Appeals court will allow pat down searches at game

Do you smell that? It's playoff football. It's a time to celebrate. For a few more precious hours, every team in the tournament still has life, still has reason to hope. There are no more guaranteed games, but there's football to be played, and right now is the time to exult in it. No matter who you root for, you can imagine your team finding a way to win, a way to keep playing football, and filling your February with excitement and joy. Right now, there's nothing standing between your team and glory except the vagaries of chance and a well-fought effort this weekend, and hopefully the next. And for those of you who aren't rooting for a team that's made it this far, never fear. 7 of the 14 playoff entrants this year didn't make it into the dance last year. The

It didn't wind up making a huge difference in the end, but the decision on the 49ers' end to not challenge what was incorrectly called a catch by Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith on the first drive of Sunday's NFC Championship game could have resulted in a healthy amount of second-guessing towards 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan, had the game wound up being much closer than it was. But, as Shanahan explained after the game, the 49ers didn't see the angle of the play that would have overturned the original call, and the Eagles were able to get their next play off before anyone had a chance to review the play. Smith made what originally looked like a dazzling one-handed 29-yard catch on a 4th-and-3 play of the game's opening possession, setting up the Eagles with

The San Francisco 49ers lost 31-7 to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Below are several statistics and notes from Sunday's game, which were provided by the 49ers Communications staff. Christian McCaffrey RB Christian McCaffrey registered 14 carries for 84 yds. and 1 TD to go along with 4 recepts. for 22 yds. He has now registered at least 50 scrimmage yds. and 1 TD in all 4 of his career postseason games. He is the 8th player and 6th RB since 1970 to accomplish the feat in at least each of his first 4 postseason games (RB Marcus Allen, LAA/KC - 7 games, RB Terrell Davis, Den. - 7, RB Curtis Martin, NE/NYJ - 5, WR Randy

The Philadelphia Eagles await the winner of Sunday's Divisional Round playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. The Eagles advance to the NFC Championship Game following a 38-7 win on Sunday night over the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Next weekend, Philadelphia will host the NFC Championship Game for the first time since the 2017 season, a game the Eagles won 38-7 against the Minnesota Vikings. Sunday's 49ers-Cowboys game will be the ninth playoff meeting all-time between the two teams. The 49ers have won the previous two meetings, including a 23-17 victory last year at AT&T Stadium. Sunday's game