The Philadelphia Eagles will host the San Francisco 49ers in the wild-card round of the 2026 NFL playoffs on Sunday at 4:30 p.m. ET on Fox. As the No. 3 seed with an 11-6 record, the Eagles face a challenging path after coach Nick Sirianni opted to rest starters in the regular-season finale, costing them the No. 2 seed. The 49ers, the No. 6 seed at 12-5, present a tough matchup at Lincoln Financial Field.
The Eagles earned home-field advantage in the wild-card matchup but enter with questions surrounding their offensive performance. Sirianni's decision to rest key players against the Cowboys in Week 18 allowed Dallas to clinch the No. 2 seed, leaving Philadelphia as the No. 3. Backup quarterback Tanner McKee struggled in relief, highlighting inadequacies in the offense that failed to inspire confidence.
Sirianni stood by his choice, emphasizing player health for the postseason. Columnists have mixed views: Mike Sielski critiqued the controversial rest strategy, while Marcus Hayes focused on McKee's showing and David Murphy analyzed the 49ers matchup. Historically, No. 3 seeds face long odds, with few advancing to the Super Bowl.
The 49ers, boasting a strong 12-5 record, travel to the Linc for this afternoon contest. Betting lines list the Eagles as 3.5-point favorites, per sportsbook odds. Pittsburgh's recent win over Baltimore secured the AFC North, but this NFC clash pits two playoff-tested teams. The full wild-card schedule includes other games, but Eagles-49ers highlights Sunday's slate.
No injuries or detailed preparations were specified beyond the rest controversy, setting the stage for a pivotal opener.
