San Francisco 49ers (1) – Green Bay Packers (7): 24-21
The Packers believed they had won until the end. The 49ers attack woke up in the last five minutes to steal the victory. The culprit of the hold-up? The inevitable Christian McCaffrey. Green Bay let a game slip away that should never have escaped them. The 49ers were very hot but advanced to the conference final while the Packers may have regrets.
Key Moment: Dre Greenlaw's Interception
At the end of the third quarter, San Francisco had its head underwater. Trailing by seven points, the red and gold have just conceded a touchdown and the attack has just been released in three small actions. Green Bay has the ball, and another touchdown would sound the death knell for the Californians. Then Dr. Greenlaw appears.
Opportunistic, the linebacker intercepts an overdose ball intended for Tucker Kraft. The attack leaves in a good position and begins its comeback. After this interception, Green Bay will be silent offensively.
Film of the match
From their first possession, the visitors scored their first points following a drive well led by Jordan Love (21/34, 194 yards, 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions) who bravely tried his luck. As a faithful lieutenant, Aaron Jones (18 races, 108 yards). A first trip to the red zone and only three points at stake, but the demonstration that Matt LaFleur's attack can thwart the Californian defense.
San Francisco is unable to follow suit and the attack struggles to advance as it is accustomed to. The rainy weather is surely a factor, but so is Joe Barry's defense. Brock Purdy (23/39, 252 yards, 1 touchdown) is constantly put under pressure and cannot adjust his passes. Against the run of play, San Francisco nevertheless scored a touchdown on a long 32-yard reception from George Kittle (4 receptions, 81 yards, 1 touchdown).
At halftime, San Francisco led 7-6 without having entered the opposing 20 yards when the Packers visited the red zone three times (two field goals and a turnover on downs). The Niners even left 3 additional points with a missed field goal.
Upon returning from the locker room, although Kyle Shanahan's privileged moment, things continued to stall for San Francisco: 6 short yards on the possession and a new punt. Green Bay then begins to believe it. Back on track thanks to a 41-yard gain on defensive pass interference, Jordan Love throws his first touchdown of the evening for Bo Melton. San Francisco responds with Christian McCaffrey's first really effective run: 39 yards and six points.
No one was stopping @CMC_22 from getting to the end zone. #GBvsSF on FOX
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/3YZ0kfHMKL— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 21, 2024
The Packers, with Love far from being resigned, did it again on the next possession. After a fabulous kick-off return from Nixon (73 yards), it was Tucker Kraft who received a clinical pass from Jordan Love. The Packers convert at two points and take a 7-point lead (21-14).
The doors to the NFC final open for Green Bay when the defense once again sends Brock Purdy to the sidelines after a 3&out. Then, the collapse.
Dre Greenlaw intercepts Jordan Love on a poorly adjusted pass late in the third quarter. The Packers won't score again. Notably, kicker Anders Carlson who misses a 41-yard field goal that would have put the Niners within 7 points at the end of the fourth quarter.
In the play-offs, these mistakes are costly. As a symbol, the last Californian possession begins at the location of the missed field goal. San Francisco then moves up the field with an ease never seen in the entire game. As a symbol, Christian McCaffrey (17 races, 98 yards, 2 touchdowns, 7 receptions, 30 yards) enters the goal to put the Niners in front one minute from the end. As a symbol, Dre Greenlaw once again intercepts Jordan Love on a desperation pass to seal the fate of the Packers.
24-21, a heartbreak for the Packers and a free warning for the 49ers.
The MVP: Dre Greenlaw (LB, 49ers)
Eight tackles (his team's highest total) but above all two interceptions: Fred Warner's sidekick is a man of big matches. With his fierce, almost animal style, Greenlaw stamped out everyone who passed his zone throughout the game. Better still, he turned the tide of the match with each of his interceptions. The first one put San Francisco right side up. The second killed Green Bay. XXL performance for the linebacker
The flop: Darnell Savage Jr. (S, Packers)
Difficult to flop a Packers defender as the defense pinned down the 49ers for three quarters. However, if there is a cheesehead who must harbor more regrets than others, it is Darnell Savage Jr.
In the first period, the safety cost his team 14 points. Seven by throwing an interception that probably would have ended in a touchdown, and seven by being guilty of a little too lax marking on George Kittle.
Football is played by details, even more so in big matches. And if Dre Greenlaw was all good, Savage missed an opportunity to shine.
The stat: 6
6, the number of passages in Green Bay's red zone. Result: only two touchdowns. A lack of realism which is unforgiving against big teams.
And as a symbol, the only passage in the red zone of San Francisco is the touchdown of Christian McCaffrey one minute from the end.
And now ?
The faces of the residents of Lambeau Field were groggy after the final whistle. However, the future of the Packers looks bright. The youngest team in the league has found its quarterback and has a myriad of interesting offensive players (Doubs, Watson, Reed, Wicks).
For San Francisco, this is a fourth NFC final in five years under the Shanahan era (after 2019, 2021 and 2022). The Niners will still play at home, against the Lions or the Buccaneers.
