Green Bay, Wis. — The 49ers better thank their lucky stars for Robbie Gould.
For the second time in three seasons, San Francisco are heading to the NFC championship game. The 49ers beat the top-seeded Packers 13-10 at the frigid Lambeau Field in the divisional round Saturday night.
Gould kicked a 45-yard field goal as time ran of the clock for the to winner. He remained perfect (20 for 20) on field goal attempts in the postseason. An earlier special teams play — a blocked punt returned for a game-tying touchdown with 4:41 left in the contest — set Frisco up for the win. The Packers went three-and-out on the next drive, which turned out to their series of the game.
Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is now a perfect 0-4 all time against the 49ers in the playoffs. Rodgers was 20-of-29 passing for 225 yards in the loss and failed to put a touchdown against the 49ers’ active defense.
“A little numb for sure,” Rodgers told reporters postgame. “Didn’t think it was going to end like this. Disappointed in the offense, 10 points is obviously not enough. The defense, man played outstanding. Special teams obviously hurt us, taking points off the board, giving them points. But offensively, scoring 10 points is never good enough. Felt good about the first drive, went right down and scored, had a good drive going the second drive, poor turnover and then just didn’t put a whole lot together.”
Frisco (12-7) continued their postseason spell on Rodgers and advanced to an NFC championship game matchup Jan. 30 at either the Buccaneers (14-4) or Rams (13-5), who play Sunday in Tampa.
This marks the 17th conference championship appearance for the 49ers, the most by any team since conferences were formed in the 1970 merger.
San Francisco’s win, coupled with the Bengals’ 19-16 victory over the Titans earlier in the day, marked the first time both No. 1 seeds lost in the divisional round in the same season since 2010.
Jordan Willis’ outstretched left hand blocked a punt by Corey Bojorquez, who was kicking from the front of his end zone. Talanoa Hufanga scooped up the ball at the 6-yard line and ran it in to make it 10-10 before the half.
“You could argue that was the difference in the game, but I think it was more than just that one play,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said.
The 49ers had their own offensive problems. Green Bay registered five sacks on 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, including four on third down. San Francisco totaled just 212 yards (4.1 yards per play) and went 5 for 11 on third down.
With three seconds left before halftime, 49ers safety Jimmie Ward blocked Mason Crosby’s 39-yard field-goal attempt. The special teams had plenty of help in Saturday’s upset loss. Green Bay’s offense got off to sizzling start, moving the ball 69 yards on 10 plays for their only touchdown of the game, but that would be all the offense it could muster for the rest of the day.
Davante Adams had three catches for 35 yards on the opening drive. Running back Aaron Jones had three carries for 22 yards, including a 19-yard catch on a screen pass from Rodgers. AJ Dillon had a pair of carries for 11 yards, including a 6-yard dive into the end zone.
The Packers totaled just 263 yards, including just 67 on the ground. It averaged just 4.9 yards per play. Rodgers was sacked four times. After scoring a touchdown on their opening drive, Green Bay went six drives before scoring again- which was a field goal by Mason Crosby at the 9:01 mark of the third quarter.
After Green Bay went three-and-out, the 49ers got the ball back at their 29 with 3:20 left in the contest and drove into field-goal range. Deebo Samuel delivered a 9-yard run on third-and-7 from the Green Bay 38, and Frisco ran down the clock to set the kick up for Gould.
“We thought our special teams had an advantage in this game,” 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan said. “We thought they had an opportunity to possibly win us the game. And to be able to say that and to actually come to fruition was huge for those guys and huge for our team.”
He now enters an uncertain offseason. After skipping the Packers’ mandatory minicamp in a standoff with management, Rodgers said he was uncertain whether this would be his last year in Green Bay. Rodgers said last month he was keeping all options open.
He now enters an uncertain offseason. After skipping the Packers’ mandatory minicamp in a standoff with management, Rodgers said he was uncertain whether this would be his last year in Green Bay. Rodgers said last month he was keeping all options open.
“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.”
NEXT UP:
The 49ers will be at either Tampa or the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC championship game on Jan. 30.
