Eagles Score Breakdown: Why the Wild Card Loss to the 49ers Still Hurts

Eagles Score Breakdown: Why the Wild Card Loss to the 49ers Still Hurts

The Philadelphia Eagles' season ended with a thud. If you're asking what's the eagles football score, the final number you need to know is 23-19.

That was the result of their NFC Wild Card matchup against the San Francisco 49ers on January 11, 2026. Walking out of Lincoln Financial Field that Sunday, the vibe was heavy. It wasn't just a loss; it was a defending champion being dethroned on their own turf.

Honestly, it felt like the air got sucked out of South Philly. One minute, the Birds are looking like they might claw their way back into another deep run, and the next, Brock Purdy is finding Christian McCaffrey for a late-game dagger.

The Wild Card Heartbreak: Eagles Score vs. 49ers

The final score was 23-19 in favor of San Francisco.

It was a weird game. The Eagles actually led for a good chunk of the middle quarters. After falling behind early to a Demarcus Robinson touchdown, Philly leaned on Dallas Goedert. The big tight end was everywhere. He scored a 1-yard rushing touchdown—yeah, you read that right—and later caught a 9-yard TD from Jalen Hurts on a gritty 4th-down play.

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By the time the third quarter was winding down, Jake Elliott nailed a 41-yard field goal to put the Eagles up 16-10. You could feel the momentum. But the 49ers are just... relentless.

A Trick Play for the Ages

The play that changed everything happened right at the start of the fourth quarter. Jauan Jennings took a pitch, looked like he was going to run, and then lofted a 29-yard beauty to Christian McCaffrey. Touchdown.

Suddenly, the Eagles were trailing 17-16.

Philly managed to grab the lead back briefly with another Jake Elliott field goal, making it 19-17, but the defense couldn't hold. Brock Purdy marched them down the field and hit McCaffrey again, this time for 4 yards, to seal the deal.

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Looking Back at the 2025-26 Season Finale

Before that playoff exit, the Eagles had a bit of a rollercoaster finish to the regular season. If you were looking for what's the eagles football score for the Week 18 finale against Washington, it wasn't pretty either.

They lost that one 24-17 to the Commanders on January 4.

That loss was particularly frustrating because it cost the Eagles the No. 2 seed. Instead of a potentially easier path, they got stuck with a red-hot 49ers team. Tanner McKee got the start in that game while the team tried to manage some injuries, and while he threw for 241 yards, the backup-heavy roster couldn't hold off Washington's ground game.

Key Stats from the Wild Card Loss

  • Final Score: 23-19 (49ers win)
  • Total Yards: 49ers 361, Eagles 307
  • Time of Possession: Eagles dominated the clock (35:39 to 24:21) but couldn't finish drives.
  • Standout Defender: Quinyon Mitchell. The rookie (well, second-year now) was a monster with two interceptions.
  • Ground Game: Saquon Barkley put up 106 yards, but the Eagles' passing attack felt "limp" in the second half, according to local analysts.

Why the Eagles Couldn't Close It Out

There’s been a lot of talk about a sideline clash between Nick Sirianni and A.J. Brown. If you watched the game, you saw it. Brown didn't catch a single ball after the first quarter.

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When your best playmaker is erased from the game plan—whether by the defense or internal friction—you're going to struggle. The Eagles' defense, led by Quinyon Mitchell's heroics, gave the offense plenty of chances. They forced two interceptions from Purdy. Usually, when you win the turnover battle 2-0 in the playoffs, you win the game.

Not this time. Philly went 5-for-16 on third downs. That’s the stat that kills you.

What’s Next for the Birds?

The "Eagles score" for the next few months is basically 0-0 as the front office starts the cleanup. The team has already fired their offensive coordinator, marking the fourth straight year they'll have a new face in that role.

Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni held their end-of-season presser on January 15, basically admitting that the 11-6 record was "fine" but the playoff exit was unacceptable.

Actionable Takeaways for Eagles Fans:

  • Watch the Roster Moves: The team has already started signing players to "future" contracts as of January 13.
  • Draft Focus: With the defense showing flashes but the pass rush vanishing at times, expect a heavy focus on the trenches in the upcoming draft.
  • Coaching Search: Keep an eye on who takes over the offense. Jalen Hurts needs stability, and four coordinators in four years is the opposite of that.

The season is over, but in Philadelphia, the post-mortem is just beginning. The score said 23-19, but the questions about why this team stalled out in the second half of the year will linger until training camp.

To stay ahead of the curve, keep an eye on the NFL Scouting Combine in late February, as the Eagles are likely to be aggressive in retooling their secondary and offensive line depth following this early exit.