The Eagles’ season ended with a 23-19 wild-card loss to the 49ers as familiar problems resurfaced during a frustrating finish at Lincoln Financial Field.
At a Glance
- The Eagles squandered a first-half lead and managed only one second-half score
- Jalen Hurts threw for 168 yards and a touchdown but struggled with wind and drops
- Coaching staff received an F- grade for failing to fix repeated execution errors
- Why it matters: Philadelphia’s Super Bowl repeat bid ends in the first round despite holding a talent advantage
The Eagles entered the wild-card round rested and as 6-point home favorites, but the 49ers out-executed them in the second half. Philadelphia’s offense dried up after halftime, mirroring a season-long trend that ultimately cost them a chance to repeat as champions.
Quarterback Grade: C-
Jalen Hurts completed 20 of 35 passes for 168 yards and one touchdown while rushing five times for 14 yards. Wind affected several throws, and multiple drops hurt his production. His touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert showcased patience, and he made a few clutch throws on the final drive. Still, Hurts prides himself on performing in big moments and fell short on Sunday.
Running Back Grade: B
Saquon Barkley carried 26 times for 106 yards, surpassing 100 rushing yards for only the fourth time all season. He added three receptions for 25 yards but dropped a critical third-down pass. Tank Bigsby contributed 19 yards on four carries.
Receiver Grade: D
DeVonta Smith caught 8 of 11 targets for 70 yards, extending his strong postseason resume. A.J. Brown managed only 3 receptions on 7 targets for 25 yards and had costly drops. Darius Cooper recorded one catch for 9 yards and was flagged for holding.
Tight End Grade: B-
Dallas Goedert caught 4 of 7 targets for 33 yards and scored both a receiving and rushing touchdown, becoming only the second Eagle to achieve that playoff feat after Ricky Watters in 1995. He missed a block on Bryce Huff, and Grant Calcaterra continued to struggle as a blocker.
Offensive Line Grade: C
Lane Johnson never suited up, leaving Fred Johnson to make his eighth consecutive start in a rough outing. The line helped pave the way for 140 rushing yards and kept pass protection mostly intact.
Defensive Line Grade: C+
Jalen Carter logged 3 tackles and the unit’s lone sack. The group limited San Francisco to 75 rushing yards and held Christian McCaffrey to 48 yards on 15 attempts, though pressure on Brock Purdy was inconsistent.
Linebacker Grade: C+
Zack Baun and Nakobe Dean combined for 12 tackles but surrendered receptions to McCaffrey in coverage. Neither recorded a tackle for loss, quarterback hit, sack, or forced fumble, lacking the splash plays the defense needed.
Secondary Grade: B-
Rookie Quinyon Mitchell rebounded from an early 61-yard completion and touchdown allowed to record two interceptions and three pass breakups. He now has 4 interceptions in 5 career postseason games. Cooper DeJean broke up one pass but gave up a 45-yard gain, and Reed Blankenship was caught on the 49ers’ trick-play touchdown.
Special Teams Grade: C
Jake Elliott made both field-goal attempts but missed his first PAT, clanking it off the left upright. The single point loomed large; instead of trailing by three late, the Eagles needed a touchdown and came up short.
Coaching Grade: F-
Philadelphia held a clear talent edge even before George Kittle exited with an Achilles injury, yet the 49ers extracted more from their roster. Persistent offensive execution failures that lingered all season resurfaced, and the same mistakes went uncorrected. When repeated errors never get fixed, responsibility falls on Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo.
Key Takeaways
- The Eagles out-gained the 49ers on the ground (140 to 75) but managed only one second-half score
- Turnovers and missed opportunities hurt: two interceptions off deflections and critical drops stalled drives
- Coaching decisions, including conservative late-game play-calling, failed to capitalize on favorable match-ups
- An early exit halts expectations of a Super Bowl repeat and shifts focus to a pivotal offseason for roster and staff evaluation
