Saturday, Jan 22, 2022. 11:14 PM
Summary
Another disappointing result for the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs.
After finishing atop the National, the Packers suffered a 13-10 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday.
Green Bay seemed in control in this game until the touchdown on a kick blocked by the 49ers special teams. Unable to gain ground offensively thereafter, Aaron Rodgers witnessed Robbie Gould’s game-winning field goal from 45 yards to run out the final seconds of the game to send him on vacation. This punt will eventually revive the file on the future of Rodgers in Green Bay or for another formation.
Rodgers suffered a fourth loss in as many games against the Niners in the playoffs. He finished the game with 225 yards. Jimmy Garoppolo can thank his defense and his special teams for this victory. The 49ers quarterback was limited to 131 yards and one interception on 11 of just 19 completions.
The Packers’ offense was methodical from its first appearance on the field. AJ Dillon put the exclamation point with a six-yard run for the touchdown to cap a five-plus-minute streak with the ball.
Aaron Rodgers looked ready to do it again as soon as he returned to the pitch, but a turnaround changed his plans. His tight end Marcedes Lewis fumbled the ball after a catch and the Niners recovered in the center of the field.
Meanwhile, nothing was right for the 49ers offensively. Jimmy Garoppolo completed his first pass with six minutes left in the second quarter. His team hadn’t registered a single first down until that catch from George Kittle. The Niners had the wind in their sails arriving at the Packers’ goal gate.
After a penalty for holding, Garoppolo tried to avoid the pressure and improvise, but he kicked the ball into the hands of safety Adrian Amos to deprive San Francisco of the board late in the half.
Rodgers wasted no time in making the rival quarterback pay for his mistake. He joined Aaron Jones from 75 yards to attack the end zone with 26 seconds left. The Packers quarterback was fumbled, but Green Bay got the ball back. Mason Crosby then tried to extend the lead to 10 points, but his field goal was blocked for the last play of the second quarter.
The 49ers were finally able to get on the board when Robbie Gould made a short field goal early in the third quarter. With a four-point gap, San Francisco needed to keep an eye on star receiver Deebo Samuel, who left for the sidelines in pain.
Niners blocked kick and touchdown!
The Packers added a field goal early in the fourth quarter to close the gap between the two teams to one touchdown. The Packers’ defense made sure to keep this cushion by stopping the Niners’ attack on a fourth down in its territory.
The special teams again made a big play for San Francisco. A punt was blocked and Talanoa Hufanga recovered to score the touchdown and tie the game. The Niners completed the comeback with a late Gould field goal.
The Niners will face the winner of the duel between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Los Angeles Rams in the next round.
It was the fifth coldest temperature game in Lambeau Field history. Snowflakes fell on the field in the second half.
