SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Christian McCaffrey scored his second touchdown on a 6-yard run with 1:07 left and the San Francisco 49ers made their first second-half comeback of the season to beat the Green Bay Packers 24-21. Divisional round playoff game on Saturday night.
The Niners (13-5) needed a turnaround after spending the regular season in first place, and Brock Purdy and McCaffrey did enough on the final drive to send San Francisco to its third straight NFC Championship Game.
The Niners will host the winner of Sunday's game between Tampa Bay and Detroit next weekend for a Super Bowl berth.
Purdy went 6-of-7 for 47 yards on a decisive drive, including a third down to Brandon Aiyuk and another 17 yards to Chris Conley.
McCaffrey made a run on third-and-short, the 49ers' defense held strong, and Dre Greenlaw intercepted Jordan Love for the second time, giving San Francisco its fifth straight playoff victory over Green Bay (10-1). 9) was decided.
The final throw across his body was one of Love's few mistakes as he gave the Packers the lead with two TD passes in the third quarter.
However, his first full season as the starter in place of Aaron Rodgers ended on a disappointing note.
Love put the Niners in the unusual position of turning things around. Green Bay converted a third-and-15 when Ambry Thomas was called for a 41-yard pass interference call on Bo Melton.
Love and Melton then connected on the next play for a wide-open 19-yard touchdown, helped in part by Tashaun Gipson slipping on wet grass while covering.
After McCaffrey put San Francisco back in the lead with a 39-yard TD run, Green Bay struck quickly thanks to a 73-yard kick return that All-Pro Keyshawn Nixon fumbled but was recovered by teammate Eric Wilson. did.
Four plays later, Love threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Craft, and the Packers extended their lead to 21-14 with a two-point conversion pass to Aaron Jones.
The Niners became the first team in 13 seasons to reach the playoffs without being able to overcome a second-half deficit to win a game.
Jake Moody made a 52-yard field goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to make it a four-point lead, but Green Bay's rookie Anders Karlsson missed a 41-yard shot and the lead remained.
The Packers moved the ball easily in the first half, entering the red zone on three consecutive drives to start the game.
However, he was unable to make either of them, and although he made two field goals, he was stopped with one hit in four at-bats.
They became the first team in 20 years to reach the red zone without scoring a TD on the first three drives of a playoff game.
The Niners made San Francisco pay for it, as Purdy hit running back George Kittle with a 32-yard pass for a TD, giving San Francisco the lead.
However, San Francisco wasted no time late in the second half when coach Kyle Shanahan attempted a 48-yard field goal by Moody, which was blocked by Colby Wooden, sending the Niners into the first half with a 7-6 lead. Ta.
injury
Packers: RT Zach Thom left the game in the third quarter to be evaluated for a head injury and did not return.
49ers: WR Deebo Samuel injured his shoulder on the opening drive and missed most of the game.
