The San Francisco 49ers secured a dramatic 24-21 victory over the Green Bay Packers, earning them a spot in the NFC championship game. The game featured a crucial late-game drive led by quarterback Brock Purdy, who orchestrated a comeback from a fourth-quarter deficit.
Brock Purdy initiates comeback for the San Francisco 49ers
The turning point occurred when Green Bay missed a field goal attempt, giving the 49ers the ball at their own 31 with 6:18 left in the game. Brock Purdy, who had struggled earlier in the game, delivered an impressive performance during the drive, completing six of seven passes. The drive concluded with a six-yard rushing touchdown by Christian McCaffrey, his second of the night, giving the 49ers a 24-21 lead with just over a minute remaining.
Game W Drive by Brock Purdy ✍️ pic.twitter.com/Nn86qaniCp
— 49ers Throwback ❤💛 (@49ers_Throwback) January 21, 2024
The Packers, with three timeouts remaining, attempted to mount a comeback. However, Jordan Love’s ill-advised throw across his body resulted in an interception by Dre Greenlaw, effectively sealing the victory for the 49ers. The game ended with Brock Purdy taking a knee, sending the 49ers to their fourth NFC championship game in five years.
“It’s like, we had what we wanted right in front of us, so you have to clean the slate, you have to have a clean mind, and not try to force anything, take what the defense gives you, and find a way,” Purdy said of the final scoring drive after the game. [H/T Fox Sports]
Post the game, Purdy also reflected on his struggles in the earlier half of the game as he said “Yeah, there was some times where I was dropping back and the ball’s a little wet from the grass, and yeah, sort of affected some accuracy and stuff, but dude, that’s football, so I’ve got to be better in that area.” [H/T Fox Sports]
The game’s highlights included Green Bay opening the scoring with a field goal and coming close to a pick-six. However, they missed the opportunity, and the 49ers responded with a 32-yard touchdown pass from Brock Purdy to George Kittle. Despite a back-and-forth in the second quarter, the halftime score stood at 7-6 in favor of the 49ers.
The Packers answered back by taking a 21-14 lead late in the third quarter. The fourth quarter proved decisive for the 49ers as they outscored the Packers 10-0, completing the comeback and securing the victory. Purdy finished the game with 252 passing yards on 23-for-39 passing, while McCaffrey rushed for 98 yards on 17 carries, scoring two touchdowns.
BROCK PURDY TONIGHT
• 23 of 39
• 252 yards
• TOUCHDOWN
• NO INTERCEPTIONS
• 6 for 7 for 47 yards on an electric game-winning driveHEADING TO THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/nAGgXdk12H
— MLFootball (@_MLFootball) January 21, 2024
The 49ers advance to the NFC championship and are set to host the winner of the Lions-Buccaneers game in the next round. The thrilling victory showcased the resilience of the 49ers and the clutch performance of Brock Purdy, in a crucial playoff game.
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