The energy in Philadelphia was honestly suffocating. If you were looking for what was the score for the 49ers this past weekend, you probably saw a result that few pundits actually predicted. San Francisco walked into Lincoln Financial Field as underdogs and walked out with a gritty 23-19 victory over the Eagles.
It wasn't pretty. Not at all.
Brock Purdy faced a wall of noise that would’ve rattled most veterans, let alone a guy still carrying the "game manager" label in some circles. But the scoreboard doesn't care about labels. The 49ers are moving on to the Divisional Round, and the defending Super Bowl champs are heading home early.
The Game-Changing Moments: How 23-19 Happened
People keep asking about the final tally, but the box score is only half the story. The 49ers trailed 13-10 at halftime. It felt like the same old story where the Eagles' pass rush eventually wears teams down.
Then came the trickery.
Jauan Jennings—yeah, the wide receiver—took a pitch and looked like he was going to run. Instead, he stopped, pivoted, and launched a 29-yard beauty to Christian McCaffrey. It was a gutsy call by Kyle Shanahan. That single play flipped the script, putting San Francisco up 17-16 and sucking the life out of the Philly crowd.
🔗 Read more: Inter Miami vs Toronto: What Really Happened in Their Recent Clashes
McCaffrey was basically the entire offense for stretches. He finished with the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, a 6-yard reception from Purdy that capped off a drive defined by "grown man" football.
Key Stats From The Wild Card Win
- Brock Purdy: 262 yards, 1 TD, 2 INTs
- Christian McCaffrey: 2 TDs (one rushing, one receiving)
- Jauan Jennings: 1 passing TD, 66 receiving yards
- Jalen Hurts: 168 yards passing, 1 TD
The defense deserves a massive shoutout here too. Holding Jalen Hurts to under 200 yards in a playoff game? That’s unheard of. The Niners' secondary, led by a relentless pass rush that forced Hurts into quick decisions, basically parked the bus in the third quarter. The Eagles only managed 36 total yards in that frame.
What Was The Score For The 49ers In The Regular Season?
To understand why this 23-19 win matters so much, you have to look at the rollercoaster that was the 2025-26 regular season. San Francisco finished 12-5. It wasn't always smooth sailing. They actually lost their regular-season finale to the Seahawks 13-3, which is why they had to travel to Philly in the first place.
Consistency was a bit of a nightmare for a while.
One week they're putting up 48 points on the Colts, and the next they're struggling to find the end zone against Seattle. But that's the thing about this team—they're built for the postseason. When the weather gets cold and the hits get harder, they find a way to grind out these one-score games.
💡 You might also like: Matthew Berry Positional Rankings: Why They Still Run the Fantasy Industry
Honestly, the "what was the score for the 49ers" question has been a popular search because they’ve played in so many nail-biters. Remember the Week 5 overtime thriller against the Rams? They won that 26-23. Or the Week 3 win over the Cardinals that ended 16-15? They’ve been living on the edge all year.
The Cost Of Victory: George Kittle's Status
It wasn't all celebrations on the flight back to the Bay Area. George Kittle, the heartbeat of the locker room, was carted off late in the first half with what looked like a nasty Achilles injury.
Losing Kittle is a massive blow.
He’s not just a pass-catcher; he’s basically a sixth offensive lineman. His absence in the second half of the Eagles game forced the 49ers to get creative with their blocking schemes. If he's out for the next round—which seems likely given he was placed on IR—the pressure on Eric Saubert and the rest of the tight end room is going to be immense.
Looking Ahead: The Rivalry Renewed
So, now that we know the score was 23-19, what happens next?
📖 Related: What Time Did the Cubs Game End Today? The Truth About the Off-Season
The 49ers are heading to Seattle. It’s the game everyone in the NFC West wanted to see. The Seahawks took both regular-season matchups this year, including that ugly 13-3 defensive struggle in Week 18. Seattle is the top seed for a reason, but beating a team three times in one season is one of the hardest things to do in professional sports.
What To Watch For In The Divisional Round
- The Purdy Factor: Can he handle the "12th Man" noise in Seattle? He struggled there in the finale.
- McCaffrey’s Workload: Without Kittle, expect CMC to see 25+ touches.
- The Defensive Front: Nick Bosa needs to have a career-defining game against Sam Darnold (who, let's be real, has been playing out of his mind for the Seahawks).
The line is already out, and the Niners are 7-point underdogs. That feels a bit disrespectful given how they just dismantled the defending champs on the road, but that’s the reality of playoff football in the Pacific Northwest.
Actionable Insights for 49ers Fans
If you're following the team's run, here is what you need to do to stay ahead of the curve.
First, keep a close eye on the practice reports mid-week. With Kittle out, the 49ers will likely elevate a tight end from the practice squad, but the real story is how they adjust their "heavy" personnel packages. Jauan Jennings might actually see more snaps in blocking roles, which is a weird but effective strategy Shanahan has used before.
Second, don't get discouraged by the "underdog" status. San Francisco has a better road record (7-2) than they do at home (5-3) this season. They seem to thrive when the world is rooting against them.
Finally, check the weather for Seattle this Saturday. It’s looking like typical January Northwest weather—cold and potentially slick. That favors the 49ers' ground game. If they can control the clock and keep the score in the low 20s again, they have a genuine shot at an upset.
Keep your notifications on for "what was the score for the 49ers" this Saturday night, because it's going to be a wild one at Lumen Field.