It was a hard-fought battle, and it wasn't a pretty victory. However, in the playoffs, a win is a win, and the San Francisco 49ers escaped AT&T Stadium, knocking off the Cowboys 23-17.
San Francisco led 23-7 heading into the fourth quarter, but miscues kept the home-team Cowboys in the game until the end. It took a bizarre final play, with the help of some poor play-calling from Dallas coach Mike McCarthy, to extend the 49ers' season.
After the game, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and general manager John Lynch went around the locker room, congratulating their players. Then the coach addressed his team.
"I'm at a loss for words," Shanahan said. "I'm exhausted, and I didn't even play. I appreciate you guys so much. All the guys that went down in that game, for you guys to keep going, to lose some of our best players, captains, [it was] big time, man. All the people who weren't here all year who busted their ass to get back for this game, there's no way we could have done that without you guys.
"Guys, we've got a special group, and to go through some of the adversity that we did and still pull it off again, shows you how special that is. But guys, I appreciate everyone here. Love you guys."
Another opportunity at Lambeau 👊 pic.twitter.com/EC7f7ME0y3
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 17, 2022
After Shanahan spoke, tight end George Kittle gathered his teammates to pump them up for the upcoming week of preparation.
"What a win," Kittle said. "Way to do it all together. Everybody [expletive] stepped up. We have another opportunity next week, and we [expletive] earned it. We [expletive] earned it. Recover. We've got another opportunity at Lambeau, boys."
The 49ers and Packers will kick off at Lambeau Field on Saturday at 5:15 p.m. PT (7:15 p.m. CT).