49ERS NOTES : WILD-CARD APPEARANCE MAKES SUPER BOWL TRIP UNLIKELY.

Byline: Rob Gloster Associated Press 

The 49ers are so accustomed to winning the NFC West and earning a bye in the first round of the playoffs that today's game against the Eagles will be just the second wild-card contest in club history.

And San Francisco will be looking for its first wild-card win. The 49ers lost 17-3 against the New York Giants in 1985 in their only previous wild-card game.

Philadelphia, on the other hand, has won wild-card games each of the last two seasons and has a 3-4 record in such contests.

San Francisco tight end Brent Jones notes that only one team, the 1980 Oakland Raiders, has won the Super Bowl after entering the playoffs as a wild-card team. He likes the challenge of becoming the second team.

``I think it's a great opportunity to do what has been rarely done,'' Jones said. ``This team seems to perform well when its back is against the wall.''

Many teams are at their best when the challenge is greatest. Jones said the reason the 49ers follow that pattern is simple: tradition.

``The intensity here, the hatred of losing is the reason,'' he said. ``Losing has been so rare that it's just not stood for around here, from the top on down.''

Steve Young points to the 49ers' five Super Bowl titles, and said maybe this year's team is destined to take a new path to win another title.

``It would be interesting to have a sixth championship from, in essence, the back row,'' Young said.

In fact, Jerry Rice added, being forced to play an extra game might even work to the 49ers' advantage - if they avoid injuries.

``In the past, we have come out flat after the bye,'' Rice said. ``This time we will just keep on playing.''

Postseason pros: The 49ers, and many of their key players, have built up some pretty impressive statistics while reaching the playoffs in 14 of the past 16 years.

San Francisco is 22-13 overall in the playoffs, including a 15-8 record at home - though they lost their last home playoff game, a 27-17 defeat by Green Bay in the NFC divisional round last season.

Steve Young has only thrown seven interceptions in 308 postseason attempts, the third-lowest percentage (2.27 percent) in NFL history. He is 191 of 308 for 2,211 yards and 23 touchdowns in the playoffs.

Jerry Rice, who holds most NFL records for receivers, also dominates in the playoffs. He is the postseason leader in catches (111), yards receiving (1,702), touchdown receptions (17) and 100-yard receiving games (7).

Rice has caught at least one pass in 19 straight playoff games.

And Brent Jones has 50 catches for 635 yards and five touchdowns in 17 postseason games.

Backfield depth: Going into the playoffs last year, the 49ers' running game was a mess. Fullback William Floyd was sidelined following knee surgery and Derek Loville was the starting halfback.

In the 49ers' opening playoff game, a 27-17 loss at home to Green Bay, Loville was held to five yards on eight carries. Adam Walker - Floyd's replacement - fumbled in the first quarter and it was returned 31 yards for a Green Bay touchdown. San Francisco never recovered from that score.

This season, the Niners have Floyd back and Loville is the backup to Terry Kirby. The 49ers gained 1,847 yards on the ground this year, compared to 1,479 last season.

``Last year heading into the playoffs I thought we were good,'' said coach George Seifert.