In Saturday's Divisional Playoff showdown between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers, Jauan Jennings and Carrington Valentine engaged in a fierce battle, each unwilling to surrender on a pivotal play. Jennings finished the game with five catches for 61 yards, but the wide receiver is earning accolades for the play where he didn't even touch the football.
In the third quarter, with the 49ers trailing by six points, quarterback Brock Purdy connected with star tight end George Kittle for a remarkable 39-yard catch and run.
Kittle sheds a tackle and gets into Green Bay territory 💪
📺: #GBvsSF on FOX
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yDUx5ZutVa pic.twitter.com/ffqwE7P08n
However, it was Jennings who stole the spotlight with an impressive blocking effort, fiercely battling the cornerback all the way to the Gatorade coolers on the Packers sideline.
Jauan Jennings gonna block! #49ers #FTTB #GBvsSF pic.twitter.com/oKOn5wQdgK
— 49ers Webzone (@49erswebzone) January 22, 2024
The very next play saw 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey scoring a 39-yard touchdown run.
THERE GOES CMC 🗣️
📺: #GBvsSF on FOX
— NFL (@NFL) January 21, 2024
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/yDUx5ZutVa pic.twitter.com/IrtSbb65yf
Jennings' tenacious effort did not go unnoticed, earning him a nomination in Kyle Brandt's playoff edition of the Angry Run award.
"You do not need to do it, but he did," Brandt enthusiastically exclaimed. "This is a Forty Niner. This is a Packer. This is playoff football. ... This is like the Blindside, if it actually happened, and Jauan Jennings doesn't disavow it later. This is actual truth. It's not some made-up story."
GET OVER HERE 👇👊💢
It's Angry ROUND. Your nominees:
— Good Morning Football (@gmfb) January 23, 2024
😡 @Jahmyr_Gibbs1 @Lions
😡 Jauan Jennings @49ers
😡 @ahmedNBC
😡 @isiah_pachecoRB @Chiefs@KyleBrandt, take it away... pic.twitter.com/v5Jj3MLGsN