Defense swarms, claws and scratches
About an hour after the 49ers had clinched their trip to Super Bowl LIV with a 3720 victory that sounds closer than it really was over Green Bay in the NFC Championship Game, tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner passed each other in the bowels of Levi’s Stadium.
Kittle’s shoulder pad smashed into Warner’s nose during a leaping embrace, but Warner barely flinched.
That was the resilience for the 49ers’ entire defense on a Sunday during which they took some shots from one of the game’s bestever quarterbacks, but did not back down during another stalwart performance.
“That’s one of the best to ever do it,” Warner said of Rodgers. “He kept his team in the game. Much respect to Aaron and the Packers. They had an outstanding season, but I think we outexecuted them today.”
Rodgers threw for 326 yards (261 after the Packers were shut out in the first half ), but the 49ers forced him to fumble three times and intercepted the future Hall of Famer twice. The Packers didn’t establish a semblance of a running game against a defensive front that limited Green Bay to 62 rushing yards on 3.9 yards per carry.
With 1:48 on the fourthquarter clock, Richard Sherman intercepted Rodgers’ final pass of the game. Sherman, a little more than two years removed from a ruptured Achilles, squatted next to the trophy presentation stage. He pulled an NFC champions cap over his eyes and sobbed.
Two quarters earlier, Emmanuel Moseley picked off a Rodgers pass. Moseley, starting in place of a struggling Ahkello Witherspoon, stepped in front of a throw aimed at Geronimo
Allison’s back shoulder and returned it to the Green Bay 30yard line to set up a Raheem Mostert touchdown run that made it 270.
“I’m just super happy for him. That’s my guy,” Warner said. “He’s had to scratch and claw his way into the role he has now. I’ve got so much respect for him. … He made a big play in the biggest moment to give our team that momentum.”
Warner made all of his comments while wearing NFC championship Tshirt that included the phrase: “Miami bound.” But the best shirt found during the postgame celebrations belonged to defensive coordinator Robert Saleh.
He carried the NFC championship trophy through the locker room, along with a Tshirt that read: “From Mobile to Miami.” At this time last year, the 49ers had finished a 412 season and there were rumors about Saleh being fired as the San Francisco staff coached at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala.
Fastforward to this regular season, and Saleh led a defense that allowed the fewest passing yards in the league and was the best on third downs. With an influx of talent from trade acquisition Dee Ford, No. 2 overall pick Nick Bosa and freeagent linebacker Kwon Alexander, the 49ers finished second in total defense and eighth in scoring defense.
After an inconsistent second half of the regular season, the 49ers’ defense got healthy for the playoffs. Ford returned from a hamstring injury, Alexander returned from a pectoral injury, and Jaquiski Tartt returned from a ribs injury.
In two postseason games, the 49ers have allowed 15 points per game on 147 yards — 125 yards better than secondplace New England.
“When we needed him most, (Ford) was there. You see how he kind of unlocks the rest of the Dline,” general manager John Lynch said. “When he’s on the edge and Bosa is on the other side, add the twin towers in the middle (Arik Armstead and DeForest Buckner), that’s a tough deal to deal with.
“And a lot of fun to watch.”