The San Francisco 49ers pulled off the biggest upset of the wild-card round on Sunday. San Francisco beat the defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 23-19 on the road.
And the player who earned the biggest individual honor from the game was not Christian McCaffrey. It was not Brock Purdy. Not even Jauan Jennings, who threw a trick-play touchdown.
It was Demarcus Robinson.
The unheralded wide receiver hauled in six receptions for a game-high 111 yards and a touchdown. His performance earned him Tom Brady‘s LFG Player of the Game award, recognizing him as the standout performer in Sunday’s upset victory.
For a 49ers team that has dealt with injuries all season long, Robinson’s breakout performance could not have come at a better time.
Depleted WR group and Robinson stepped in big!
How Demarcus Robinson Set the Tone Early
GettySan Francisco 49ers wide receiver DeMarcus Robinson.
Robinson made his presence felt on the 49ers’ opening drive.
Purdy hit him over the middle on an intermediate route, and Robinson did the rest. He zigzagged through the Eagles’ secondary, breaking tackles and gaining chunks of yardage before finally being brought down at Philadelphia’s 16-yard line. The gain went for 61 yards and immediately put the 49ers in scoring position.
Two plays later, Purdy found Robinson again for a 2-yard touchdown pass to cap the drive. Just like that, the 49ers had a 7-0 lead on the road against the defending champs.
That opening drive set the tone for the entire game. Robinson was aggressive. He was physical. And he was exactly what the 49ers needed with their receiving corps depleted by injuries.
Wide receiver Ricky Pearsall missed the game due to a knee injury. Tight end George Kittle was carted off the field in the first half with a torn Achilles tendon. The 49ers were down multiple weapons, and Robinson stepped up when it mattered most.
“If it was one word, I’d say resiliency. Resilient,” Robinson said when speaking with Brady after the game. “These guys play with resiliency. We’ve got a lot of injuries throughout the year. Even tonight, like you said, losing Kittle, guys stepped up and knew they had to make plays. That’s what we were able to do today, go out and make plays.”
Why the 49ers’ Supporting Cast Came Through
Robinson was not the only role player who showed up for San Francisco on Sunday.
Fullback Kyle Juszczyk had a season-high four receptions for 49 yards. He made a pair of crucial grabs that helped set up touchdowns in the fourth quarter. His blocking also opened holes for McCaffrey, who turned 21 touches into 114 yards and two touchdowns.
Linebacker Garret Wallow led the team with 11 total tackles after recording just nine total tackles during the entire regular season. He was everywhere on defense, making stops in the run game and limiting Philadelphia’s ability to move the ball through the air.
And then there was Jennings, who threw a 29-yard touchdown pass to McCaffrey on a trick play early in the fourth quarter. The double-reverse pass gave the 49ers a 17-16 lead and completely shifted the momentum of the game.
Head coach Kyle Shanahan called the play “Skyy Bang reverse pass,” named after wide receiver Skyy Moore. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak suggested it, and Shanahan made sure to give him credit afterward.
“It was a hell of suggestion,” Shanahan said.
That play was the turning point. Philadelphia never recovered.
What Demarcus Robinson’s Performance Means for the 49ers
The 49ers are now headed to Seattle for an NFC divisional playoff game next weekend.
It will be a rubber match between the two NFC West rivals. The 49ers won the season opener 17-13 in Seattle, but the Seahawks returned the favor with a 13-3 win in the regular-season finale at Levi’s Stadium. That loss cost San Francisco the division title and the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
The Seahawks opened as 6.5-point favorites, and the 49ers will once again be playing on the road. But Robinson is confident his team can get it done.
“Hopefully, we get the dub, obviously,” Robinson said. “We’ve just got to lock in, man. We’ve got to lock in and put more points on the board than we did last week at home. Just put more points on the board. The defense played lights out tonight. Hopefully, we keep playing that same way, man, and it leads to more dubs.”
The 49ers’ ability to win without their top weapons is what makes them dangerous. Kittle is done for the season. Pearsall’s status remains uncertain. Edge rusher Nick Bosa and linebacker Fred Warner have missed significant time this year as well. Warner could potentially return later in the postseason, but there are no guarantees.
Despite all of that, the 49ers just knocked off the defending Super Bowl champions on the road. And they did it with Demarcus Robinson leading the way.
Final Word for the 49ers
GettyChristian McCaffrey #23 of the San Francisco 49ers.
Demarcus Robinson earning Tom Brady’s LFG Player of the Game award is the perfect encapsulation of San Francisco’s season.
The 49ers have been dealt blow after blow with injuries. Key players have gone down. Depth has been tested. And yet, they keep finding ways to win.
Robinson stepped up when the 49ers needed him most. He made the big plays. He set the tone. And he reminded everyone watching that this team has enough weapons to keep pushing forward.
The win over Philadelphia was just the beginning. Now, the 49ers head back to Seattle for a chance to advance to the NFC Championship Game.
If Robinson and the rest of the supporting cast continue to play with this kind of resiliency, the 49ers have a real shot at making another deep playoff run.
“I think the guys are just playing with resiliency, man,” Robinson said. “Everybody knew what we had at stake. Everybody came out there and did their part. So, that helped us get the dub.”
Resiliency. That is what defines this 49ers team. And Demarcus Robinson just proved it on the biggest stage.
Unexpected 49ers Hero Gets Recognized After Stepping Up Big