#san-francisco-49ers

#san-francisco-49ers

Not so tasty was tight end George Kittle sustaining an Achilles tear in the second quarter. That prompted Lynch, the Niners' ninth-year general manager, to visit the 49ers' fallen captain in the locker room, along with owner Jed York and Kittle's adoring wife, Claire. Rather than wait to hit the 49ers' sideline for the game's final minutes like usual, Lynch made his way there for the entire fourth-quarter fireworks, disguised by a ski cap.

Postseason football is defined by grit and narrow margins. The San Francisco 49ers looked right at home in that environment, beating the Eagles 23-19 at a raucous Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday. Entering Sunday as the No. 6 seed in the NFC, Kyle Shanahan's squad ignored the oddsmakers, the hostile environment, and, most critically, the difficult-to-stomach Achilles tendon injury to George Kittle to advance to a second-round matchup, a rematch with the Seattle Seahawks.

The defending Super Bowl Champions will play at least one home game in front of the rowdy fans in Philly after claiming a weak NFC East division which marks the first time in over two decades there has been a repeat champion in the division. It's been a turbulent season for the Eagles with injuries going so far as to force Philly to reach out Brandon Graham to unretire during the middle of the season.

You go through your process, you make what you think is the best decision for the football team and that's what we did. I knew that this was [a possible] outcome, that these things can happen. One thing I could guarantee was giving them rest. I couldn't guarantee anything else. And us being healthy and going into the playoffs healthy is a big deal for us.