Packers completes a thriller to advance the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.
The NFL Divisional Round of the playoffs continues live on Sky Sports on Sunday. Christian McCaffrey’s second touchdown of the game and Dre Greenlaw’s interception in the closing moments sent the NFC No. 1 seed San Francisco 49ers to the Championship Game.
With 1.11 seconds left, Christian McCaffrey scored a touchdown, and Dre Greenlaw’s interception helped the 49ers escape with a 24-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers, securing a trip to the NFC Championship Game.
In this Divisional Round game at Levi’s Stadium in the pouring rain, George Kittle’s touchdown in the second quarter gave the 49ers a narrow 7-6 lead at the intermission. Anders Carlson’s two field goals were the Packers’ scores.
But in a crazy third quarter that saw touchdowns from Bo Melton and Tucker Kraft in addition to a successful two-point conversion that was sandwiched between one from McCaffrey, Green Bay established a seven-point lead.
While Carlson missed another chance, Jake Moody slotted a field goal to keep the hosts within striking distance. However, a drive spearheaded by second-year quarterback Brock Purdy set up McCaffrey for his second touchdown inside the two-minute warning, and Greenlaw then intercepted Jordan Love to guarantee that the NFC’s top seed would not be shocked by the No. 7 Packers.
The Packers chose to receive from the coin toss and went for an early touchdown as they put together a 16-play, 45-yard opening drive, much as they did when they defeated the Dallas Cowboys on the road in the Wild Card Round last week.
But this time, the 49ers defence held strong, forcing them to settle for a 29-yard field goal from Carlson. However, Green Bay’s defence also showed up, forcing the hosts to punt on their opening play when San Francisco signal-caller Purdy was sacked by Kenny Clark and Preston Smith.
But early in the second quarter, the Packers’ abortive attempt to convert a fourth-and-one in the 49ers’ red zone led to an 86-yard drive by the hosts, which culminated in Purdy finding tight end Kittle for a 32-yard touchdown to take the lead.
With just over four minutes left in the first half, Green Bay kicker Carlson’s second 29-yard field goal of the game trimmed the margin to one point. Meanwhile, Jake Moody’s 48-yard attempt to increase the 49ers’ advantage on the penultimate play of the half was blocked by Colby Wooden.
It did not aid San Francisco’s hopes that Deebo Following Samuel’s forced exit from the game due to a shoulder injury, the visitors gained field position on third and 15. Love then found Melton in the touchdown zone with a 19-yard pass after Thomas was called for pass interference.
However, the 49ers answered right after, as running back McCaffrey raced 39 yards past the defence for the team’s second score of the game after Kittle gained 32 yards off Purdy’s toss.
After a wild kick return in which Eric Wilson recovered the ball after Keisean Nixon fumbled, Love flung a pass to the right for Kraft to grab for a two-yard touchdown, and the quarterback found Aaron Jones for a successful two-point conversion, the Pack stormed back into the lead.
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