Who do 49ers play next? NFL playoff opponent, wild-card matchup

[ASFN Admin]

After a down year following their latest trip to the Super Bowl, the San Francisco 49ers are back in the playoffs.

A combination of Mac Jones and Brock Purdy at quarterback this season has powered a top-10 offense and the team to at least 12 wins for the third time in the last four seasons.

San Francisco's regular season came to an end with a Week 18 loss against the Seattle Seahawks. The defeat cost the 49ers the division, but they will still get a chance to battle for a playoff win in the wild-card round.

Who will the 49ers play in the wild-card round with the dust settled on the NFC side of the bracket? Here's what to know about San Francisco's playoff opponent.

Who will 49ers play in playoffs?​

The 49ers are set to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the wild-card round. This comes after the Los Angeles Rams' win over the Arizona Cardinals pushed the 49ers down to the No. 6 overall seed, denying San Francisco the No. 5 seed and a rematch of its Week 12 "Monday Night Football" game against the Carolina Panthers.

The Eagles earned the No. 3 seed after losing 24-17 against the Washington Commanders while resting their starters. Philadelphia could have earned the No. 2 seed with a win, as the Chicago Bears lost 19-16 to the Detroit Lions, but failed to do so with Tanner McKee starting at quarterback.

NFC playoff bracket 2025​

Below is a look at the NFC playoff bracket for 2025:

• No. 1 Seattle Seahawks (BYE)
• No. 2 Chicago Bears vs. No. 7 Green Bay Packers
• No. 3 Philadelphia Eagles vs. No. 6 San Francisco 49ers
• No. 4 Carolina Panthers vs. No. 5 Los Angeles Rams

All seven of the seeds are now locked in after the late-afternoon Sunday slate.

NFL playoff schedule​

The NFL playoffs will kick off on Jan. 10 with the league's first two wild-card matchups before concluding on Feb. 8 with Super Bowl 60 at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara.

Wild card weekend​

All times Eastern.

Saturday, Jan. 10

• AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
• AFC/NFC wild card game: 8 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 11

• AFC/NFC wild card game: 1 p.m.
• AFC/NFC wild card game: 4:30 p.m.
• AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.

Monday, Jan. 12

• AFC/NFC wild card game: 8:15 p.m.

Divisional round​

Saturday, Jan. 17

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 4:30 p.m.
• AFC/NFC division game: 8:15 p.m.

Sunday, Jan. 18

• AFC/NFC divisional game: 3 p.m.
• AFC/NFC divisional game: 6:30 p.m.

NFL conference championship round​

Sunday, Jan. 25

• AFC championship game: 3 p.m.
• NFC championship game: 6:30 p.m.

Super Bowl 60​

• Date: Feb. 8, 2026
• Location: Levi's Stadium (Santa Clara, California)
• Time: 6:30 p.m.
• TV: NBC

NFL playoff picture Week 18​

AFC​

1. Denver Broncos (14-3, AFC West winners)*
2. New England Patriots (14-3, AFC East winners)*
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (13-4, AFC South winners)*
4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7, AFC North leaders)
5. Houston Texans (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
6. Buffalo Bills (12-5, wild card No. 2)*
7. Los Angeles Chargers (11-6, wild card No. 3)*

In the hunt: Baltimore Ravens (8-8)

NFC​

1. Seattle Seahawks (14-3, NFC West winners)*
2. Chicago Bears (11-6, NFC North winners)*
3. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6, NFC East winners)*
4. Carolina Panthers (8-9, NFC South winners)*
5. Los Angeles Rams (12-5, wild card No. 1)*
6. San Francisco 49ers (12-5, wild card No. 2)*
7. Green Bay Packers (9-7-1, wild card No. 3)*

An asterisk (*) denotes teams that have clinched a playoff spot. Teams that have clinched division titles are noted accordingly.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who will 49ers play in playoffs? Breaking down wild-card opponent

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