The Philadelphia Eagles are hoping to repeat as Super Bowl champions. But if they’re going to go on another playoff run, they’ll have to get past the San Francisco 49ers first.

The No. 3 seed Eagles (11-6) will host the No. 6 seed 49ers (12-5) for a 4:30 p.m. kickoff on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field in the NFC Wild Card round.

The Eagles missed out on the No. 2 seed and a date with the No. 7 seed Green Bay Packers (9-7-1) after the backups lost to the Washington Commanders (5-12) in Week 18.

The 49ers, meanwhile, missed out on the NFC’s No. 1 seed and a first-round bye when they lost to the Seattle Seahawks (14-3) in Week 18.

We’ll have plenty more on the matchup as the week progresses. But here are five things to know about the Eagles’ first-round opponent to get you acquainted.

Missing pieces: The 49ers whooped the Eagles, 42-19, the last time these two teams met in December 2023. But San Francisco is a different team now than it was then.

Defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner are both out with injuries; Bosa tore his ACL in September while Warner suffered a fractured ankle in October. Deebo Samuel is with the Commanders while fellow wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk has been on the injured list all season.

Reinforcements on the way?: Tight end George Kittle (ankle) played in Week 18, closing out another stellar regular season. All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams (hamstring) and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle) did not play against the Seahawks.

But there is an expectation that Williams, at the very least, will be good to go vs. the Eagles.

Gettable defense: Without Warner and Bosa, the defense has not been a strength. The 49ers have allowed 24 points or more in seven of its last 12 games, including porous performances vs. the Rams (42 points, Week 10) and Bears (38 points, Week 17).

They also have the fewest sacks in the league (20) and the third-fewest takeaways (16) of any playoff team.

Brock Purdy leading the charge: Purdy and the offense have had to carry the 49ers to shootout wins, and the QB has done his part. Since Purdy returned from a toe injury in Week 11, San Francisco is averaging 30 points per game (fourth-most in the NFL).

Purdy has been excellent in his last seven games, completing 70.6% of his passes with 18 passing TDs.

Christian McCaffrey is still Christian McCaffrey: It helps that Purdy and the 49ers still have one of the best backs in the league. McCaffrey, after missing most of 2024 with Achilles and knee injuries, has been his usual self in 2025.

McCaffrey’s 2,126 scrimmage yards (1,202 rushing, 924 receiving) ranks second in the NFL behind only Falcons star Bijan Robinson.

Tanner McKee Apologizes to Eagles Fans, Points Out His Critical Mistake That Cost the Eagles the Win.

The Philadelphia Eagles entered Week 18 with a clear priority: protecting their core players for the playoffs. With Jalen Hurts and several starters resting, Tanner McKee was handed a rare opportunity to start against the Washington Commanders and show what he could do in meaningful action.

For much of the game, McKee looked poised. He managed the offense efficiently, kept the Eagles within striking distance, and showed flashes of the confidence that earned him a roster spot.

However, the turning point came in the fourth quarter when a forced throw resulted in a costly interception that ultimately swung the game away from Philadelphia.

After the loss, McKee did not shy away from accountability. Instead, he openly broke down the mistake and acknowledged that he tried to do too much in a critical moment.

“It was me trying to force it,” McKee said. “It felt like I tried to get too much back in one play. I saw the coverage, I knew what it was, I knew it was going to be a tight throw. I still tried to fit it in.

Just dumb, trying to force it. Obviously, that’s one of the big things I can learn from.”

Despite the interception, the Eagles’ coaching staff stood firmly behind the decision to rest key starters. Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed the criticism surrounding the choice, emphasizing that health and long-term goals outweighed short-term positioning.

“Again, you go through your process and you make what you believe is the best decision for the football team,” Sirianni said. “The one thing I could guarantee was giving our guys rest. I couldn’t guarantee anything else.

Us being healthy going into the playoffs is a big deal for us, and that’s served us well in the past.”

The loss locked the Eagles into a Wild Card matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, setting up one of the most anticipated games of the postseason. While the result was disappointing, the outing served as a meaningful evaluation point for McKee as he continues to develop within the organization.

Near the end of his postgame remarks, McKee also took a moment to credit Jalen Hurts for his guidance and leadership throughout the season, making it clear how much the Eagles’ starting quarterback has influenced his growth.

“Jalen has helped me a lot, especially with preparation and mindset,” McKee said. “The way he studies film, the way he handles pressure, the way he leads every day — I’ve learned so much just by watching him. I’m really thankful for the opportunity he’s given me to grow.”

For the Eagles, Week 18 was about protecting the bigger picture. For Tanner McKee, it was a hard lesson, a valuable experience, and possibly the most important step yet in his young NFL journey.