Opening the NFL playoffs on the road—especially in Philadelphia—is no easy assignment. Oddsmakers have the San Francisco 49ers listed as 3.5-point underdogs (over/under of 46) in their Wild Card matchup against the Eagles, according to BetMGM.
The 49ers put themselves in this position with a disappointing regular-season finale, falling 13-3 to the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18. That loss came with the NFC West title, the conference's top seed, and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs all at stake.
San Francisco's situation worsened when the Los Angeles Rams defeated the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, dropping the 49ers from the No. 5 seed to the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoff picture.
A fifth-seed finish would have sent the 49ers to Charlotte for a Wild Card matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Instead, their postseason path now begins in Philadelphia—arguably one of the league's most hostile road environments.
Still, the 49ers aren't dwelling on missed opportunities and are embracing the challenge ahead.
"Oh, we're ready for it," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after Saturday night's defeat. "I mean, yeah, it would have been nice to have a home game here, or both home games, and get a bye. But it is what it is. This team's been through a lot this year. Now we gotta do it the hard way, and we'll embrace the s--t out of doing it the hard way, and look forward to it."
The Eagles will host the 49ers at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday, January 11, with the winner advancing to the Divisional Round of the NFL playoffs.