Game Breakdown: Greenlaw Saves Season, 49ers Survive 24-21

A team known for playing from ahead finally proved it could come back late. That’s the good news.

Outplayed for 54 minutes, outcoached, and yet the San Francisco 49ers are heading to the NFC Championship.

Three crucial plays by Dre Greenlaw, including two interceptions, saved the Niners from themselves in a 24-21 nailbiter over Green Bay in the Divisional Round playoffs.

Brock Purdy had another bad game in the rain but with the season on the line and 6:18 left he led the game-winning drive. Purdy completed 6 of 7 pass attempts for 47 yards and ran for 11 more, providing 58 of the 69 yards on the drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown run by Christian McCaffrey.

A team known for playing from ahead finally proved it could come back late. That’s the good news. The bad, their play exposed a litany of weaknesses and Kyle Shanahan yet again got in his own way in a big game.

This year’s Packers are one of the youngest teams to ever play in the NFC semis but didn’t look the part until late mistakes cost them the game.

The Niners will face the winner of Tampa Bay vs. Detroit in the NFC Championship and will play in the late game next Sunday. The forecast is high 60s, cloudy - and most importantly - dry.

GAME BALLS

Dre Greenlaw – He combined with Arik Armstead for a vital 4th and 1 stop, caught a tipped ball for an interception that got the team back in the game, and then made the pick that sealed the win. Greenlaw also led the team in tackles with eight, had two passes defended, and a tackle for loss.

An All-Pro talent without the recognition, perhaps saving the team in the playoffs will elevate Greenlaw in next year’s voting.

Christian McCaffrey – 98 yards rushing with two touchdowns, and seven catches on short throws for 30 yards. McCaffrey was the engine of the offense.

George Kittle – Four catches for 81 yards and a touchdown. Kittle had a matchup edge and took advantage of it, while also freeing McCaffrey on key blocks.

Jauan Jennings – Forced into a larger role with Deebo Samuel’s shoulder injury, Jennings had five catches for 61 yards.

PENALTY FLAGS

Kyle Shanahan – Mystifying clock management at the end of the first half when Shanahan was more concerned with making certain Green Bay didn’t get the ball back than giving the Niners the best chance to score. Opening the second half with a WR run for 4.7 40 Jauan Jennings had predictable results. 

This was a bad day for Shanahan. He put together the game-winning drive, but he also put the team in the position to need it.

Ambry Thomas – Two backbreaking pass interference calls for a combined 54 yards set up Green Bay scores and put into question if Thomas should start going forward.

The run defense – Green Bay ran for 136 yards at 4.9 yards per carry. Aaron Jones was the first back to get more than 100 yards on the Niners since 2021.

TAKEAWAYS FROM THE GAME

The Niners were lucky to escape with the win, but to their credit, took advantage of Green Bay’s late mistakes to generate some luck of their own.

One of the signs of a championship team on defense is putting together three consecutive solid plays to get off the field. The Niners struggled with that as Green Bay gashed them on second-down runs consistently and converted on third and short.

The defense rose to make the critical play when it was needed but rarely put together three in a row. That can win a divisional-round game, it can’t win the Super Bowl.

The run defense needs a lot of work and probably faces another great offensive line and a dynamic tandem of backs if Detroit beats Tampa as expected.

The pass defense didn’t get home for sacks but did pressure Jordan Love into a bad day with two picks and a 61.7% completion rate.

Steve Wilks has some important choices to make. It appears he is valuing vets over ability in playing Logan Ryan over Ji’Ayir Brown. 

Thomas’ performance was alarming. Do the Niners move Deommodore Lenoir outside and plug Sam Womack into the slot? Continuing to start Thomas is risky, he’s rebounded from bad games, but in the NFC Championship, there must be no hesitation in making a change if he’s not playing well.

Special teams. Ugh. The kick coverage was poor once again. Jake Moody missed a kick again but responded with a 52-yarder that went down the middle. Special teams have one job, don’t be a liability.

This win was ugly, but the playoffs aren’t a fashion show. The problem is the 49ers made it a game show, needing luck to succeed. There’s a ton of work to be done in cleaning up the execution and everyone learning from their mistakes.