The Philadelphia Eagles saw their hopes for back-to-back championships dashed on Sunday as they fell to the San Francisco 49ers with a score of 23-19 in the NFC wild-card round. Following this defeat, Saquon Barkley, the team”s running back, did not hold back in his criticism of the offensive performance, reflecting a year-long struggle.
Barkley finished the game with 26 carries for 106 yards, but the Eagles” offense faltered significantly in the second half, managing a mere 36 total yards on 16 plays during the third quarter. Over the last two quarters, the team generated only 114 yards and scored just six points, a stark contrast to their 13 points in the first half.
While Barkley and wide receiver DeVonta Smith, who recorded 70 receiving yards, showed some offensive spark, quarterback Jalen Hurts was limited to 168 passing yards and only 14 rushing yards. The 49ers overcame a 16-10 deficit as they entered the fourth quarter. On the first play of that quarter, they executed a trick play where quarterback Brock Purdy flipped the ball to wide receiver Jauan Jennings, who then threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to Christian McCaffrey, giving them a 17-16 lead.
The Eagles briefly regained the lead at 19-17 thanks to a field goal from Jake Elliott, but Purdy led a final scoring drive, connecting with McCaffrey again for a 6-yard touchdown pass with under three minutes left in the game. The 49ers, finishing the season with a 12-5 record, will advance to face the Seattle Seahawks in the divisional round, while the Eagles” title defense ended in disappointment at home.
In addition to the loss, Barkley suffered a leg injury during the fourth quarter after taking a hard hit while running the ball in San Francisco territory. The injury appeared to affect his hip, and he was seen limping off the field with the assistance of trainers. Despite this, Barkley was cleared to return and finished the game, although he did not participate in the drive immediately following his injury.
Fans of the Philadelphia Eagles can look forward to the upcoming season and check the latest schedule and team depth chart for the 2024-25 NFL season.
