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📻 IMPORTANT AUCKLAND UPDATE 📻
Super Bowl dream ends early for Mailata's Eagles
Sebastian Tan, AAP • January 12th, 2026 3:30 pm
Brock Purdy steered the 49ers to a playoffs win over reigning Super Bowl champions Philadelphia | Photo: AP
Australian star Jordan Mailata's Philadelphia Eagles have crashed out at the first NFL playoffs hurdle, edged 23-19 by the San Francisco 49ers 23-19 in the wildcard round.
Giant offensive tackle Mailata became the first Australian to play in a Super Bowl victory last year when the Eagles thumped the Kansas City Chiefs 40-22, but the 28-year-old won't get the chance to recreate those heroics after they exited on Monday (NZT).
In a tight and gritty home contest, Philadelphia only made one field goal in the final quarter, while two touchdowns to Pro-Bowler Christian McCaffrey were the game-defining scores.
San Francisco's star quarterback Brock Purdy threw the go-ahead 6-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey with 2:54 left to win it.
The Eagles had their chances to make a scoreboard impact, intercepting the ball twice, but were wasteful, as reigning Super Bowl MVP Jalen Hurts threw for only 168 yards and one touchdown.
Although the Eagles did have one more drive, a fourth-down, last-gasp pass fell incomplete.
The result means San Francisco will next face another Australian, punter Michael Dickson and his No.1 Seattle Seahawks, next week.
They will also sweat on the fitness of star tight end George Kittle, who was carted off the field with an Achilles tendon injury late in the first half.
The Chicago Bears will host the Los Angeles Rams in the other NFC Divisional matchup.
Earlier in the day, the Buffalo Bills punched their ticket into the next round of the playoffs with a thrilling 27-24 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen defied injuries to ensure Buffalo advanced | Photo: AP
Quarterback Josh Allen led Buffalo to their first road playoff win in more than three decades, despite being sent to the injury tent twice, sustaining head, hand, and knee injuries.
Regardless, the reigning MVP stepped up, making 273 yards, throwing a touchdown, and running for two more six-pointers to seal the win.
His most crucial moment came with 1:04 remaining when he scored the game-winner on a one-yard keeper.
Jacksonville got the ball back with a chance to drive for the win, but quarterback Trevor Lawrence's (207 yards) pass was tipped and intercepted.
"To have the wherewithal to not blink, that's the mantra we've adopted this year," Allen said.
"If we've got time left and we've got the ball, we've got a shot. You saw that there today."
The No.6 Bills will next play either the Houston Texans, Pittsburgh Steelers, or Denver Broncos in the Divisional round.
- With AP
