PHILADELPHIA — Coach Nick Sirianni, a Super Bowl champion who has taken the Eagles to the playoffs every year he’s been here, still gets nervous before big games. “I always get nerves,” Sirianni said. “Doesn’t matter what — every game we play, you have butterflies going into the game. I think that’s normal. That’s good. I like it. It doesn’t matter how many big games you’ve coached in, played in. Me personally, yeah. “You always have butterflies going into the games. There’s so much that you put into it and once the game starts, those go away, but you always have that feeling going into a game.” The Eagles’ biggest game of the season to date kicks off today against the San Francisco 49ers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs at Lincoln Financial Field. Despite being ravaged by injuries much of the year, the Niners (12-5) have found their way here. These teams have a bitter recent history. The Eagles (11-6) battered them in the 2022 NFC Championship game at the Linc, knocking out quarterback Brock Purdy — and backup Josh Johnson — en route to a 31-7 drubbing. But a healthier 49ers squad returned the favor in December 2023. After the Birds started the season 10-2, the Niners came to town and handed them a 42-19 beatdown (the game in which Eagles chief security officer “Big Dom” DiSandro was banned from the sideline). That loss triggered the Eagles’ collapse, when they dropped six of their final seven games, including a first-round playoff exit. AP Photo/Jed JacobsohnSan Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) passes against the Seattle Seahawks during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn) Also, 49ers D-coordinator Robert Saleh has done a masterful job of holding together that defense with scotch tape and twine. After being fired as head coach of the Jets last season, he returned to his former team in the Bay Area. But when he was with New York, the Jets beat the Eagles 20-14 in Week 6. “They do a good job. They’re really, really well coached,” Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo said of the Niners. “Saleh does a good job and he’s done a good job for a long time. They fly around to the ball, they’re very physical, so it’s going to be a good test. “I know they’ve had personnel changes throughout the season, but they play extremely hard. They’re disciplined. You can tell they know what they’re doing within the scheme.” Still, San Francisco is in the lower half of the league in yard allowed on first down and 31st in yards allowed on second down — two areas where the Eagles’ offense has struggled. If Philly can exploit that weakness and stay ahead of the chains, it could be a good day. Except for rookie safety Andrew Mukuba being on injured reserve (Marcus Epps has been starting there), the Birds are fully healthy on both sides of the ball. They like how their offensive line matches up against San Francisco’s front seven. The Niners’ defensive line ranks 31st against the run and 27th in pass rush. Fred Warner, their All-Pro linebacker, is on IR after undergoing ankle surgery, and there’s not much left in the rest of the corps. In Kyle Shanahan’s offense, Purdy has been playing at a very high level (and Mac Jones has proven he can step in if needed). Trent Williams, the Niners’ 12-time Pro Bowl left tackle, has been nursing a hamstring injury and is listed as questionable, but he moved around in practice pretty well last week and is likely to play. Williams, 37, is still effective in his 17th season in the league. With him on the field, the 49ers’ offensive front is decent, though a bit vulnerable up the middle. Also, the 49ers don’t have wide receivers who match up against the Eagles’ secondary. Of course, they still have versatile running back Chrisian McCaffrey — who’s having an MVP-caliber season — and Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle. “We’ve got to figure out where they’re at pre-snap in their alignments and study what they like to do from those different spots,” Eagles slot cornerback Cooper DeJean said. “Christian’s pretty much like a receiver as a running back. They use him in a lot of different ways. So that makes it difficult, especially when he lines up in the backfield, to find him in our passing-game matches. “And Kittle’s just been dominant his whole career. He catches everything that’s thrown his way, knows how to get open, and he and the quarterback work well together.” The Birds’ biggest question mark is their inconsistent offense (and perhaps Jake Elliott’s inconsistent kicking, though he seems to have righted the ship). They think they can shed their offensive woes in the playoff opener, perhaps with quarterback Jalen Hurts running more often. The Eagles begin their postseason journey today. They’re hoping it’s a long trip. Injury report Eagles: Game status: OUT — OL Brett Toth (concussion). He did not pass concussion protocol Saturday. QUESTIONABLE — RT Lane Johnson (foot), EDGE Azeez Ojulari (hamstring). Friday practice report: LIMITED – RT Lane Johnson (foot), OL Brett Toth (concussion). FULL – TE Grant Calcaterra (ankle), DT Jalen Carter (hip), LB Nakobe Dean (hamstring), LG Landon Dickerson (rest), S Marcus Epps (concussion), TE Dallas Goedert (knee), EDGE Azeez Ojulari (hamstring), EDGE Jaelan Phillips (ankle). UPDATE: OL Toth has been downgraded to OUT. He did not pass concussion protocol Saturday. 49ers: Game status: QUESTIONABLE – WR Jacob Cowing (hamstring), LB Luke Gifford (quadricep), CB Renardo Green (ankle), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), DL Keion White (groin/hamstring), LT Trent Williams (hamstring), LB Dee Winters (ankle). Friday practice report: DNP – LB Luke Gifford (quadricep), WR Ricky Pearsall (knee/ankle), LB Dee Winters (ankle). LIMITED – CB Renardo Green (ankle), DL Keion White (groin/hamstring), LT Trent Williams (hamstring). FULL – S Ji’Ayir Brown (rib), WR Jacob Cowing (hamstring), DL Kalia Davis (knee), DL Jordan Elliott (knee), TE George Kittle (ankle), RB Christian McCaffrey (rest). Pregame position grades Here’s how the teams match up heading into Sunday, based on health and how they’ve been playing recently. Performances will be evaluated postgame. QB: Eagles A-, 49ers A- RB: Eagles A-, 49ers A+ TE: Eagles A-, 49ers A WR: Eagles A, 49ers C OL: Eagles B+, 49ers B DL: Eagles A, 49ers D+ LB: Eagles A, 49ers D+ CB/S: Eagles A-, 49ers C ST: Eagles B, 49ers B On the air Eagles (11-6) vs. 49ers (12-5), Today, 4:30 p.m., Lincoln Financial Field. TV: FOX: Kevin Burkhardt, Tom Brady, Erin Andrews and Tom Brady. Radio/streaming: 94.1-FM WIP: Merrill Reese, Mike Quick and Devan Kaney. Tico: Rickie Ricardo, Oscar Budejen and David Gerhardt. Westwood One: Ian Eagle and Ross Tucker. Betting odds Spread: Eagles by 6. Over/under: 44.5. Money line: Eagles -265, 49ers +215. — Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc for the latest updates. ...read more read less