R1 The National Football League has made a late decision that just made the Philadelphia Eagles–San Francisco 49ers wild-card showdown even more intense.
The Philadelphia Eagles are set to host the San Francisco 49ers in a highly anticipated NFC wild-card showdown next weekend at Lincoln Financial Field, and the stakes couldn’t be higher with a battered Niners squad rolling into town.
The No. 3-seeded Eagles (11-6) missed out on the No. 2 seed after falling to the Washington Commanders in their regular-season finale, but they rested key starters to prioritize health for the postseason. Meanwhile, the No. 6-seeded 49ers (12-5) saw their hopes for the No. 1 seed dashed with a loss to the Seattle Seahawks.
When do the Eagles and 49ers play? Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. ET on Sunday, January 11, broadcast live on FOX.
A Rivalry Reignited: Eagles-49ers Postseason History
These two teams have clashed just twice in playoff history, splitting 1-1. The most recent meeting came in the 2022 NFC Championship Game, where the Eagles dominated 31-7 en route to Super Bowl LVII. That game was marred by severe quarterback injuries for San Francisco—Brock Purdy and Josh Johnson both went down, forcing Purdy to return limited and prompting the NFL to introduce the emergency third QB rule.
The lone Eagles playoff loss to the 49ers? A wild-card defeat back in 1996.
Tensions exploded in their 2023 regular-season matchup at The Linc, where the 49ers crushed Philly 42-19 in Week 13—a blowout that sparked the Eagles’ infamous late-season collapse (losing six of seven). The game featured sideline chaos, with Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro and 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw both ejected after a scuffle.
The teams haven’t met since, making this playoff rematch electric.
How They Got Here
The Eagles captured the NFC East for the second straight year, ending a 20-year division drought without a repeat winner. Philly enters rested and hungry as defending Super Bowl champions.
The 49ers, despite a strong 12-5 record, limped into the playoffs after dropping the NFC West crown.
Injury Report: 49ers Banged Up, Adding Fuel to the Fire
While the Eagles focused on recovery—All-Pro RT Lane Johnson is expected back after missing time since Week 11, though DT Jalen Carter (hip) and LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring) are monitoring issues—the 49ers are dealing with devastating blows that could tilt this matchup dramatically.
San Francisco is without superstar pass rusher Nick Bosa (torn ACL early in the season) and All-Pro LB Fred Warner (ankle injury from Week 6, unlikely to return until a deep playoff run—if at all). Backup LB Tatum Bethune, who stepped in for Warner, suffered a season-ending groin injury in Week 18.
On offense, LT Trent Williams (hamstring) and WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) sat out the finale and will be evaluated this week.
With the 49ers’ defense depleted and a heated rivalry on the line, this wild-card clash at a raucous Lincoln Financial Field just got even more intense. The Birds have a golden opportunity to advance—can they capitalize?
