Eagles’ playoff hopes dashed by 49ers
Philadelphia’s aspirations of becoming back-to-back Super Bowl champions came crashing down on Sunday evening, as the San Francisco 49ers dispatched the Eagles 23-19 in the wild-card round of the NFL playoffs, reports BritPanorama.
The defending champions began promisingly against a depleted San Francisco defence, yet their attacking prowess evaporated after the interval. A mere six points in the second half proved woefully insufficient for a side boasting considerable firepower across all positions.
The contrast with their opponents was stark. San Francisco, despite missing key offensive weapons, executed brilliantly in crucial moments, including a cleverly designed trick play that resulted in a touchdown. For Philadelphia, a roster brimming with talent simply failed to deliver when the stakes were highest.
Former Eagles centre Jason Kelce, now an NFL analyst, offered a robust defence of offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo during his ESPN appearance on Monday evening. “I know that everybody is out on Kevin Patullo. I happen to know the guy. I love Kevin Patullo. I know he’s a great coach,” Kelce declared.
The retired lineman acknowledged that the attack had underperformed throughout the campaign but refused to lay blame at the coaches’ door. “They had the No. 1 highest-paid offense in the league and were mediocre across the board. That’s unacceptable,” he continued.
“They had their chances to win that game yesterday, and they — the players — didn’t make the plays,” he added. Kelce’s sentiments were echoed by his ESPN colleague Marcus Spears, who argued that players bore responsibility but directed criticism at a crucial fourth-and-11 play that sealed Philadelphia’s fate.
“This is the playoffs. It’s on the line and you don’t go to your $100 million receiver that’s in man-to-man coverage,” Spears argued, questioning why quarterback Jalen Hurts attempted to thread a pass to tight end Dallas Goedert rather than targeting his premium wide receivers.
Kelce’s defence of Patullo provoked swift condemnation from the Eagles faithful on social media platforms. “How are you defending his play-calling?” demanded one supporter, while another wrote: “Kevin Patullo is clueless. Yeah, the players made mistakes, but how can you defend those routes on the biggest play of the game?”
Head coach Nick Sirianni addressed questions regarding his offensive coordinator’s future but offered little clarity. “There will be time to evaluate everybody’s performance,” he stated, expressing concern for those in the dressing room who had worked tirelessly.
Reports suggest the Eagles may entertain offers for wide receiver A.J. Brown ahead of the 2026 NFL Draft, though Sirianni’s own position appears secure for now. The defeat is a reminder of how finely balanced success and failure can be, especially in a knockout competition where every play and decision echo far beyond the field. There’s a bittersweet truth in that, as hopes rise and fall with each snap.
