GREEN BAY, WI (WSAU) — In week three the Packers stunned the 49ers with a 51-yard field goal at the gun.
On Saturday in the NFC Divisional playoffs, the Niners returned the favor with a 45-yard kick from Robbie Gould to defeat the Packers 13-10 and qualify for the NFC Championship game, and send Green Bay into an uncertain off-season.
Green Bay opened the scoring by capping off a 12-play, 69-yard drive with a 6-yard touchdown run from AJ Dillion.
From there both teams would turn it over to their kickers, exchanging punts for the remainder of the half and into the 3rd quarter. San Francisco got on the board midway through the 3rd with a 29-yard FG from Gould, which Green Bay would later match.
The momentum would turn with just over 4 minutes to go in the game when Green Bay lined up to punt on 4th and 19 at their own 12 following a sack of Rodgers. Cory Bojorquez’s kick was blocked by the Niners’ Jordan Willis. As the ball hung in the air, Green Bay seemingly gave up on the play allowing for a recovery by Safety Talanoa Hufanga who walked into the end zone untouched for San Francisco’s lone touchdown of the game.
Green Bay went three and out on the next possession, which opened the door for Gould’s game-winner as time expired. It was the second walk-off field goal by a road team of the day in the NFL Divisional Playoffs, as Cincinnati defeated Tennessee 19-16 in the AFC Divisional earlier in the day.
The loss came despite an excellent game by the Packers defense, which allowed only 212 yards. The defense also came up with a 4th and 1 stop in the fourth quarter, but the offense was unable to move the ball leading to the fateful blocked punt.
Rodgers finished the game 20/29 for 225 yards and no touchdowns in what could very well be his last appearance in a Packers uniform. Aaron Jones led the rushing attack with 41 yards on 12 carries, Dillon recorded 25 yards, and the lone touchdown of the game for the Packers.
Mason Crosby went 1/2 on field goal attempts including a blocked kick right before halftime that could have given the Packers a 10-0 lead. He went 1/1 on extra points.
The Packers, who finished the regular season 13-4, saw their season come to an end in front of 79,000 fans at Lambeau Field. The 49ers will play the winner of the Buccaneers-Rams game in the NFC Championship game.
The Packers have won 39 games over the past three seasons, but have failed to make the Super Bowl. The off-season will be filled with speculation about Aaron Rodgers, who had his contract restructured at the start of the season making a trade possible. Star receiver Davante Adams is also a free agent. Rodgers and Adams had dubbed this season “the last dance” in a series of social media posts last year.
BETTING LINES: Green Bay entered the game as a five and a half point favorite (-5.5), San Francisco covers. Over/Under- 47 points, needless to say the under hits.
