Eagles have the lead and 49ers are dealing with the loss of an offensive star in their playoff showdown

Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is tackled during the third quarter.

After a sluggish start to the second half from Philadelphia’s offense, the Eagles were gifted the ball in 49ers territory after just a 25-yard punt from Thomas Morstead.

But could the Eagles make the most of this glorious opportunity? No.

San Francisco’s defense has been on fire to start this second half and piled the pressure on Philadelphia’s lackluster offense to force a field goal.

After missing an extra point earlier in the game, Jake Elliott must have been delighted to see this effort sail through the posts for three points.

Score: Eagles 16, 49ers 10

You’ve heard it many times so far – another offensive drive for the 49ers goes nowhere and leads to them punting it right back to the Eagles.

Not a good punt either from Thomas Morstead.

It’s been that type of day for the Niners.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni watches from the sideline.

When cornerback Quinyon Mitchell intercepted a pass for the first turnover of the game, the Eagles fans came alive in a way that they had not all night.

Even with the Eagles leading, the momentum never felt fully in their favor because of a lack of explosive offensive plays. The slick catch by the first-team All-Pro defender gave them something to yell and scream (complimentary) about.

Quickly, though, that enthusiasm soured. An incomplete, a 10-yard penalty, and a loss of one when Saquon Barkley was tackled in the backfield had the phickle Philadelphians fans booing their own team.

Just another game in the City of Brotherly Love.

Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith is stopped by a group of 49ers defenders.

It’s back-to-back three and outs for the Eagles to start the second half, much to the disdain of the Philadelphia fans at Lincoln Financial Field.

The 49ers defense – led by coordinator Robert Saleh – has come out of the break looking determined on D and have stopped any momentum the Eagles look to gain.

Neither team seems super interested in winning this game at the moment.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

Quinyon Mitchell and his Eagles teammates celebrate after his third-quarter interception.

It might be a three-point game, but it feels like the Eagles should be up more.

And after Brock Purdy’s interception, Philly can do just that, extend the lead.

After driving almost to midfield, Purdy’s pass to wide receiver Skyy Moore was picked off by Eagles cornerback Quinyon Mitchell.

Just a brutal way for the drive to stall.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

It’s not the start to the second half that the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense would have wanted.

Saquon Barkley was involved on every play but after a big gain on first down, he couldn’t carry his team over the line to gain.

Barkley had the chance to secure the first down but dropped Jalen Hurts’ pass when wide open leading to an Eagles punt.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates a touchdown with teammate Grant Calcaterra in the first half.

It took the 49ers just over three minutes to suck the air out of the stadium. And even less to quiet the crowd. The Eagles’ vaunted defense surrendered 61 yards on the second play of the game, and a touchdown followed not long after.

With the Eagles scoring two touchdowns since, and dominating the time of possession, there’s been reason for the crowd to feel encouraged and, indeed, they’ve responded accordingly.

But overall the Philly fans are more subdued – at least more subdued than I anticipated judging from the vibe amongst the tailgates earlier and my experience at the famed “four hours of hell” that is the Phillies’ ballpark during playoff games.

Perhaps the fans know that this is not the same squad that stormed to the Super Bowl last season.

Individual sections, of course, are still rowdily booing their resident Niners fans.

The 49ers' Malik Mustapha tackles Saquon Barkley during first-half play.

Us football fans have been spoiled with the first three games of the NFL playoffs.

With the way the first two drives of the 49ers-Eagles game went, there was definitely a thought we would go 4-for-4 on exciting games.

The rest of the first half did not quite reach that level and that’s OK! But let’s not make a habit of it.

Hurts and Barkley carried the Eagles to a three-point lead over the Niners, who are looking to overcome an unfortunate Achilles injury suffered by star tight end George Kittle.

Maybe the second half will pick up some speed like last night’s Bears-Packers showdown?

The third quarter is officially underway at the Linc.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

After the 49ers drove to near midfield with eight seconds left, Brock Purdy needed to find a way to get his offense a few more yards to set up a potential game-tying field goal before heading into halftime.

Purdy scrambled, picking up seven yards and appeared to get out of bounds before fumbling the ball.

But a quick officials review ruled he fumbled it in bounds and half is now over.

An awful sequence for the Niners.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

49ers tight end George Kittle is carted off the field.

Niners tight end George Kittle is out for the remainder of the game with a right Achilles injury, it was announced in the pressbox.

He was carted off after injuring it on a catch earlier in the quarter.

It’s a significant loss of one of the 49ers’ best players.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

A.J. Brown might not have got all the looks he was after this season, but quarterback Jalen Hurts is trying to find his main receiver as often as possible in this first half.

But the wideout couldn’t connect with two deep passes from his quarterback and the 49ers force the punt.

Brown will be disappointed that he couldn’t lock on to at least one of the deep looks and has intense words with head coach Nick Sirianni as he exits the field.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

49ers quarterback Brock Purdy looks to pass during the first half.

After the George Kittle injury, the 49ers could’ve just rolled over but wide receiver Jauan Jennings reeled in a 45-yard reception to put the team in good position.

Despite the drive stalling, kicker Eddy Piñeiro kicked in a 36-yard field goal to cut into the deficit.

Eagles will now look to respond with halftime approaching.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 10

An unfortunate situation is unfolding for the 49ers.

Star tight end George Kittle appeared to suffer a non-contact injury to his lower leg and is being carted off the field.

Kittle was seen waving and saluting teammates and fans while in bed of the cart.

A few Eagles players took a knee near where the play ended as the injury cart came out almost right away. Kittle was sitting up as he departed the field to a smattering of applause.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 7

The American flag billows from heavy winds before the game.

The broadcast caught the blue tent on the sideline being blown nearly overly and that is reflective of the atmosphere within the stadium.

No, not unstable (although let’s see how the Birds’ offense fares as we get deeper into the game) but very, very windy.

After the national anthem, the field-size flag was temporarily turned into an unintentional balloon as gusts of winds filled a portion of it with air pockets that briefly prevented handlers from rolling it back up. By the second quarter, the uprights were visibly swaying and bits of debris floated down from the seats onto the field during nearly every play.

The wind has likely already factored into the score with Eagles’ veteran kicker Jake Elliott missing the extra point after their first touchdown.

Admittedly, the former Pro Bowler and two-time Super Bowl champ is having a down season.

Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert celebrates his second touchdown of the day.

It’s safe to say the Eagles’ offense has not been at its best this season. But early on in this wild card matchup, Philadelphia seems to be piecing something together.

In the moments that matter, the Eagles are constantly turning to their heavy hitters with Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith all getting in on the action.

And alongside the star-studded offense, it looks like Philadelphia still has maybe its most valuable weapon – the Tush Push.

All were utilized on this drive as the Eagles marched down the field to take the lead midway through the second quarter.

Again staying on the field on fourth down, Jalen Hurts turned to the Eagles’ redzone weapon in Dallas Goedert for the touchdown.

The officials scared Eagles fans with a flag – which was quickly picked up – before Jake Elliott made the extra point.

Score: Eagles 13, 49ers 7

49ers running back Christian McCaffrey catches a pass in the first quarter.

Both the 49ers and Eagles came out the gates strong, scoring on their respective opening offensive drives.

But since, both teams have been trading punts.

Another three-and-out gives the Eagles the ball back, looking to finally take the lead as the first quarter comes to a close.

Score: 49ers 7, Eagles 6

Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles in the first quarter.

As with most Eagles drives, Saquon Barkley was given the ball to start the journey down the field.

San Francisco did well to stuff the running back as Barkley only gained three yards on the opening two plays of the drive.

Jalen Hurts then looked to throw and made completions to rookie Darius Cooper and A.J. Brown before returning to Barkley.

The 49ers stayed solid and stopped Barkley, and the Eagles opted to stay on the field on fourth-down.

But Hurts couldn’t find the valuable completion thanks to 49ers corner Upton Stout.

San Francisco ball.

Score: 49ers 7, Eagles 6

Philadelphia fans can exhale a bit after that defensive drive.

The first go-around wasn’t pretty but the Eagles forced a three-and-out and now get the ball back.

49ers still hold a slight lead.

Score: 49ers 7, Eagles 6

Eagles tight end Dallas Goedert scores a rushing touchdown in the first quarter.

Now that’s what you call a quick response.

With the crowd silenced after San Francisco’s touchdown on the opening drive, Jalen Hurts and co. stepped on the field knowing they needed to bounce back – and fast.

The drive started with a short gain from Saquon Barkley, which was quickly followed by an explosive 29-yard run from the Eagles’ star running back.

The Eagles went back to Barkley for a third play in a row before Hurts got the passing game going, finding A.J. Brown and Dallas Goedert on consecutive plays.

Showing off their entire offensive arsenal, Philadelphia then got DeVonta Smith involved before Barkley made it first and goal.

And as they have all season long, the Eagles turned to their tight end Dallas Goedert to make things happen.

Goedert rushed for the score on a trick play as the Eagles got back in the game.

Jake Elliott, however, did miss the extra point attempt. Could this be costly?

Score: 49ers 7, Eagles 6

49ers wide receiver Demarcus Robinson catches a touchdown on the game's opening drive.

Holy moly! What a start for the 49ers that might cool off this red-hot Philly crowd.

Brock Purdy finds wide receiver Demarcus Robinson, who takes it 58 yards to put San Francisco in the redzone.

Purdy then finds Robinson again for a 2-yard score to give the Niners an early lead.

Score: 49ers 7, Eagles 0