Gould seals an improbable win
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The team that was one loss away from missing the playoffs is one win removed from reaching the Super Bowl.
The San Franicisco 49ers, who started 3-5 and overcame a 17-point deficit just to qualify for the NFL’s postseason, were doing celebratory snow angels Saturday night after overcoming their biggest bit of adversity in a season stuffed with tests: the top-seeded Green Bay Packers, at Lambeau Field, on a short week, in youcan’t-feel-your-face conditions.
The 49ers, the NFC’s sixth seed, improbably upset the top-seeded Packers 13-10 by erasing a seven-point deficit with five minutes left on a blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown and a 45-yard field goal by Robbie Gould as time expired, which gave them their first lead of the game.
“I always trust Robbie. He’s as good as gold, man,” Niners quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said. “He always is.”
The 49ers will face the winner of Sunday’s divisional-playoff game between the Rams and Buccaneers on the road in next week’s NFC Championship Game.
“Our team’s been through so many different situations this year, we just keep playing football,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “They don’t get discouraged.”
Yes, in a season filled with wild wins, the 49ers outdid themselves by winning a game in which they didn’t have a completion or first down in the game’s first 23 minutes. And they didn’t score a point in the first 36 minutes. And they had seven first downs and 116 yards in the first 48 minutes
The offense spent the evening in deep freeze in the fifth-coldest playoff game at Lambeau. With the kickoff temperature at 14 degrees, wind chill at 0 and a light snow falling throughout the second half, the 49ers (12-7) barely moved.
So how did they move on? The defense had five sacks and limited the Packers (13-5), led by NFL MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams, to three points in the final 54 minutes. The Packers’ final eight full drives: five punts, fumble, field goal, blocked field and blocked punt.
“I don’t think it’s fair to anybody or myself to really go down those paths at this point,” Rodgers said. “It’s disappointing, sad and fresh. I’ll have conversations in the next week or so and start to contemplate after that.”
The stunning late-game comeback was sparked by special teams, an Achilles heel in the regular season.
With the 49ers trailing 10-3, defensive end Jordan Willis blocked punter Corey Bojorquez’s punt, and safety Talanoa Hufanga picked up the loose ball and returned it 6 yards for a gametying touchdown with about five minutes left.
After the defense immediately forced a punt, the 49ers took over at their 29yard line with 3:20 left. They moved 44 yards on nine plays, with receiver Deebo Samuel’s 9-yard run on third-and-7 from the Packers’ 38-yard line setting up Gould’s game-winner.
“I just didn’t envision it like this,” said Green Bay’s Aaron Jones, who had nine catches for 129 yards and 12 carries for 41 yards.
The incredible ending finished off a game that began ominously.
The Packers took the opening kickoff and cruised 69 yards on 10 plays, never facing a third down, and finishing it off on A.J. Dillon’s 6yard run.
With the Packers leading 7-0 and marching again, the defense came up with a necessary play: Tight end Marcedes Lewis caught a short pass, and linebacker Fred Warner forced a fumble that linebacker Dre Greenlaw recovered at the 49ers’ 42yard line.
The 49ers, however, can’t turn the takeaway into points. They immediately punted after Garoppolo was sacked on third-and-5.
San Francisco had negative-10 yards on its first four drives, all of which included three offensive plays, and ended with punts. The futility included three sacks and three dropped passes.
Garoppolo and the offense finally began moving on his 15-yard connection with Kittle with 6:29 left in the second quarter, which was his first completion and the 49ers’ initial first down.
The 49ers kept driving, they had first-and-goal at the 9, but left tackle Trent Williams was called for a holding penalty. On the next snap, Garoppolo eluded a sack, rolled right under pressure and forced a throw to Kittle in the left corner of the end zone that was easily picked off by safety Adrian Amos with 56 seconds left before halftime.
“I thought Jimmy battled,” Shanahan said. “He had that bad pick. But some of the plays he made in the first half, he made some really good plays in this game.”
Three plays later, it appeared the Packers would pad their lead before the break: Rodgers found running back Aaron Jones down the right sideline for a 75yard completion, the longest playoff completion of his 17-year career. But Green Bay came away scoreless when Jimmie Ward blocked Mason Crosby’s 39-yard field goal as time expired.
“It took everything,” Garoppolo said. “We knew it was going to. I mean, it was just offense, defense, special teams — everybody stepping up and doing their part. Wouldn’t have it any other way.”