The San Francisco 49ers have an opportunity to punish head coach Nick Sirianni and the Philadelphia Eagles for what's ultimately a very questionable decision.
Sadly for the Niners, they lost out on their own chance to bypass the Wild Card round by losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the regular-season finale. The Hawks subsequently earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoff picture and get a first-round bye, whereas San Francisco now has to take to the road as a Wild Card team.
Its first stop as the sixth seed? Philly.
It'll be the second time in four years the 49ers have faced Philadelphia in the postseason, both times at Lincoln Financial Field. And while the Niners have their own concerns heading into the affair, primarily how quarterback Brock Purdy and the offense can bounce back from a three-point outing versus Seattle against yet another resolute defense in that of the Eagles, there's yet an opportunity to hand Sirianni another "L" of a different variety.
49ers can exploit Eagles' decision to rest starters in Week 18
Heading into Philly's Week 18 tilt against the Washington Commanders, Sirianni opted to rest his starters despite playoff implications being very much on the line.
True, Philadelphia will be better rested than the road-traveling 49ers when both teams square off on Sunday.
However, had the Eagles won over Washington instead of losing 24-17, coupled with the Chicago Bears' own loss to the Detroit Lions, Philly would have been the No. 2 seed and would have hosted the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers instead. But, by losing to Washington, Sirianni effectively handed the second seed over to Chicago despite the Bears' own loss.
Now, the Niners can make Sirianni regret that decision by pulling off a win in the Wild Card round.
Even if San Francisco fails to do this, though, Philadelphia could ultimately cede any homefield advantage if it's forced into a playoff bout against the Bears if both teams make the NFC Championship game.
The 49ers would rather not see that scenario play out, however.