Brock Purdy delivered his clearest response yet to a season filled with interruptions, mistakes, and doubt by guiding the San Francisco 49ers past the defending champion Philadelphia Eagles in a 23-19 Wild Card victory on the road.
The defining moment came late. Purdy engineered a 10-play, 66-yard march that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, giving San Francisco the lead for good.
The drive stood out because it followed a turbulent second half in which Purdy threw two interceptions, errors that easily could have ended the night differently.
Afterward, Purdy explained the mechanics of the winning play, noting that communication adjustments were required before the snap.
“I mean, sometimes that happens in games. Guys sometimes hear it wrongly or whatever,” he said. “So in the moment, it was just like, ‘All right, get your split out by [wide receiver Demarcus Robinson] and then we need [wide receiver Kendrick Bourne] to motion over… As a quarterback, you have to make sure all that’s good.”
McCaffrey, Purdy added, was not the first read on the design.
“Obviously, he’s my last guy in the progression,” Purdy said, explaining how he worked through the play before finding his running back in space.
Purdy finished 18 of 31 for 262 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. He added 24 rushing yards on nine carries. McCaffrey totaled six receptions for 66 yards and two scores, plus 48 yards on 15 rushing attempts.
Why this win reshaped how the 49ers are viewed
Context matters with this result. San Francisco entered the postseason undermanned, making each additional victory feel like a bonus rather than an expectation. Conditions only added to the challenge.
Winds reached up to 35 miles per hour at Lincoln Financial Field, forcing offensive adjustments throughout the night.
“It was definitely a factor,” Purdy said. “You have to account for it for sure.”
Beyond the quarterback, the game elevated several key figures who are shaping the franchise’s direction. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh drew attention with a game plan that slowed Philadelphia at key moments despite injuries and recent roster turnover.
The unit effectively mixed pressures and coverages, holding firm late despite the absence of several regular contributors.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan continued a postseason trend that is becoming difficult to overlook. He has now won a playoff game in each of his five appearances, compiling a 9-4 record overall. The trick play that briefly swung momentum underscored his willingness to be aggressive when the margins are tight.
For Purdy, the night fit neatly into a broader narrative. Despite missed time and an interception-heavy slump earlier in the year, he now owns five playoff wins, including this one against a strong defense on the road.
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