(Photo: Grandscape)
NFC Wild Card
(6) San Francisco 49ers at (3) Philadelphia Eagles
49ers (12-5):
Prior to their Week 18 game against the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers had a prime opportunity to set themselves up for the playoffs. The scenario was simple: the winner would clinch the NFC West and secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. That would have been huge, considering the road to the Super Bowl would have gone through Levi’s Stadium—and coincidentally, the big game is in Santa Clara this year. For as much as their defense has struggled for most of the season, I give them credit for at least keeping them in that game. Their pass rush has been largely absent, but they deserve some benefit of the doubt considering they’ve been without their best edge rusher, Nick Bosa, and Fred Warner, who broke and dislocated his ankle in Week 6. After winning a thrilling Week 17 game against the Bears—where Brock Purdy threw five touchdown passes for the second consecutive week—the 49ers’ offense was kept in check against Seattle. The Seahawks’ game plan was simple: limit Christian McCaffrey, take away George Kittle, and tackle immediately after contact. As a result, the offense never found a rhythm. Despite that loss, the 49ers are back in the playoffs for the first time since the 2023 season, when they last reached the Super Bowl. This is still Kyle Shanahan’s best coaching job to date. On Sunday, they begin their playoff run against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Eagles (11-6):
There were times this season when the Eagles made my blood pressure spike. If I’m being honest, they were in the same bracket as the Kansas City Chiefs—skating by and thinking it would work every time. Eventually, that approach catches up to you, and not every opponent will allow you to claw your way back into games. A year ago, the Eagles entered the playoffs with one of the league’s best offenses. They could beat you in multiple ways: Jalen Hurts spreading the ball to DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown, while Saquon Barkley served as the bell cow who carried the offense on his back en route to the franchise’s second Super Bowl title. A year later, this offense lacks the spark it had, and the offensive line has struggled to stay healthy. There’s been a noticeable frustration around the team, stemming from inconsistent offense and, more importantly, questionable play-calling. Another puzzling decision was Nick Sirianni choosing not to play his starters in Week 18, despite having a chance to clinch the No. 2 seed. Especially considering the Bears lost to the Lions, the Eagles could have moved up. But there’s a reason I don’t coach—I do what I do professionally. I’m just saying. The regular season is over. The real season begins now, and the Eagles welcome the 49ers on Sunday afternoon.
49ers X-Factor: Malik Mustapha
In what has been a down year for the San Francisco defense, Malik Mustapha has been one of the bright spots. On Sunday, the 49ers face an Eagles offense that thrives on attacking the middle of the field with quick throws, seam routes, yards after contact, and quarterback runs. Malik has the speed, open-field tackling ability, instincts, and closing burst to disrupt timing routes and force Jalen Hurts into tougher reads. He may not be a household name, but he can make his impact felt with a few key stops, a forced incompletion, or even a turnover.
Eagles X-Factor: DeVonta Smith
The Eagles are simply a better offense when Jalen Hurts is getting DeVonta Smith involved. When preparing for this offense, defenses focus on limiting Saquon Barkley and A.J. Brown—but you can’t double everyone. This 49ers defense is built to eliminate stars, and I expect them to tilt coverage toward A.J. Brown. If that happens, Smith gets favorable matchups. He’s the type of receiver who can turn a 3rd-and-7 into a 30-yard gain, flipping field position and momentum in an instant. If he gets a one-on-one look, Jalen will target him and attempt to get him the ball.
Final Thoughts:
These teams met in the 2023 NFC Championship Game, where the Eagles dominated. That was also the game in which Brock Purdy got injured—and I firmly believe the 49ers win if he stays healthy. Months later, in December 2023, they met again, and the 49ers got their revenge—a game I often refer to as the one that broke the Eagles that season. Now, we get another chapter. If there were ever an opportunity for the Philly offense to get right, this is it, as they’ll face a banged-up 49ers defense. The matchup I’m most looking forward to is the San Francisco offense vs. the Philadelphia defense, which has evolved into a unit that wants to challenge your manhood—physical, downhill, and hard-hitting. The 49ers must generate pressure on Hurts without blitzing, which won’t be easy given their pass-rush struggles since losing Bosa. But if they can rush four, it keeps coverage intact and limits Hurts’ scrambling lanes. Defensively, they must also force underneath throws and finish in the red zone, something that cost them last week against Seattle. The Eagles will get a major boost with Lane Johnson returning. Can they establish the run? That starts with feeding Saquon Barkley. Hurts’ mobility stresses linebackers and safeties all game. They must attack the middle early, feed Dallas Goedert in one-on-one matchups, and force Purdy and the 49ers into long passing situations.
