Unsung Heroes From the 49ers' Victory Against the Packers

Winning from behind against the Packers was not expected at all for the 49ers.

It took a ton of grit and mental fortitude for the 49ers to win that game with some players deserving a lot of credit for pulling through. These are the four players who deserve more praise for factoring into the 49ers' win against the Packers in the divisional playoff game.

Jauan Jennings

It had been a whole month since Jauan Jennings last played for the 49ers. A concussion is what held him out during that time. Of all the players on the team who were going to be prone to rust going into the playoffs it was going to be Jennings. However, that couldn't have been further from the truth. Jennings proved to be a critical player in the 49ers' win. In his return, he put up five catches for 61 yards with four of the catches going for a first down. Each catch, and his presence, were desperately needed for the 49ers with Deebo Samuel exiting the game early due to a shoulder injury. Jennings would end up having the highlight catch of the game when Brock Purdy would find him down the center of the field in a triangle of defenders.

Deommodore Lenoir

Practically every defense in the league would take Deommodore Lenoir as their starting cornerback now. He has flourished this season and proved that with his performance against the Packers. Lenoir gave no quarter to any receiver he was defending or zoning out. He was targeted five times and allowed two receptions for eight yards for a passer rating of 47.9. So, the 49ers have an All-Pro cornerback in Charvarius Ward and an arguably Pro Bowl caliber one in Lenoir. Having his stout coverage, and he came in clutch in run defense too, played a key role in the 49ers' win against the Packers.

Chris Conley

I know he only had one catch, but here's the thing... Chris Conley NEVER plays. In fact, his one catch against the Packers was his first of the season from Purdy. And boy, did his first and only catch of the game come at such a crucial moment. Conley caught his pass on the game-winning touchdown drive for a 17 yard gain. That catch gave the 49ers a pivotal first down and more momentum for their drive. Much like Jennings, Conley's contribution, as little as it was, came at a perfect time for the 49ers with Samuel gone. Conley deserves to be recognized for his one catch impactful play given that he is never supposed to be in that situation and could've easily folded.

Christian McCaffrey

The only reason Christian McCaffrey is on here is because it feels like he is getting little credit for the 49ers' win. His performance is being overshadowed by Purdy factoring into the game-winning drive, which he deserves to be credited, but not at the expense of what McCaffrey did. McCaffrey was above and beyond the best offensive player for the 49ers, and if he wasn't running the ball so smoothly all game long, then the 49ers winning against the Packers decreases in likelihood. He should be at the front of the 49ers winning this game ahead of anyone else as he was the anchor for not only the offense, but the entire team.