NFC Championship Live Updates: Packers at 49ers
The Green Bay Packers (14-3) face the San Francisco 49ers (14-3) in today’s NFC Championship Game in Santa Clara, Calif. The winner will advance to Super Bowl LIV in Miami on Feb. 2. Follow along with live updates here, with the latest information at the bottom, and please join the conversation.
Pregame
Roster move: On Saturday, the Packers added punter JK Scott to the injury report as questionable with, you guessed it, illness. However, rather than fill the vacant 53rd roster spot with an emergency punter, the Packers activated safety Raven Greene from injured reserve. That hinted that Scott was good to go – and indeed he is active for the game. His availability is a big deal. Not only does he punt but he’s the holder for kicker Mason Crosby and had several good holds down the stretch on slightly wayward snaps from Hunter Bradley.
Inactives: Only two players were on the injury reports – Scott and fullback Danny Vitale (knee) for the Packers. With that, both teams’ inactive lists were driven by personnel needs rather than medical decisions.
Green Bay’s inactives are receiver Ryan Grant, running back Dexter Williams, Greene, CB Ka’dar Hollman, Vitale and offensive linemen Alex Light and John Leglue. Why isn't Greene active after being added to the roster? He hasn't played in four months, and the defense has settled in with safety Ibraheim Campbell in the dime linebacker role that Greene manned to start the season and defensive back Chandon Sullivan has thrived as the true dime defender.
The 49ers’ inactives are quarterback C.J. Beathard, running back Jeff Wilson, cornerback Dontae Johnson, tight end Daniel Helm, linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, receiver Jordan Matthews and defensive lineman Kevin Givens.
Extra points: In last year's NFC Championship Game, the Rams went into New Orleans and beat the Saints. Prior to that, the home team had won five straight NFC title games.
- On plays of 20-plus yards, San Francisco ranked fourth in the league with 78 while giving up a league-best 43. San Francisco’s 20-yard-play margin was the best in the NFL.
- While San Francisco won in Week 12, in games between common opponents, the Packers went 5-0 against Minnesota (twice), Carolina, Seattle and Washington while San Francisco went 4-1 against Seattle (1-1), Carolina, Minnesota and Washington.
- The Packers were outgained in the regular season. Only two teams in NFL history have been outgained but reached the Super Bowl: New England in 2001 and Buffalo in 1993, according to Pro Football Reference.
- As noted by STATS, Rodgers is 0-2 in his playoff career against the 49ers. The only Packers quarterback to lose three postseason starts against one opponent was Brett Favre, who lost to the Cowboys in 1993, 1994 and 1995.
- Logically, the Packers want to get San Francisco into third-and-long. However, according to STATS, Jimmy Garoppolo moved the chains on 36.8 percent of his passes on plays of third-and-8 or longer. That was the second-best mark in the league.
- Can Green Bay’s full-strength offensive line keep the Niners’ pass rush at bay? According to Sports Info Solutions, Rodgers completed 69 percent of his passes with a 101.2 passer rating when not facing pressure. Those numbers fell to 46 percent and 80.9 when pressured.
- The Packers won the toss. They went 6-2 when that happens.
First Quarter
Packers 0, 49ers 0 (13:05 remaining)
On third-and-1 after a pair of runs by Tevin Coleman gained 9 yards, Za’Darius Smith stuffed Coleman at the line of scrimmage to force an opening punt.
Meanwhile, with Green Bay on offense, 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman broke from his career-long routine and followed Davante Adams rather than remain anchored at left cornerback.
49ers 7, Packers 0 (5:55 remaining)
The score: On third-and-8, Raheem Mostert caught the Packers’ defense flat-footed with a draw play. Outside linebacker Preston Smith had a chance in the backfield but couldn’t get him down, safety Darnell Savage took a bad angle and Mostert scored on a 36-yard run. The Packers missed three tackles on the drive.
Key plays: On second-and-5 from the 32, the Niners motioned both backs out of the backfield. That led to linebacker B.J. Goodson lining up over receiver Deebo Samuel. Samuel got behind Goodson, found a hole in the Packers’ zone and caught Jimmy Garoppolo’s pass. He broke by safety Adrian Amos and gained an additional 15 yards for a pickup of 30.
49ers 7, Packers 0 (2:16 remaining)
For the second consecutive drive, the Packers gained one first down but stalled. This time, Nick Bosa beat David Bakhtiari to stop Aaron Jones for no gain on second down then sacked Aaron Rodgers on third down. JK Scott had a decent punt following a low snap but Richie James returned it 26 yards to set up the 49ers at their 49.
Second Quarter
49ers 10, Packers 0 (14:55 remaining)
The score: Robbie Gould booted a 54-yard field goal – by far his longest kick of an otherwise dismal season.
Key plays: First, came Richie James’ long punt return referenced earlier, which put the 49ers close to scoring range. On the final play of the first quarter, with the 49ers facing a third-and-6 but in field-goal range, outside linebacker Kyler Fackrell pinballed off three blockers and chased down Jimmy Garoppolo for the sack. After recording 10.5 sacks last year, he had only one this season.
49ers 10, Packers 0 (12:32 remaining)
The Packers were blown out early at San Francisco in Week 12 and they’re in the danger zone in the rematch. On third-and-6, cornerback K’Waun Williams came untouched on a six-man blitz and poked the ball away from Aaron Rodgers. Right guard Billy Turner, who Williams ran past on the blitz, prevented total disaster by pouncing on the loose ball at the 14. JK Scott’s punt was horrendous, a 23-yarder that gave the Niners the ball at Green Bay’s 37.
Including the third-down sack of Rodgers, Green Bay is 0-for-3 on third down after going 1-for-15 in Week 12. That lone conversion was with Tim Boyle at quarterback and 1 minute remaining.
49ers 17, Packers 0 (9:12 remaining)
The score: Raheem Mostert scored on a 9-yard run, breaking Blake Martinez’s diving tackle attempt at the 9 and following receiver Deebo Samuel’s block of safety Darnell Savage.
Key plays: Set up by JK Scott’s shanked punt, this was too easy. Mostert carried the ball four times on the drive with gains of 13, 9 and 9 yards. On the 37-yard scoring drive, the 49ers had 37 yards after contact. The 49ers have a 135-23 edge in yards. The Packers have missed five tackles.
49ers 17, Packers 0 (5:39 remaining)
Finally, the Packers got something going, with a 23-yard completion to Jake Kumerow preceding runs of 11, 7, 4 and 5 yards by Aaron Jones. But on second-and-5 from the Niners’ 25, a botched center-quarterback exchange resulted in a fumble that was recovered by DeForest Buckner.
49ers 20, Packers 0 (1:57 remaining)
The score: Robbie Gould kicked a 27-yard field goal on fourth-and-2.
Key play: Raheem Mostert continues to run circles around the Packers. On the second play of the drive, he slashed off left tackle for a gain of 34 yards. He broke two tackles along the way. Mostert has 130 rushing yards; the Packers have 73.
49ers 20, Packers 0 (1:01 remaining)
If the Week 12 game at San Francisco was a disaster, what do you call this game? Tyler Ervin dropped the kickoff, which put the Packers in a hole. After a false start by Bryan Bulaga and a miscommunication on a checkdown to Jamaal Williams, Aaron Rodgers was intercepted by Emmanuel Moseley. The 49ers have the ball at Green Bay’s 30 with a chance to add further embarrassment.
49ers 27, Packers 0 (45 seconds remaining)
The score: Raheem Mostert ran untouched through the hideous Packers defense for an 18-yard touchdown. Tyler Lancaster was blown out of the hole by left tackle Joe Staley, and neither cornerback Tramon Williams nor safety Adrian Amos seemed to have much interest in making the tackle.
Key play: On the three-play drive, Mostert carried all three times. He has 160 rushing yards and three touchdowns.
Third Quarter
49ers 27, Packers 7 (8:44 remaining)
The score: Aaron Rodgers threw a screen to Aaron Jones for an easy 9-yard touchdown.
Key plays: Rodgers hit Davante Adams for gains of 16 and 14 yards to start the second half. The Packers finally converted a third-down – a third-and-4 on a 6-yard pass to Jones. On the play before the touchdown, tight end Marcedes Lewis caught a screen for a gain of 11.
49ers 34, Packers 7 (4:49 remaining)
The score: Raheem Mostert scored a 22-yard touchdown. His 196 rushing yards are the most ever against the Packers in a playoff game.
Key plays: Back-to-back end-arounds by receiver Deebo Samuel gained 11 and 32 yards. San Francisco ran five plays on the drive; the Packers missed five tackles.
Fourth Quarter
49ers 34, Packers 13 (14:35 remaining)
The score: Aaron Rodgers fired a deep bullet to tight end Jimmy Graham for a 43-yard touchdown. The big play was overturned by replay, but Aaron Jones pounded it home on the next play. The two-point play to Davante Adams was behind him and incomplete.
Key play: On fourth-and-2 on the final play of the third quarter, Rodgers found Allen Lazard for a gain of 4.
49ers 34, Packers 20 (8:13 remaining)
The score: Aaron Rodgers extended the play to his right and found rookie tight end Jace Sternberger alone in the end zone for an 8-yard touchdown.
Key play: Rodgers threw perhaps his best pass of the season, a 65-yard bomb to Davante Adams, who beat star corner Richard Sherman at the line of scrimmage and caught a perfect pass at the Niners’ 45 and was hauled down at the 22.
