In a divisional-round playoff game on Saturday night, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Green Bay Packers 24-21 thanks to a touchdown run of six yards by Christian McCaffrey, which capped off their first-ever second-half comeback.
The Niners (13-5) needed to come from behind for a change after leading the entire regular season. Brock Purdy and McCaffrey did just enough on the last drive to advance San Francisco to their third consecutive NFC championship game. The winner of Tampa Bay vs. Detroit on Sunday will play the Niners the following weekend in hopes of earning a trip to the Super Bowl.
During the game-winning drive, Purdy completed 6 for 7 passes for 47 yards. He then converted a third down to Brandon Aiyuk and a 17-yard pass to Chris Conley.
After McCaffrey’s touchdown run on third-and-short, the 49ers defense held strong, allowing San Francisco to defeat Green Bay (10-9) for the fifth week in a row. Dre Greenlaw picked off Jordan Love twice.
Love had given the Packers the lead with two touchdown passes in the third quarter, and that final toss over his body was one of his rare errors. However, the conclusion of his first full season starting in Aaron Rodgers’ place was disappointing.
It was an odd position for the Niners to be playing from behind because of Love. When Ambry Thomas was flagged for a 41-yard pass interference call against Bo Melton, Green Bay was able to convert a third-and-15. The next play, Love and Melton connected for a wide-open 19-yard score, helped along by Tashaun Gipson’s coverage-side stumble on the damp turf.
Following a 39-yard touchdown run by McCaffrey to put San Francisco back up, Green Bay scored fast on an All-Pro kick return by All-Pro Keisean Nixon that he fumbled but teammate Eric Wilson recovered.
After four plays, Love found Tyler Kraft for a two-yard touchdown throw, and the Packers added to their lead with an Aaron Jones two-point conversion pass to make it 21-14.
The Niners became the first team in 13 seasons to qualify for the playoffs without winning a game by rallying back from a halftime deficit.
Jake Moody’s 52-yard field goal on the opening play of the fourth quarter put them ahead by four points, and it remained that way when rookie Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard from goal for Green Bay.
The opening half of the game saw the Packers move the ball easily, starting the game with three consecutive drives into the red zone. However, they were unable to complete any of them, having to settle for two field goals and being thwarted on a fourth-and-1 sneak. They made history by being the first team in twenty years to enter the red zone on their first three playoff drives without scoring a touchdown.
Purdy connected George Kittle on a 32-yard pass while on the run to give San Francisco the lead, and the Niners made them pay for it.
However, late in the half, San Francisco wasted more time under head coach Kyle Shanahan before settling for a 48-yard field goal try by Moody that was stopped by Colby Wooden, giving the Niners a 7-6 lead at the half.
