The San Francisco 49ers are headed again to the NFC Championship after escaping with a 24-21 win over the Inexperienced Bay Packers. After receiving a scare from the No. 7 seed, quarterback Brock Purdy and the 49ers’ protection confirmed up when it mattered most.
Listed below are three takeaways from the 49ers’ thrilling victory.
1. “Mr. Irrelevant” has his second
Usually doubted, Purdy proved doubters flawed and had his second in opposition to the Packers. After being known as the “worst” quarterback remaining within the playoffs, Purdy put collectively his first of maybe many signature playoff moments.
The 49ers trailed 21-17 with 6:18 left earlier than Purdy orchestrated a game-winning 12-play, 69-yard scoring drive. Whereas Christian McCaffrey capped it off with a six-yard landing, Purdy was integral to the sequence’ success, going 7-for-8 whereas including an important nine-yard scramble all the way down to the Inexperienced Bay six-yard line to arrange the go-ahead tally.
Ending 23-of-39 for 252 yards and a landing, Purdy was removed from good, particularly after wideout Deebo Samuel left the sport with a shoulder damage. Like really nice quarterbacks do, although, he made clutch performs together with his workforce’s again in opposition to the wall and gained on an evening when he wasn’t at his finest.
2. Strain an excessive amount of for Jordan Love
Many praised the first-year starter for his poise and veteran-like presence all through the season, however not like Purdy, the brilliant lights proved an excessive amount of for Love on Saturday.
After McCaffrey had given the 49ers the lead, the Packers had been nonetheless alive, needing a discipline aim to tie or a landing to go forward with roughly a minute left on the fourth-quarter clock, armed with three time-outs of their again pocket. But, solely 4 performs into the drive, Love threw these probabilities away, tossing an ill-advised move throughout his physique that was intercepted by Dre Greenlaw, sealing San Francisco’s victory.
Love’s game-sealing choose wasn’t his first mistake of the sport. Or the half, for that matter. Late within the third quarter, the Packers had been in fine condition, main 21-14 following a three-and-out compelled by the protection. Love halted the momentum, throwing an errant move excessive and behind tight finish Tucker Kraft, which Greenlaw additionally picked off.
It is not all doom and gloom, as Love made performs, throwing two second-half touchdowns. Nonetheless, the 2 expensive interceptions will hang-out him and the Packers all offseason.
3. 49ers protection stiffened on the proper time however confirmed holes
After enjoying bend-don’t-break protection within the first half, the unit allowed 15 third-quarter factors earlier than stiffeneing down the stretch. Following the Packers’ go-ahead rating with 5:23 left within the third, making it 21-14, the Niners did not permit one other level, holding Inexperienced Bay scoreless on 4 straight possessions whereas forcing two turnovers.
The protection additionally made game-winning performs within the opening half, holding the Packers to solely six factors on three pink zone makes an attempt.
Together with permitting two scores within the third quarter, although, there have been different issues to be involved about from Saturday’s efficiency. Love did throw two reckless interceptions however had a good total sport, passing for 194 yards (21-of-34) and two touchdowns whereas connecting with an astounding 9 totally different receivers. In the meantime, working again Aaron Jones additionally did what he favored, breaking a 49ers’ streak of 51 video games with out permitting a 100-yard rusher after recording 108 yards off 18 carries.
