San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy didn't panic as he needed a comeback in the fourth quarter and a magical season was on the line.
There was no reason for it. He handed the ball to the team's best offensive player, running back Christian McCaffrey.
The Stanford product scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 6-yard inside run with 1:07 left, and the 49ers held off the young and vibrant Green Bay Packers 24-21 in the NFC divisional round playoffs on Saturday at Levi's Stadium away.
San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw sealed the game with his second interception of Green Bay quarterback Jordan Love.
https://statics.foxsports.com/static/orion/player-embed.html?id=fmc-rro9s6vuj871vgym&image=https://static-media.fox.com/fmc/prod/sports/VX-8219893/hqolcbrz8c96h4yo. jpg&props=eyJwYWdlX25hbWUiOiJmc2NvbTpzdG9yaWVzOm5mbDo0OWVycyByYWxseSBhZ2FpbnN0IGFsbCBvZGRzLCBiZWF0aW5nIHlvdW5nIFBhY2tlcnMgYW5kIGFkdmFuY2luZyB0by B ORkMgdGl0bGUgZ2FtZSIsInBhZ2VfY29udGVudF9kaXN0cmlidXRvciI6ImFtcCIsInBhZ2VfdHlwZSI6InN0b3JpZXM6YXJ0aWNsZXMifQ== Loading video…
This browser does not support the video element.
Entering this weekend's contest, the 49ers were 0-31 under Kyle Shanahan when they trailed by at least five points entering the fourth quarter, according to FOX Sports research.
Do that 1-31.
In a back-and-forth game that featured five lead changes, Purdy extended his postseason streak of games without interceptions to four. The Iowa State product went 23 of 39 for 252 yards and one touchdown pass. McCaffrey totaled 98 rushing yards on 17 carries and two touchdowns.
With the win, Purdy becomes the eighth QB to win at least three postseason starts in his first two seasons in the league. He joins Ben Roethlisberger (5), Russell Wilson (4), Mark Sanchez (4), Joe Burrow (3). Joe Flacco (3), Tom Brady (3) and Kurt Warner (3).
Like Purdy, San Francisco's defense took everything it could from Love and Green Bay's offense. Running back Aaron Jones finished the game with 108 rushing yards, the first time in 51 games that the 49ers allowed a 100-yard rusher, which was the longest streak in the NFL.
https://statics.foxsports.com/static/orion/player-embed.html?id=fmc-o0nivum557mpx9pk&image=https://static-media.fox.com/fmc/prod/sports/VX-8219900/ksloltvvyd9o5p8e. jpg&props=eyJwYWdlX25hbWUiOiJmc2NvbTpzdG9yaWVzOm5mbDo0OWVycyByYWxseSBhZ2FpbnN0IGFsbCBvZGRzLCBiZWF0aW5nIHlvdW5nIFBhY2tlcnMgYW5kIGFkdmFuY2luZyB0by B ORkMgdGl0bGUgZ2FtZSIsInBhZ2VfY29udGVudF9kaXN0cmlidXRvciI6ImFtcCIsInBhZ2VfdHlwZSI6InN0b3JpZXM6YXJ0aWNsZXMifQ== Loading video…
This browser does not support the video element.
Love finished 21 of 34 for 194 yards, with two touchdown passes and two interceptions.
However, the 49ers made key stops in the second half that led to the win, including a 41-yard missed field goal by Green Bay kicker Anders Carlson that gave San Francisco the ball with 6:01 to play and 21:17 to play.
Purdy and San Francisco's offense did the rest.
San Francisco could have used plenty of excuses for a disappointing performance early in the postseason. These include rust from extra time off, wet weather, a hot opponent and injuries to one of their top players, Deebo Samuel.
But linebacker Fred Warner said a tough game early on could help them later in the playoffs.
“I think it will help us,” Warner said. “We know that no matter what type of game it is, we can win in any way we can. So this is a big win for our team.”
Left tackle Trent Williams said it wasn't unexpected that Green Bay gave the 49ers everything they could handle.
“They didn’t surprise us,” Williams said. “Obviously in the playoffs, especially in the divisional round, no one overlooks anyone. Especially after seeing how they dismantled the Dallas Cowboys flies around. These guys are causing havoc.”
While Purdy struggled early, he finished the final drive for the win with 6 out of 7 points. What was the difference for the QB late?
“I think I was just able to progress and get to checkups efficiently,” Purdy said. “And move the chains and stay on top instead of falling back. Obviously we got through the third round and BA (Brandon Aiyuk) stayed in control. He made a great play and you need that on a drive.”
“But at the start of the game the checkdowns were there and I just missed the checkdowns. Their defense did a good job of playing softly and keeping everything in front of them, taking away our shots and stuff. And as quarterback, you.” “I have to be efficient and pass the checkdowns. In the end I succeeded.”
With the win, San Francisco tied the Packers and New England Patriots for the most postseason wins in NFL history (37). The 49ers have now won the last five meetings against the Packers in the playoffs and have advanced to the NFC title game for the fourth time in five seasons.
Under Shanahan, the 49ers are 4-0 at home in the postseason, winning by an average margin of 15.5 points per game.
Now that his team is moving on, 49ers edge rusher Nick Bosa admitted he feels a sense of relief that his team survived and advanced to the NFC Championship round.
“I didn’t want this to end,” Bosa said. “Nobody did it. And we made the plays we needed to.”
Eric D. Williams has been covering the NFL for more than a decade, covering the Los Angeles Rams for Sports Illustrated, the Los Angeles Chargers for ESPN and the Seattle Seahawks for the Tacoma News Tribune. Follow him on Twitter at @eric_d_williams.