First, an apology on behalf of the Niner Noise Podcast, which neither recapped the painful loss against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 18, which sent the San Francisco 49ers to Philadelphia instead of winning them the NFC West division crown and the NFC's No. 1 seed, nor previewed that playoff matchup against the Eagles.
Call it cowardice, call it busyness. It's done.
But the pod has returned, triumphantly, in the wake of the Niners' 23-19 victory over the Eagles on Sunday afternoon in Philly, a win that sets up a rematch against the Seahawks in Seattle for the right to go to the NFC Championship game, either against the Chicago Bears or Los Angeles Rams.
In many ways, the discussion about this game is fun. The 49ers are still alive in the NFC playoffs, rather against all odds, given all the injuries this team has faced.
And that is reason for excitement, especially in an NFL season where things are as wide open as they have been in years.
It is with that in mind that your hosts, Robert Morrison and Akshaj Dwivedula, dive into the game, starting with overall considerations about the wild Wild Card weekend as a whole. The near-upset by the Carolina Panthers over the Rams, the Bears' insane comeback against the Green Bay Packers, the back-and-forth contest between the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. And the Los Angeles Chargers and New England Patriots also played.
You can listen to the full episode below:
Of course, your hosts also talk about more Niners injuries, because it's the 2025 season and they are obligated to do so. This time, it's a double bummer, in that tight end George Kittle will not only miss the rest of these playoffs, but also the Achilles tear puts his 2026 campaign in jeopardy (nothing like getting a head start on the new year!).
The conversation around the game itself centers on surprises. Plays nobody saw coming. Players who came out of obscurity, off the streets a few weeks ago, or off the bench to come up big when they were called upon.
Just like the rest of this crazy San Francisco season, you never know what to expect.
All of this, and more insight into the win over the Eagles, is on this latest edition of the Niner Noise Podcast, which you can find on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or anywhere else you get your podcasts. You can also check out the pod's website for this and episodes from earlier in the season.
As always, please drop and rating and review.