interception rate (3.5%) despite missing four games
> – Why it matters: Winner advances to face either No. 1 Detroit or No. 2 Washington in the divisional round
The Eagles and 49ers meet for the third time in four postseasons, but Sunday’s wild-card showdown at Lincoln Financial Field will look nothing like the previous two collisions. Both offenses enter banged-up, both defenses are top-10 units, and the chess match between Vic Fangio and Kyle Shanahan-friends since 2017-could decide everything.
Fangio vs. Shanahan: The Chess Match
Shanahan’s offense leans on 21 personnel (2 RB, 1 TE) a league-high 36% of snaps and 22 personnel another 8%, forcing defenses into heavy boxes. The Seahawks stayed in nickel against those looks in Week 18 and held the Niners to 13 points; Fangio will try the same.
Historical data favors the Eagles’ coordinator:
- 2015-18 meetings: Shanahan offenses averaged 10.3 points vs. Fangio
- Personnel wrinkle: FB Kyle Juszczyk plays more than any FB in football
- Key stat: San Francisco uses 11 personnel at one of the NFL’s lowest rates
Run-Game Battles on Both Sides
Eagles D vs. Christian McCaffrey
McCaffrey posted 1,200 yards and 10 TDs in 2025 but managed only three runs of 20+ yards (tied for 32nd). Philadelphia has surrendered 106.3 rushing yards per game since Week 12 with Nakobe Dean (hamstring) expected back.
Saquon Barkley vs. 49ers Front
Barkley’s per-carry average fell from 5.8 in 2024 to 4.1 in 2025, yet the slide mirrors O-line injuries more than decline. San Francisco ranks 11th in run defense but is down multiple linebackers.
| Unit | 2025 Stat | NFL Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers EPA/rush | -0.03 | 19th |
| Eagles rush yds since W12 | 106.3 pg | 8th-best |
| 49ers yards/carry allowed | 4.3 | 10th |
Pass-Rush vs. Pass-Pro Showdowns
Eagles Pass Rush vs. Brock Purdy
Purdy has been pressured on 34.9% of drop-backs yet sacked only 11 times in nine games; his 3.17-second average time-to-throw is second-slowest in the league. The flip side: his 3.5% interception rate is fifth-highest among qualifying QBs.
Eagles defensive coordinator emphasized:
> “He extends plays better than people think. We’ve got to finish when we get near him.”
Jalen Hurts vs. Bosa-Less 49ers
Without Nick Bosa (torn ACL), San Francisco finished dead last in sacks (20) and 30th in pressures (169). Hurts under pressure this season:
- Under pressure: 50.8% completions, 78.9 rating
- Kept clean: 70.1% completions, 106.0 rating
Middle-of-Field Mismatches
Goedert vs. Backup LBs
San Francisco is down Fred Warner (ankle), Tatum Bethune (groin), Dee Winters (ankle) and Luke Gifford (quad). The team signed Eric Kendricks in late November and Kyzir White this week. Expect the Eagles to feature Dallas Goedert, even though they didn’t exploit a similarly depleted Bears group in Week 13.
Kittle & McCaffrey vs. Eagles LBs/S
With Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk out, George Kittle (628 yards, 7 TD in 11 games) and McCaffrey (924 receiving yards) become primary targets. Philadelphia counters with Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean, Reed Blankenship, Marcus Epps and tackling specialist nickel Cooper DeJean.
Hidden Yards: Special Teams
San Francisco averages 27.2 yards per kick return (7th); the Eagles are 30th at 23.9. Skyy Moore (98-yard long) and Brian Robinson Jr. (29.1 average) give the Niners two legitimate threats.
Eagles special teams coordinator Michael Clay warned:
> “They throw wrinkles-trap blocks, eye candy. If you’re running free, somebody’s coming to get you.”
Key Takeaways
- Fangio owns the historical edge but Shanahan’s scheme is tougher to solve without a full deck of receivers
- Purdy’s risk-reward profile-big-play ability vs. turnover tendency-tilts heavily if the Eagles finish pressures
- Linebacker injuries make the middle of the 49ers defense the obvious attack point for Goedert and the run game
- Special-teams gap could swing 10-15 yards of field position on multiple drives
With both teams battered yet battle-tested, Sunday’s sequel may come down to which staff adjusts faster-and which quarterback avoids the back-breaking mistake.
