49ers knock out Eagles: Rapid reactions

I did not believe the San Francisco 49ers defense would be able to slow down the Philadelphia Eagles offense. I was wrong. The defense allowed only 19 points and came up big in the end, keeping the Eagles out of the endzone to seal the 23-19 win. There were plenty of unlikely heroes in this game. And that's often what the postseason is about.

The 49ers were sloppy, at times. But at other times, they played very disciplined football. They were called for only one penalty in the entire game (and that one was questionable). To be this depleted by injuries and still play with the kind of focus and tenacity they played with was impressive. And now they're moving on to the next round.

Here are my rapid reactions. These are my live responses to the game as it unfolded. Let's take a look.

• Huge pass play to Demarcus Robinson for a 61-yard gain. That's the way you start a game.

• Christian McCaffrey follows with a great catch on a tipped pass.
• Big drive for Robinson, who scores a touchdown on the opening drive.

• The YAC (yards after catch) from Robinson on the big play is something we haven't seen from the 49ers' receivers this season.
• The defense is already struggling to stop the run. And we're only a few plays into the Eagles' first offensive series.
• Philadelphia made that look easy. This San Francisco defense is just too undermanned. The offense may need to score 40 to win this one.
• Deommodore Lenoir was not good against the run on that opening drive. Then again, no one on the defense was.
• 49ers' special teams haven't been great so far. The Eagles missed the PAT on that touchdown, but that wasn't because of the 49ers.
• Excellent play by Upton Stout to break up that 4th down pass. That was almost a pick-six.

• Big drop by Jauan Jennings. That brought up 3rd and long, and Brock Purdy wasn't able to pick up enough yards for the first down.
• Nice punt by Thomas Morstead to pin the Eagles back near their own goal line.
• This might be the worst run defense I've seen.
• That was a 16-play, 94-yard touchdown drive that the defense just surrendered. Just horrible.
• George Kittle is injured, and they're bringing out the cart. This appears to be one of those injuries that could impact his 2026 season.

• Big catch by Jennings. At least the offense isn't giving up.

• I think Marques Sigle is better than Ji'Ayir Brown. But I'm also sitting on my couch while I write this. Do with that what you will.
• The 49ers are saying it's an Achilles injury for Kittle. That means, if he plays in 2026, it will be late in the year. I'd say November or December, if he makes it back at all.
• I have a hard time believing Malik Turner is a better option at wide receiver than Jordan Watkins.
• How does Kendrick Bourne still not know where to line up?
• Skyy Moore, why are you fair-catching the ball at the 5-yard line? Just a horrible decision.
• Why are you throwing to Luke Farrell?
• Robinson is having a great game.
• Bad decision by Purdy to throw that ball on the interception. Jennings was wide open over the middle, too.
• The defense has stepped up since those ugly drives in the first quarter. There is no quit in this team.
• Unfortunately, the offense can't get rolling. They can't run the ball at all.
• And now Morstead shanks a punt (maybe due to the wind). The Eagles have the ball at midfield.
• Kyle Juszczyk just ran over a defensive back. That was entertaining. The 49ers are playing more physically than the Eagles on both sides of the ball.
• Beautiful play call by Kyle Shanahan on that Jennings to McCaffrey touchdown. Somehow, the 49ers have the lead. Wow!

• That was a great throw and an even better catch, by the way.
• Another bad throw by Purdy results in another interception. This hasn't been Purdy's best game.
• What a brutal personal foul penalty called on the 49ers' defense. I'm not sure that should've been called. Jalen Hurts slid late.

• Other than that "penalty," Sigle is playing very well.
• This is Purdy's chance to take control of the game and win it for his team. Can he do it?
• The 49ers' run game is starting to get rolling.
• Purdy hits McCaffrey in the end zone, and the 49ers have the lead. Now, can the defense hold?

• It wasn't Purdy's best game, but he did what he had to do and led his team down for the go-ahead touchdown.
• Dang, Eddy Piñeiro missed the PAT. San Francisco has a four-point lead.
• Garret Wallow has been good today. And Eric Kendricks has been all over the place. Are they better than Dee Winters and Tatum Bethune?
• And Kendricks does it again. The 49ers take over after the Eagles fail to convert. Huge play, and the 49ers will win this game.

• This team is so resilient. 49ers fans, you should be really proud of them.

What an incredible win for the 49ers. But it only gets tougher from here. Next up, the 49ers will travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks in the Divisional Round on Saturday.