Battered 49ers begin playoff campaign
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was one of multiple players sidelined by injuries this season. Photo: Lachlan Cunningham via Getty Images
The San Francisco 49ers take on the Philadelphia Eagles this Sunday in the playoffs as the Bay Area gears up to host the Super Bowl.
Why it matters: Largely seen as an underdog, the Niners are trying to extend a season that defied expectations despite a rotating door of injuries. Their matchup against the defending champions will determine whether they can hold on to their dream of playing in the Super Bowl on home turf.
Driving the news: San Francisco and Philadelphia go head-to-head in a wild-card round this weekend, setting off the countdown to Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.
- Despite maintaining a solid defensive strategy, the Eagles have been inconsistent on offense, which could give the Niners an opening.
State of play: A lot of fans didn't expect the 49ers to make it as far as they have.
- Wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk was ruled out before the season even started, followed shortly after by quarterback Brock Purdy, who missed eight games due to a toe turf injury.
- Defensive ends Nick Bosa and Mykel Williams then both tore their ACLs.
- Within six weeks of their season opener, 72 different Niners players had ended up on injury reports, by far the highest in the league, according to The Big Lead. (The Dallas Cowboys trailed with a distant 58.)
What they're saying: Back then, "if you told anybody we'd be 12-4 and we'd be battling Week 18 for that one seed ... Nobody would've believed you," fullback Kyle Juszczyk told reporters last week. "So it's been a special season already, ... and I have all the confidence in the world that we can get this thing done."
Between the lines: The 49ers got a brutal lashing from the Seattle Seahawks in their most recent game, which ended 13-3 with San Francisco netting just 173 total yards of offense.
- That doesn't look great, but it's partially because they were missing two key players: All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams and receiver Ricky Pearsall. Having one or both back on the field would give them a big boost.
What's next: The 49ers play the Eagles 4:30pm ET Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. The winner advances to the NFC divisional round Jan. 17–18.