The 49ers on Saturday got off to a poor start against the Packers at Levi’s Stadium, but they somehow, someway pulled out a 24-21 win over Green Bay.
Here’s a quarter-by-quarter breakdown of a roller coaster playoff game:
First quarter
– The Packers won the toss and took the ball. That’s interesting.
– Green Bay’s first run of the game is a toss left that probably should’ve gone for a loss, but Deommodore Lenoir fell down and then a couple of missed tackles allowed him to rumble ahead for six yards.
– The 49ers have nothing for the Packers run game on the first drive. Packers RB Aaron Jones is cruising.
– Holy smokes what a tackle by Nick Bosa on a second-down run to bring up a third-and-6. GB’s tight end didn’t have much for him.
– Penalty on Ambry Thomas gives the Packers new life. That’s a real problem for San Francisco since Green Bay will take plenty of shots.
– Nice tackle for loss for Javon Kinlaw.
– Outstanding pass breakup by Charvarius Ward on a third-and-8 end zone shot by Packers QB Jordan Love. Green Bay instead settled for a 29-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead. That was a good end to the drive for the 49ers, but Green Bay ground out 58 yards on 14 plays.
– Deebo Samuel is returning kicks. That’s interesting.
– Brock Purdy’s first downfield throw should’ve been a pick-six. He’s extremely lucky that the DB dropped it, but that does not bode well for the rest of this game.
– Samuel is hurt after his second catch. Uh oh.
– Now a sack and the 49ers will punt. This does not bode well for them to start the game. Aaron Banks’ false start on a first-and-10 derailed that drive early. The 49ers’ passing game isn’t good enough to overcome being behind the sticks.
– Pass interference on Tashaun Gipson on a second-and-10. Nightmare start for the 49ers.
– Fred Warner came to play. Sheesh. He’s laid a couple of big hits on Green Bay’s second series.
– Ward fell down on a third-and-6 and WR Romeo Doubs racks up 38 yards. Yikes.
– Second-and-10 toss to Jones goes for 9 to end the quarter. What a rough first 15 minutes for the 49ers defense. Jones had 35 yards on seven carries.
End of first quarter: Packers 3, 49ers 0
Second quarter
– WOW. A stop on third-and-1 and then on fourth-and-1 by the 49ers defense. That’s an incredible way to start the second quarter for a San Francisco defense that got torched in the first quarter.
– A second-and-1 swing pass to Christian McCaffrey is weird. They need to be running the ball.
– Two carries for McCaffrey have gone to the right. That’s also very weird.
– There’s a run to the left on a third-and-1. It worked for a first down.
– Oof, Purdy got CRUSHED on a first-down throw. He never saw a blitzer coming off the right side.
– What a throw from Purdy to George Kittle. He rolled right and floated a throw up to Kittle, who beat safety Darnell Savage and Purdy laid it out perfectly for a 32-yard touchdown. That’s a big play because prior to that everything looked very difficult for the 49ers’ offense. They went 86 yards on 12 plays, but before that TD they were at 11 plays and 54 yards. It’s 7-3, 49ers.
– Packers have Jayden Reed WIDE open for 27 yards to open their next drive. That’s a brutal start for the 49ers in a spot where they need a stop.
– More missed tackles lead to a play that should’ve been a run for a loss going for 9 yards. Just abysmal by the 49ers defense.
– Deommodore Lenoir came to play. He’s had big hits on back-to-back plays.
– Dime from Love gives Green Bay a first down inside the 10 on a scramble. That was sick in a huge spot. The 49ers defense has no answers.
– Now a run stop by Lenoir on first-and-goal. He’s on fire.
– Really great work by the 49ers pass rush in the red zone. They forced another short field goal by forcing Love into a throw into heavy coverage and then a throw away out of the end zone. Ward had tight coverage on TE Tucker Kraft on the third-and-goal. It’s 7-6, 49ers.
– Samuel is in the locker room and questionable with a shoulder injury. That’s not great.
– Purdy has done a nice job settling in after some misfires early on. The 49ers have to start taking a couple shots though.
– Jauan Jennings has come up big in Samuel’s absence. His after-the-catch and contested catch ability have both been key in the first half.
– Jake Moody’s 48-yard field goal try is blocked. What an dreadful half of football. The 49ers got dominated and somehow lead.
End of second quarter: 49ers 7, Packers 6
Third quarter
– Jennings played the Samuel role on the first snap by taking a handoff. He was stuffed for a loss of a yard. Not great!
– Another third-down misfire from Purdy. He has not been very good.
– Love has turned multiple sacks into completions. He’s playing really well.
– The 49ers defense has nothing for Green Bay. The Packers are cruising after the punt.
– Another break for the 49ers on a first-and-10. Jones mishandled a toss and lost 11 yards to set up second-and-21.
– Third-and-18 and Thomas is flagged for pass interference. That’s a 41-yard penalty. Just absolutely cannot have that in that spot. Terrible, terrible work by the third-year CB.
– Now an easy TD throw to WR Bo Melton. Just an absolute disaster for the 49ers defense. The entire defense bit on a fake screen, but Tashaun Gipson fell down. That’s the third time a defender has fallen down and allowed a big play. Unbelievable. It’s 13-7, Packers.
– This offense is laughable with Samuel out. They’ve put the game on Purdy’s right arm and he is not responding well.
– There’s the 49ers offense. Purdy finds Kittle for 32 yards on a third-and-6, and then McCaffrey goes right up the middle for 39 yards and a touchdown. Back-to-back explosive plays leads to a go-ahead score. It’s 14-13, 49ers. Their defense BADLY needs a stop.
– Terrible. Immediately after the TD the Packers return it 73 yards to the 49ers’ 20. Absolutely abominable by the 49ers special teams. They even forced a fumble at the end, but didn’t recover.
– Packers down to the 5 after another great throw by Love. He’s been outstanding.
– Another great throw for a TD to Kraft. That one is on the 49ers special teams. They gave their defense no chance, but Logan Ryan got hit en route to covering the TE and couldn’t get back in the play in time. Easy two-point conversion as well makes it 21-14, Packers.
– Good return by Ray-Ray McCloud. He got tripped up just before breaking a. potential TD. It should’ve put the 49ers at the 35, but Trent Williams was flagged for unnecessary roughness by pushing a Packers player while walking onto the field. Goodness gracious.
– Purdy had another third-down throw that should’ve been intercepted. He’s been really, really bad.
– Ambry Thomas just whiffed a tackle to allow a first down.
– Wow. Huge. Love threw it a touch high and behind Kraft and Dre Greenlaw came up with an interception that gives San Francisco the ball at midfield. The 49ers defense came up big there, but now their offense needs to capitalize.
– Excellent catch by Aiyuk on a third-and-9. Purdy threw it way low and behind him and he still grabbed it to turn upfield for a first down.
– Purdy has missed back-to-back open receivers. Sheesh.
– Now he takes a sack on third-and-10 to end the third quarter. What a terrible response to the INT.
End of third quarter: Packers 21, 49ers 14
Fourth quarter
– Moody made a 52-yard field goal. Amazing. Packers still lead 21-17.
– A stop! Love misfired to Jones on a third-and-2. Lenoir nearly had an interception, but the 49ers will take the punt. That was a good pass rush that didn’t allow Love to ever set his feet.
– The 49ers need a touchdown on this drive, FYI.
– Two runs to McCaffrey go for 14 to start the drive.
– Purdy missed another throw.
– WOWWWWW. Purdy airmailed a throw over the middle but Jennings leapt up to make a sensational grab for 21 yards.
– Another bad throw on third-and-10 to McCloud. The 49ers will punt. Purdy continues coming up small.
– 49ers defense has nothing. 53-yard run by Jones down to San Francisco’s 37. The Packers have gashed them several times.
– That’s followed up by an offsides on Arik Armstead. Wheels coming off completely.
– WOW another break for San Francisco. Packers kicker Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal. The 49ers have gotten whooped in this game and they’re still in a spot to win the game.
– Now it’s Kittle’s turn to mess up. He dropped a perfect throw that would’ve been a first down. He looked upfield before making the catch. Another miscue.
– Another sensational catch by Aiyuk on a third down. He was diving and it was contested. That keeps the 49ers alive.
– This is great sports drama. McCaffrey ran it for 3 yards on third-and-2. The 49ers have a first-and-10 at the Packers’ 15 at the two-minute warning.
– Bang. McCaffrey plows in for a TD from 6 yards out. What a drive for the 49ers. That was big-time. It’s 24-21, 49ers, but the Packers have 1:07 with all their timeouts.
– BALLGAME. INTERCEPTION BY DRE GREENLAW. UNBELIEVABLE. THE 49ERS ARE GOING TO PULL OUT A WIN. WOW.
Final score: 49ers 24, Packers 21
