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But the real 49ers showed up late in the 4th quarter when QB Brock Purdy led his team on a game-winning touchdown drive. Then the defense answered by getting a turnover and putting the game away. And now the 49ers are headed to their third straight NFC Championship, and fourth in the last five years.
Here are my rapid reactions—my live notes from the game as it unfolded.
- Not the best start for the run defense. And they weren't that effective for much of the game. Packers' running back, Aaron Jones, rushed for over 100 yards. That was the first time the 49ers have surrendered 100 yards to a running back in over 50 games.
- The defense gave up a long opening drive (14 plays), but Charvarius Ward broke up the pass in the end zone to force a Green Bay field goal. Ward continues to play at a high level.
Charvarius Ward led the NFL in the regular season with 16 pass breakups. That was a huge one there to force the field goal. #49ers
— Jeff Deeney (jeffdeeney on Threads) (@PFF_Jeff) January 21, 2024
- I'm not sure why Kyle Shanahan didn't run the ball more on the 49ers opening drive. The field and the ball were wet, and Purdy had been off for a couple of weeks.
Interesting plan for Kyle Shanahan to come up and throw the ball against the Packers in this weather with Brock Purdy not playing in 2 weeks
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 21, 2024
- Two Green Bay drives. Two pass interference penalties. That wasn't good.
- Two Green Bay drives. Two first downs because a defender slipped and fell. That wasn't good either.
- Logan Ryan got the start at safety instead of rookie Ji'Ayir Brown. That's not too surprising. A veteran with postseason experience over a rookie who didn't play much in the regular season.
49ers went with Logan Ryan over Ji'Ayir Brown this game. Ryan completely whiffed on that play for a 50+ yarder.
— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) January 21, 2024
- The run defense missed Clelin Ferrell. Chase Young was not very good.
Chase Young getting blocked by Christian Watson out there. SMH
— 49ersHive (@49ersHive) January 21, 2024
- It was great having Jauan Jennings back. He stepped up huge in this game.
- Beautiful throw from Purdy on his touchdown pass to George Kittle.
Brock Purdy with a Dime to George Kittle 🎯 pic.twitter.com/bKBFLjTw3X
— OurSF49ers (@OurSf49ers) January 21, 2024
- Deommodore Lenoir was punishing people out there.
- The 49ers need to upgrade from Ambry Thomas next season.
- All three of Green Bay's first-half possessions were 10 plays or more.
- The 49ers offense isn't the same without Deebo Samuel. Let's hope he's okay.
- I hate rain games. They're the great equalizer. The weather certainly seemed to help the Packers.
- Shanahan's clock management before the half was curious. I think the weather influenced what he did, making him more conservative than he normally would have been. He called plays on that drive like he did when Jimmy Garoppolo was the quarterback—scared. I think the weather, and Purdy's lack of accuracy was the reason Shanahan was so conservative.
Not sure why we are slow playing it this much. I trust Purdy way more than I do Moody.
— Jessie🎙 (@JNay_LSS) January 21, 2024
- Shanahan's conservative approach didn't pay off. Jake Moody's field goal attempt was blocked.
- I think the rest versus rust question was answered in the first half. It was ugly.
- A run play to Jennings? When you have the best running back in the league on your team? Thats confusing.
Kyle Shanahan had his worst playing calling for the opening drive of both the 1st and 2nd half.
— John Chapman (@JL_Chapman) January 21, 2024
Not normal. https://t.co/XHdOTaR1qI
- Ambry Thomas is terrible. Did I mention that already?
Ambry Thomas' two pass interference penalties have come on
— Steph Sanchez (@Steph49K) January 21, 2024
3rd & 6, 13 yards. Puts GB on SF's 13.
3rd & 15, 41 yards. Puts GB on SF's 19.
- Tashaun Gipson had a horrible game. He slipped and gave up a big touchdown.
- I still remember when the 49ers defense was good. They were up and down in this game.
Coverage busts, missed tackles, p.i. penalties -- it looks like the preseason, not postseason, for the 49ers.
— Matt Barrows (@mattbarrows) January 21, 2024
- Good things happen with you get the ball to Christian McCaffrey.
No one was stopping @CMC_22 from getting to the end zone. #GBvsSF on FOX
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) January 21, 2024
📱 NFL+ // https://t.co/KTh0i4oaLh pic.twitter.com/3YZ0kfHMKL
- Why aren't the 49ers kicking the ball out of the end zone like they were? Their coverage unit is terrible.
- The special teams unit as a whole was bad in this game. And for much of the season.
- Purdy was not good in this game. Until he had to be.
- Dre Greenlaw's first interception was a big one.
Dre Greenlaw with the int! LFG! pic.twitter.com/A4wDw7CiUG
— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) January 21, 2024
- Unfortunately, the offense couldn't do anything with it. Purdy was just awful.
- Shanahan was bad, too.
Kyle Shanahan and Brock Purdy gifting this game away to the Packers
— Akash Anavarathan (@akashanav) January 21, 2024
Neither coaching / playing well so far
- Nice job by Moody hitting the 52-yard field goal.
- Purdy can't throw a wet ball. That was a problem all night. But he led his team down the field for a go-ahead touchdown late in the game.
- Huge play by Greenlaw to win the game. But someone needs to teach him to go down.
- It was an ugly game by the 49ers, but a win is a win. And it was good for the 49ers to win a close, tough game like this.
The 49ers must be better next week. The way they played tonight will not work against the Detroit Lions. And maybe not the Tampa Bay Buccaneers either.
- Marc Adams
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Written by:Speaker. Writer. Covering the San Francisco 49ers. Host of the 49ers Camelot show.
YouTube.com/@49ersCamelot
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