PHILADELPHIA − The San Francisco 49ers might have suffered one other rattling physique blow within the NFC’s closing wild-card bout of this postseason, however they nonetheless managed to deal the knockout punch to the reigning Super Bowl champions.
On a blustery day within the metropolis the place Rocky was deified, the decimated and bloodied Niners – regardless of dropping Pro Bowl tight finish and crew captain George Kittle to an Achilles injury earlier than halftime – emerged from their nook to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles 23-19. The haymaker got here on All-Pro Christian McCaffrey’s second landing catch of the fourth quarter, a 4-yard dart from quarterback Brock Purdy with 2:54 to go.
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The Eagles had been on the ropes on the interval’s outset, with 49ers wideout Jauan Jennings – a extremely recruited quarterback in highschool – throwing a 29-yard TD to McCaffrey on a trick play just like the one the crew used within the Super Bowl two years in the past on the primary play of the quarter. McCaffrey completed with 114 yards from scrimmage, 66 of them by way of the air.
Overall, the Niners stacked up 361 yards − 70 higher than coach Kyle Shanahan had averaged in 4 earlier matchups with Philly defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who’d come out on the successful facet 3 times previous to Sunday.
San Francisco will face the top-seeded Seahawks within the Pacific Northwest subsequent weekend, two weeks after dropping to them 13-3 in Silicon Valley – a defeat that conferred home-field benefit to Seattle.
The 49ers persevered on a day largely spent with out Kittle and one when Ricky Pearsall, the membership’s most dynamic wideout, was inactive. They’ve spent a lot of the season with out star defenders Nick Bosa and Fred Warner in addition to rookie D-lineman Mykel Williams, a first-round decide final spring. A crew that’s misplaced 74 collective video games to accidents to its Week 1 starters is now charged with overcoming its rested divisional rivals.
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But historical past is on San Francisco’s facet. In 4 earlier journeys to the playoffs underneath Shanahan, the Niners have by no means didn’t advance at the very least so far as the NFC title sport and reached the Super Bowl twice.
Eagles coach Nick Sirianni suffered his first playoff loss at dwelling after successful his first 5 at Lincoln Financial Field. Philly’s star-studded offense continued its disjointed sample from all through the season, with quarterback Jalen Hurts steadily astray and unable to rally the crew on the ultimate drive. It stays to be seen if much-maligned offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo will retain his function.
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This article initially appeared on USA TODAY: Christian McCaffrey, 49ers end Eagles’ Super Bowl title defense