The San Francisco 49ers superior to their fourth NFC championship sport in 5 years after escaping a Inexperienced Bay Packers onslaught, 24-21. Whereas they’re the favorites to signify the NFC in Tremendous Bowl LVIII in Las Vegas, it’s clearly going to take a herculean effort by Christian McCaffrey to hold this offense to a victory in Sin Metropolis.
Everyone knows the saying a couple of win being a win. However not all W’s are created equally. Each NFL No. 1 seeds performed on Saturday and, whereas each received, we left these video games with completely different emotions about Baltimore and San Francisco. One staff was dominant and seemed the half whereas the opposite snuck by.
“That is simply … one of many worst video games I’ve ever seen him coach” – John Middlekauff
We didn’t get dominant SF Saturday night, however what we noticed was a staff that was in a position to overcome adversity. Inexperienced Bay seemingly had a solution for all the pieces the Niners threw their manner. Deebo Samuel leaving the sport (shoulder harm) and lacking the second half didn’t assist, however the Packers have been on high of their sport till the final vital play of the sport, when Dre Greenlaw sealed it by selecting off Jordan Love. Good issues not often occur when attempting to throw throughout your physique downfield. Love discovered that lesson out the onerous manner.
Apart from Greenlaw’s two interceptions of Love, the Inexperienced Bay’s offense had San Francisco’s quantity all sport. They weren’t afraid and went proper at them, particularly within the run sport which has been a weak spot up the center for SF. Packers head coach Matt LaFleur known as an excellent sport and by no means actually let that vaunted 49ers protection get settled. Love wasn’t flawless on this sport however nonetheless seemed assured all through. Aaron Jones had his manner with the Niners’ entrance seven, dashing for six yards per rush for 108 yards.
Brock Purdy had an honest sport however seemed shaken at instances through the contest. With out McCaffrey, the Niners are in all probability at residence subsequent week with us watching the Packers within the NFC title sport. It wasn’t a lot about CMC’s stat line — though he did have a mixed 128 yards dashing & receiving — however he made performs when the staff wanted him to make them.
McCaffrey is the important thing and would be the one to steer this offense to the promised land. The Niners are saying Samuel is “okay,” however we in all probability received’t know extra for an additional couple of days. Even with Deebo on the sphere, Kyle Shanahan’s offense might want to saddle up and journey CMC to make it again to the place they need to be.
Defensively, the 49ers should determine it out shortly — particularly if the Lions get previous the Buccaneers. Detroit is one other staff that may run and go the ball and completed the 12 months ranked fifth in dashing and factors, then second in passing. Inexperienced Bay was in a position to reap the benefits of SF within the run-and-pass sport at completely different factors of their divisional-round matchup however, finally, these two INTs by Greenlaw have been the Packers’ downfall. If the Niners play one other sloppy sport subsequent week, particularly if it’s towards the Lions, they won’t be as lucky.
