Dawson, 49ers edge Packers in frigid conditions
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Home or away. Late summer or during one of the coldest nights of the year.
Doesn’t matter where or when — the San Francisco 49ers keep figuring out how to beat the Green Bay Packers.
Phil Dawson kicked a 33- yard field goal as time expired, and Colin Kaepernick threw for 227 yards and ran for another 98 to lead the 49ers past the Packers 23- 20 on Sunday night in a frigid NFC wild- card game.
In a back- and- forth fourth quarter, the 49ers ( 13- 4) threw the final punch. Kaepernick escaped a blitz on third- andeight and scrambled for an 11- yard gain to the 27 with 1: 13 left.
“Just trying to figure out a way to get that first down,” Kaepernick said. “Had a play called, we didn’t get the look that we wanted. It worked out for us.”
Dawson nailed the winning kick five plays later — but only after nearly being blocked by edge rusher Davon House. He was whistled for offsides on the play, but the 49ers declined the penalty with the win in hand.
The defending NFC champions came away with a huge win in conditions that resembled a meat locker. It was - 15 C at kickoff, and the winds made it feel like - 23.
San Francisco plays at Carolina next Sunday in the divisional round.
“They got us the first time,” linebacker Navarro Bowman said, referring to Carolina’s 10- 9 win on Nov. 10. “What’s on our minds is to get them now. It’s the playoffs. Win or go home.”
Mason Crosby’s 24- yard field goal tied it at 20 for the Packers ( 8- 8- 1) with 5: 06 left before the 49ers’ final drive.
Until then, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers did his best to turn into “Captain Comeback” again. After a slow first quarter, Rodgers finished 17 of 26 for 177 yards and touchdown.
Eddie Lacy ran for 81 yards on 21 carries for the Packers, while Frank Gore had 66 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries for the 49ers.
Michael Crabtree had eight catches for 125 yards for San Francisco.