49ers Eliminate Packers on Jordan Love’s Late Interception
Jordan Love couldn’t have played any better during the second half of the season to lift the Green Bay Packers to the playoffs or in crushing the Dallas Cowboys in a wild-card playoff game last week.
However, with the game on the line – the season on the line – Love threw a killer second interception to allow the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers to escape with a 24-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers in an NFC Divisional playoff game on Saturday night in Santa Clara, Calif.
“It’s going to sting for a long time,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “This hurts. I hurt for our team, I hurt for our coaches, I hurt for our fans. This is a special group.”
Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run put the 49ers in front with 1:07 remaining. However, Love had three timeouts to make magic. Still, with three timeouts, the Packers had ample time to at least force overtime.
Love picked up one first down but threw a horrible interception. Love bought time to his right, then fired the ball across his body to the left. The throw broke all of quarterbacks coach Tom Clements’ “mortal sins” of quarterback play. Christian Watson wasn’t open; the ball was underthrown, anyway, and linebacker Dre Greenlaw made his second interception of the day to eliminate the Packers.
“We just didn’t make enough plays and I’m mad about a couple of play calls,” LaFleur said. “I think he’s had an outstanding season. I know it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I know this one’s going to hurt him. He’s got to use it as fuel to continue to get better.”
Love didn’t lose the game, though. There were ample opportunities, LaFleur said, to have put the game away.
The Packers had a chance to extend their 21-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter but Anders Carlson missed yet another field goal, this time his 41-yarder drifting just left. The kick wasted a brilliant 53-yard run by Aaron Jones. With that, Jones snapped the 49ers’ 51-game streak without a 100-yard runner.
So, with 6:18 remaining, the 49ers embarked on a do-or-die drive. On third-and-1, Brock Purdy’s sneak gained 2. On third-and-5, Brandon Aiyuk made a fabulous catch for a gain of 10 despite tight coverage by Keisean Nixon. McCaffrey hauled Kenny Clark past the first-down marker, making it first down at the 15 at the 2-minute warning.
Moments later, McCaffrey burst through the middle of Green Bay’s defense for the decisive touchdown.
Love finished 21-of-34 passing for 194 yards with two touchdowns, two interceptions and a 72.4 rating. Jones rushed for 108 yards. Romeo Doubs led the way with four catches for 83 yards.
“It’ll sting for a while,” Love said.
The Packers were outgained 356-330. The Niners converted 10-of-16 on third down.
“I thought it was fantastic,” LaFleur said of the defense’s overall body of work against a powerful offense.
The 49ers under coach Kyle Shanahan were 0-30 when losing by seven-plus points in the fourth quarter, according to ESPN.
After the 49ers took a 14-13 lead midway through the third quarter, Keisean Nixon fielded the kickoff at the goal line. A pancake block by Corey Ballentine got Nixon into the open field. The two-time All-Pro raced up the left sideline, then cut the ball back toward the middle of the field. The Niners jarred it loose but hustling Eric Wilson made a huge play with his diving recovery at the 20.
Love’s 15-yard pass to Romeo Doubs set up a 2-yard touchdown to Tucker Kraft. Jones’ leaping catch on the two-point play gave Green Bay a 21-14 lead.
The 49ers cut the margin to 21-17 at the start of the fourth quarter following Greenlaw’s interception of an off-target pass that was deflected by tight end Tucker Kraft.
The Packers trailed 7-6 at halftime.
They had no problem moving the football against the vaunted 49ers defense. They had all sorts of problems moving the ball inside the red zone.
Green Bay failed on all three treks inside the 49ers’ 20. Anders Carlson’s 29-yard field goals sandwiched a failed “Love Shove” sneak on fourth-and-1.
Both quarterbacks were 10-of-16 passing in the first half. The difference in the game was Purdy’s 32-yard touchdown to George Kittle, who got behind safety Darnell Savage, who was expecting help from Anthony Johnson.
The turning point came at the end of the first half. The Packers won the toss and elected to take the ball. Thus, the 49ers had a chance to double-up. However, Green Bay’s Colby Wooden blocked a field goal with 5 seconds to go in the first half, and the defense forced a three-and-out on Rashan Gary’s pressure.
The Packers marched down the field after the punt for the go-ahead touchdown. On third-and-15, Love’s prayer to Bo Melton was answered when Melton was tackled by Ambry Thomas for a 41-yard gain on interference. On the next play, Love looked to throw a receiver screen to Dontayvion Wicks. The Niners’ defense took the bait, as Melton ran behind the secondary for a 19-yard touchdown to lead 13-7.
The 49ers wasted no time in retaking the lead. Jonathan Owens missed a tackle on George Kittle’s 32-yard catch and Darnell Savage missed a tackle on Christian McCaffrey’s 39-yard touchdown.
That set the stage for Nixon’s return and Wilson’s recovery in what might have been a legendary play had the Packers been able to seal the deal.
