Packers 21 - 24 49ers, summary: score, stats, highlights | NFL Divisional Round

Brock Purdy is heading back to the NFC Championship game for the second time in as many years. The Niners have been right there but haven't been able to lift the Lomardi Trophy. They are one step closer after Saturday night, now it's time to sit back and watch tomorrow's Bucs vs. Lions game and then get ready for next weekend. 

The Packers still had time to get into field goal range, but for the first time in the playoffs, we saw Jordan Love look like a quarterback playing in his first postseason. He rolled to the left and threw it across his body which allowed Dre Greenwell to swoop in for his second pick of the night and end the game. 

It may not have been Brock Purdy's best game ever, but when the Niners needed him most, he came through. San Fran got the ball with 6:18 to go, needing 69 yards and a touchdown. Purdy went 6/7 on the final drive converting two third downs and setting up this McCaffery touchdown 

Purdy had 252 yards on 23/39 passing with one TD, while McCaffery had 98 yards and two TDs on 19 carries and chipped in another 30 yards receiving. 

This was how close Anders Carlson was to hitting the 41 yard field goal that would have put the Packers up 7 with six minutes left. That left the door open for the Niners who would need their second year quarterback to build game winning drive while taking some time off the clock. 

This Aaron Jones run on the first play after the San Fran field goal took the Packers into San Fran territory. Jones was basically on his own with AJ Dillon sidelined with a neck injury. The Packers RB1 had 108 yards on 18 carries and set the Packers up to at least get a field goal with this run. 

You can alway count on the defense to make some big plays for San Francisco and on Saturday night is was Dre Greenlaw coming up with not one but two picks that would prove to be crucial. The Niners only got a field goal after the pick, but it cut the lead to four

Jordan Love put the Packers back up with this pass to Tucker Kraft a couple plays after the kick return, and the two point conversion from Love to Aaron Jones stretched the lead to seven points. 

Love looked good again in the second game of his first playoff run, going 21/34 for 194 yards with two TDs and what ended up being two very costly interceptions. 

San Fran had just scored, and again looked like they had the wind in their sails, but Keisean Nixon let the air out of Levi's Stadium with this 73 yard kick return that was fumbled but recovered by back up linebacker, Eric Wilson. 

The Niners first series of the third quarter last three plays and went six yards. On their next possession they went 75 yards in four plays. George Kittle had a 32 yard catch and run on 3rd and 6 and on the next play Christian McCaffery took it to the house on a 39 yard sprint to the end zone. 

San Fran went three and out to start the third quarter after missing the field goal to end the game, and then they committed a pass interference penalty on 3rd and 15 thanks to keep the Packers on the field with a first down at the SF 19. On the next play it was Jordan Love finding Bo Melton for a 19 yard TD to take the lead back from San Fran. 

The Niners had a chance to add to their lead right before the halftime break knowing that they would get the ball back to start the 3rd quarter, but a blocked kick from the Packers took the air out of Levi's Stadium. Green Bay came up with a couple momentum swinging plays that made it look like they were going to be able to do enough to fend off the Niners. 

The Niners would take their time moving down the field after the defense came up with a big play. It took 12 plays to get into the endzone but Purdy finally found George Kittle who made the 32 yard catch in the endzone to give San Fran the lead. 

The Packers got into the red zone three times in the first half, but had to settle for two field goals, and turned it over on downs on this failed QB sneak on 4th and 1. That seemed to bring the Niners offense to life after they had the ball for just three minutes in the first quarter. 

The San Francisco 49ers are heading to their third straight NFC Championship game after a narrow win over the Green Bay Packers. Christian McCaffery was the hero, scoring two TDs including a go ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter. 

The Packers came out of the gate moving the ball well on the first drive of the game against a Niners defense that hadn't played in two weeks. Jordan Love and Aaron Jones had the Packers marching down the field but they got stopped in the redzone and had to settle for a field goal. 

IT'S ALL OVER!!! 

The San Francisco 49ers are on to the NFC Championship after a heart stopping finish from Levi's Stadium! McCaffery's two TDs and Greenlaw's two INTs send the Packers crashing out of the playoffs!

INTERCEPTION!!!

Love rolls right and tried to throw it across the field. He threw it into double coverage and Greenlaw comes up with his second interception of the night! 

That's going to do it! The Niners can kneel the clock out and move on to the NFC Championship!

Love over the middle for Musgrave for a 3 yard pick up and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the GB 36 and they take a TO with 52 on the clock, their first.

Love's pass over the hand of Greenlaw hit off the fingers of Doubs and falls incomplete. 

3rd and 1 from the GB 34. 

GB get the ball from the 25 and Love finds Doubs on the left sideline for a 9 yard gain as he gets out of bounds with 1:02 on the clock. 

2nd and 1 from the GB 34. 

With the season on the line, the Niners go to the guy who got them here. McCaffery takes it into the endzone from 6 yards out to give the Niners the lead with just over a minute to go. 

Purdy rolls right and had space so he tucked it and ran for 9 yards!

3rd and 1 from the GB 6. 

McCaffery gets the pass in the backfield and gets back to the line of scrimmage, but nothing more. 

2nd and 10 from the GB 15 with 1:55 to go. 

McCaffery moves the chains with a 3 yard run to the left side. That's going to take us to the Two Minute Warning. 

1st and 10 from the GB 15. 

Purdy finds Kittle on the left side with a short pass and he fight for 8 yards on first down. 

2nd and 2 from the GB 18. 

Conley with the out route to the right side and he makes the catch for 17 yards and gets out of bounds with 3:00 on the clock. 

1st and 10 from the GB 26. 

Purdy's pass over the middle for Aiyuk is caught on a fantastic sliding effort to move the chains!

1st and 10 from the GB 43. 

Purdy hit Kittle in the hands on a pass that would have moved the chains and he dropped it!

3rd and 5 from the SF 47. 

Purdy over the middle and he finds McCaffery for a 5 yard pitch and catch out of the backfield. 

2nd and 5 from the SF 47. 

Purdy moves the chains with a QB sneak. 

1st and 10 fro the SF 42. 

McCaffery up the middle and he picks up 2 yards to leave 3rd and short. 

3rd and 1 from the SF 40. 

Purdy with the play action on first down and he finds Jennings on the left side for a gain of 7. 

2nd and 3 from the SF 38. 

Carlsen was this close to putting the Packers up 7 points from 41 yards away. Will that be the play that costs GB?

MISSED FIELD GOAL!!!

Carlsen pulled it from 41 yards and this crowd at Levi's Stadium is going wild! 

SF ball from the 31 with 6:18 to go in the final quarter!

San Fran brought the pressure and Love had to throw off his back foot which left his pass over the middle for Wicks well short. 

4th and 9 from the SF 23. 

Jones up the middle and he picks up a yard to bring up 3rd and long. 

3rd and 9 from the SF 23. 

Love on the roll out to the left side and he had all kinds of time but just got rid of it to Kraft who was taken down at the line of scrimmage. 

2nd and 10 from the SF 24. 

After a neutral zone infraction brings up 1st and 5 from the SF 32, Wilson pops the run to the right side and leaps over a defender for a first down!

1st and 10 from the SF 24. 

GB take over from the 10 yard line and Aaron Jones gets the pitch to the left side, finds a hole cuts it all the way back field to the right sideline for a 53 yard pick up to start the drive!

1st and 10 from the SF 37 .

Purdy had McCloud on the left sideline but that pass was under thrown and McCloud couldn't adjust while trying to come back to the ball. 

4th and 10 from the GB 40 and SF will punt with 9:37 to go. 

Purdy looking to the left sideline on a long pass across the field for Kittle but that pass was too tall for the TE. 

3rd and 10 from the GB 40. 

Short pass to McCaffery in the flat and he is stopped for no gain by a great tackle in the open field from Savage. 

2nd and 10 from the GB 40. 

Purdy held on to it as long as he possibly could and he finds Jennings over the middle for a 21 yard pitch and catch!

1st and 10 from the GB 40. 

Purdy's short pass to McCaffery over the middle was off the mark and falls incomplete. 

3rd and 11 from the SF 38. 

McCaffery was tripped up in the backfield and is taken down for a loss of one. 

2nd and 11 from the SF 38. 

McCaffery busts it up the gut and he picks up 10 yards and a first down. 

1st and 10 from the SF 39. 

SF get the ball back from the 25 and McCaffery picks up 4 yards on the first down run up the middle. 

2nd and 6 from the SF 29. 

Love steps up in the pocket and looked for Jones over the middle but that pass was behind the RB and the Packers will punt for the first time. 

4th and 2 from the GB 33. 

Love's pass to Reed on the out route to the left side is complete but he is dragged down short of the marker. 

3rd and 2 from the GB 33. 

The Packers get the ball back at the 25 and Reed gets the end around from left to right for a gain of two. 

2nd and 8 from the GB 27. 

Greenlaw's INT came at the perfect moment for the Niners, but they could only get three points after getting the ball back with great field possession. 

FIELD GOAL!!!

Moody drills the 52 yard field goal after getting his first one blocked to end the first half. 

GB lead 21-17 with the whole 4th quarter ahead of us. 

Purdy had to step up in the pocket but had no where to go, and was brought down after a short gain of 1. 

4th and 9 from the SF 34 and that's going to be the final play of the third quarter!

Deep in from Kittle and Purdy was looking for him over the middle but couldn't make the diving catch on another throw that could have been better from Purdy. 

3rd and 10 from the SF 35. 

Purdy had pressure coming from behind and his pass to McCaffery over the middle was high and he was lucky there were no Packers in the area. 

2nd and 10 from the SF 35. 

Purdy finds Aiyuk on the crossing route and he makes the shoe string catch to move the chains. 

1st and 10 from the SF 35. 

Pass to Aiyuk on the slant pattern from the left side and he had the ball jarred out of his hands by Campbell. 

3rd and 8 from the GB 46. 

Purdy with the run option and he takes it to the sideline for a gain of two yards. 

2nd and 8 from the GB 46. 

INTERCEPTION!!!

You kew it was only a matter of time, and the Niners defense come up with a huge play! Love's pass to Kraft over the middle was behind the TE who tipped it up and Greenlaw picked it taking it back to the GB 48!

Huge swing for San Fran with 2:02 to go in the 3rd quarter!

Love's pass Kraft on the shallow out route to the right side falls incomplete. 

3rd and 10 from the GB 49. 

Jones to the right side on the stretch handoff and he is taken down for no gain. 

2nd and 10 from the GB 49. 

GB get the ball from their 38 and he finds Watson in the flat, making the catch and taking it for 11 yards with blocker in front of him. 

1st and 10 from the GB 49. 

Purdy's pass to Jennings was over thrown on the deep slant and that should have been picked by GB!

4th and 5 from the SF 18. 

Pass to McCaffery in the flat and he picks up 4 yards to set up 3rd and medium. 

3rd and 5 from the SF 18. 

McCaffery gets the handoff up the middle and he is stopped for a short gain of one. 

2nd and 9 from the SF 14. 

Nice return from McCloud but that is coming back after a flag flies for a late hit. 

1st and 10 from the SF 13. 

Just a few plays after the return, Love finds Kraft on the short pass to the right side for his second TD of the second half. 

Every time the Niners seem to build a little momentum the Packers come up with a big play to turn the tides in their favor. Nixon took this kick return 73 yards to the SF 20, luckily for him Wilson was following the play and was able to make the recovery. 

Jones up the middle and he is stopped after a gain of 3. 

2nd and Goal from the 2. 

Love with a bullet over the middle and finds Doubs in double coverage over the middle for 15 yards!

1st and Goal from the 5. 

Jones gets the handoff and he is wrapped up at the line of scrimmage by Bosa. 

2nd and 10 from the SF 5. 

Nixon broke the return up the left side line, cut inside after crossing midfield and lost the ball but it was recovered by Wilson and the Packers get it from the SF 20!

After going three and out on third first drive of the second half, the Niners go 75 yards in 4 plays thanks to a 32 yard catch and run from Kittle and this 39 yard sprint for a TD from McCaffery. 

Kittle on the crossing route and he makes the catch, runs over a defender and picks up 32 yards on 3rd down.

1st and 10 fro the GB 39. 

Purdy looking for McCaffery out of the backfield and that pass was too tall for the RB and falls incomplete. 

3rd and 6 from the SF 29. 

SF get the ball back from the 25 and Purdy goes over the middle for McCaffery who makes the catch for a gain of 4. 

2nd and 6 from the SF 29. 

After Aaron Jones' fumble on the pitch brought up 3rd and forever, and Love took a shot to Melton who was interfered with and on the next play after the penalty Love found Melton wide open in the end zone for a 19 yard TD. 

Love going deep down the field for Melton and Thomas was all over him getting called for a pass interference penalty o 3rd and a mile!

1st and 10 from the SF 19. 

Pass to the right side for Jones and he gets 6 yards but it's still going to be 3rd and very long. 

3rd and 15 from the GB 40. 

The pitch from Love to Jones was fumbled and went rolling all the way back to the 34 where the RB jumps on the loose ball. 

2nd and 21 from the GB 34. 

Love with the QB sneak and he spins for the first down. He was ruled short of the marker originally but a GB challenge reverses the call and the Packers drive continues. 

1st and 10 from the GB 45. 

Love's pass to Jones on the sideline was complete but he was out of bounds behind the line of scrimmage and that is ruled incomplete. 

3rd and 1 from the GB 44. 

Reed gets the reverse handoff and he picks up another 9 yards and a first down!

2nd and 1 from the GB 44. 

Reed gets the reverse handoff and he picks up another 10 yards and a first down!

1st and 10 from the GB 45. 

Jones gets the handoff out of the shotgun and he just barely gets the first down. 

1st and 10 from the GB 35. 

Jones with the carry up the middle and he picks up 2 yards but is short of the marker. 

3rd and 1 from the GB 34. 

GB get the ball from the 25 to start this third quarter and Love finds Kraft over the middle for a gain of 7 on first down. 

2nd and 3 from the GB 33. 

Purdy was under pressure and looked for Aiyuk but just led him too much and the Niners go three and out to start the third quarter. 

4th and 4 from the SF 31. 

Purdy steps up in the pocket and finds McCloud for 7 yards over the middle. 

3rd and 4 from the SF 31. 

WE ARE BACK IN SAN FRAN FOR THE SECOND HALF OF ACTION!

SF get the ball from the 25 and Jennings is stopped for a loss of one on the end around. 

2nd and 9 from the SF 26. 

The Niners were on the verge of going up 4 points and get the ball back to start the 2nd half but this blocked field goal gave the Packers a wave of momentum going into the third quarter. 

The turnover got Purdy going after a couple of shaky drives to start the night. He found Kittle for a 32 yard touchdown to take the lead midway through the second quarter. 

Purdy is 10/16 for 125 and a TD, while McCaffery has 33 yards on 9 carries. We are going to have to see how Deebo is doing after going to the sideline with an injury. 

The Niners defense is prone to making big plays, but they seem to step up more when the playoffs come around. Here they stopped Love on 4th and 1 which led to a turnover on downs, and sparked the offense to life. 

Jordan Love and the Packers came out looking the more comfortable of the two teams, marching down their first drive and set up a field goal to put the opening points on the board. They would get into the red zone three times in the first half but settled for two FGs and turned it over on downs once. 

Love had 115 yards on 10/16 passing while Aaron Jones had 49 yards on 11 carries. 

WE ARE HEADED TO HALFTIME FROM SAN FRAN!!!

The Packers dominated the first half, with almost 12 minutes of possession in the first 15 minutes but Purdy and the Niners were able to bounce back after the defense stopped GB on a 4th and 1 deep in SF territory. 

BLOCKED KICK!!!

Moody's kick is blocked by Wooden and that's how this first half is going to end! Huge stop from GB to end the half. 

SF lead 7-6!

Purdy's pass to the sideline for Aiyuk was too far out of bounds and the FG unit comes on with 10 seconds to go. 

4th and 1 from the GB 30. 

Pass over the middle to McCaffery and he makes the catch for an 8 yard gain. 

3rd and 2 from the GB 30 after the Niners spike the ball with 14 on the clock. 

Purdy finds Jennings on the pass to the left side and he picks up 4 yards. Timeout Niners with 28 seconds to go in the half. 

1st and 10 from the GB 39. 

McCaffery with the run up the middle and he gets 3 yards to make it 3rd and short. 

3rd and 2 from the GB 43. 

McCaffery on the run to the right side and he is pushed out of bounds after a gain of 5. 

2nd and 5 from the GB 46. 

Purdy finds McCaffery on the short pass to the left side and stretches for a first down with a gain of 9 

1st and 10 from the SF 49. 

Pitch to the left side for McCaffery who gets 2 yards on first down. That will take us to the Two Minute Warning. 

2nd and 8 from the SF 40. 

While the clock was winding down, Deebo Samuel was heading to the locker room to get further evaluation. 

Short stop route from Jennings who made the catch on the left side and turned up field for a first down and a gain of 12. 

1st and 10 from the SF 38. 

SF get the ball from the 25 and McCaffery gets the handoff to the left side for a yard. 

2nd and 9 from the 26. 

FIELD GOAL!!!

The Packers get inside the redzone again but are again held to three points. Carlsen hits the 29 yard field goal for his second of the night. 

SF lead 7-6 with 4:09 to go in the first half. 

Love was backing out of pressure and threw it off his back foot and aired the pass over the endzone searching for Kraft. 

4ht and Goal from the 11 and the Pack will kick the field goal. 

Love was wrapped up in the backfield, he somehow got rid of it to Jones who made the catch but was taken down for a loss of two. 

3rd and Goal from the 11. 

Jones up the middle and Lenoir is there to drop him for no gain. 

2nd and Goal from the 9. 

Love rolls to the left side and he finds Doubs who made a toe tap catch inside the 10 yard line!

1st and Goal from the 9. 

Love's pass to Wicks is incomplete after Lenoir crushed him and jarred the ball out of his hands. 

3rd and 6 from the SF 31. 

Love rolls to the right side and he picks up 3 before taking a big push from Lenoir but no flag flies. 

2nd and 6 from the SF 31. 

Run up the middle for Jones and he picks up 5 yards to move the chains. 

1st and 10 from the SF 34. 

Jones got the handoff to the left side out of the shotgun and skipped out of three tackles to get to the edge and turn it up field for 9 yards. 

2nd and 1 from the SF 39

GB start the drive from the 25, and Love finds Reed wide open on a deep ball over the middle and he picks up 27 yards on the opening play of the possession. 

1st and 10 from the SF 48. 

The Niners went 12 plays on a nearly six minute long drive to get into the endzone on this 32 yard dime from Kittle to Purdy. 

The Niners got a big stop on 3rd and 4th down which kept Green Bay off the board and seemed to spark life into the offense. 

McCaffery was held up at the line of scrimmage but bounced off a tackle and he picked up 5 yards. 

3rd and 5 from the GB 32. 

Purdy on the play action and his pass to the right sideline was to no one in particular as someone had the play wrong. 

2nd and 10 from the GB 37. 

Aiyuk on a hitch route on the short right side and he gets 10 yards and another first down. 

1st and 10 from the GB 37. 

Purdy with a perfect pass right in between two defenders to find Jennings for a 16 yard pitch and catch for a first down. 

1st and 10 from the GB 47. 

Purdy looked over the middle but Campbell came in unblocked and he crushed the QB as he let that pass go. 

2nd and 10 from the SF 37. 

McCaffery moves the chains on a three yard run to the left side. 

1st and 10 from the SF 37. 

McCaffery up the middle and he bounces off tackles for a 6 yard gain but is short of the marker. 

3rd and 1 from the SF 34. 

McCaffery on the run to the right side out of the shotgun and he is wrapped up after a short gain of 3. 

2nd and 7 from the SF 28. 

Purdy with the QB sneak up the middle and he moves the chains. 

1st and 10 from the SF 24. 

Purdy looking for McCaffery on the left side and the wet ball might have slipped out of his hand and fell short of the RB in the flat. 

3rd and 1 from the SF 23. 

Purdy finds Kittle on the left side and he takes it up the sideline for 9 yards on first down. 

2nd and 1 from the SF 23. 

TURNOVER ON DOWNS!!!

The Packers go to a quick huddle and try to QB sneak it but Love was ruled short of the marker after the measurement!

1st and 10 SF from their 13. 

Jones gets the handoff up the middle out of the shotgun and he was stopped short!

4th and inches coming up from the 14. 

Jones gets the pitch to the right side and he gets 9 yards on the final play of the first quarter!

GB had the ball for 12 of the first 15 minutes and have 43 rushing yards thanks to a quick start for Jones. 

3rd and 1 from the GB 14 after the break. 

Love was flushed out of the pocket and he had to throw it away with Bosa closing in. 

2nd and 10 from the SF 23. 

Pass to the flat for Wilson out of the backfield and he takes it 11 yards for a first down!

1st and 10 from the SF 23. 

Wilson gets the handoff and he picks up 4 yards on the left side. 

2nd and 11 from the SF 34. 

Love's pass over the middle was incomplete and a flag flies for illegal man downfield after the screen pass was sniffed out. 

1st and 15 from the SF 38. 

Love hangs in the pocket until Doubs breaks free on the right sideline and he takes it 38 yards into SF territory. 

1st and 10 from the SF 33. 

Pass over the middle for Jones who makes the catch and gets smacked for a short gain of 4. 

3rd and 6 from the GB 29. 

Love finds Reed in the flat on the left side but he was stopped for no gain by Warner. 

2nd and 10 from the GB 25. 

Love looking over the middle for Watson who was held up on his cut inside and a flag flies for pass interference. 

1st and 10 from the GB 25. 

GB get the ball back from the 18 and Love goes to the air on first down, but his deep pass to Musgrave on the left side was a little too tall. 

2nd and 10 from the GB 18. 

Purdy held on to it for too long and he got swallowed up by Clark and Smith!

4th and 13 from the SF 37 and the Niners will punt. 

Purdy finds Samuel over the middle and he fights for 9 yards, but he is slow to get up and the medical staff is going to come out and tend to him. 

3rd and 6 from the SF 44. 

After a false start on SF, Purdy goes to the air looking for Aiyuk on the right side and Savage had it right in his hands but he dropped it!

2nd and 15 from the SF 35. 

Purdy finds Deebo in the flat and he follows his blockers for a 15 yard gain and a first down!

1st and 10 from the SF 40. 

McCaffery gets the handoff to the right side and picks up 5 yards on the opening play of his night. 

2nd and 5 from the SF 25. 

Brock Purdy and the Niners will start the day from the 20 on their first drive. 

1st and 10 from the 20. 

FIELD GOAL!!!

Not a bad result on the Packers first drive. They drive down the field on the shoulders of Jones which set up a 29 yard Carlson field goal. 

GB lead 3-0 after the opening drive of the game. 

Love's pass to the endzone over the middle for Doubs is knocked away by Ward!

4th and 8 and the FG unit will come on. 

Love finds Sims over the middle for a gain of 4 yards. 

3rd and 8 from the SF 11. 

Jones gets the handoff to the left side and he is stood up two yards behind the line of scrimmage. 

2nd and 12 from the SF 15. 

Love took a shot to Doubs inside the 5 yard line and a flag flies for pass interference after Doubs was held up by Thomas. 

1st and 10 from the 13

Wilson is dropped at the line of scrimmage by Bosa who brought him down for no gain. 

3rd and 6 from the SF 26. 

Wilson with his first handoff and he gets four yards up the middle. 

2nd and 6 from the SF 26. 

Jones gets the pitch to the left side and hits a hole hard running down hill for a gain of 10 yards. 

1st and 10 from the SF 30. 

Jones gets the handoff up the middle and he picks up 4 yards on first down. 

2nd and 6 from the SF 38. 

Jones was hit at the line of scrimmage, but fought for a first down on a two yard carry. 

1st and 10 from the SF 44. 

Jones gets the handoff to the left side and he picks up 5 yards to bring up 3rd and short. 

3rd and 1 from the SF 46. 

Love going back to the air and this time he finds Musgrave on the left side for a gain of 4. 

2nd and 6 from the GB 49. 

Love rolls right and finds Musgrave who makes the catch at the marker and turns up field for a gain of 7. 

1st and 10 from the GB 45. 

Jones gets the pitch to the right side and he finds a hole, falling forward for 7 yards. 

3rd and 3 from the GB 38. 

Lob pass to Jones out of the backfield but that pass to the left side was too heavy and it falls incomplete 

2nd and 10 from the GB 31. 

WE ARE UNDERWAY FROM SAN FRANCISCO!!!

The Packers get the ball to start this soggy night in the Bay. GB begin their first drive from the 31. 

Tonight's odds 

The Niners return to action after a week off, and they are 10.5 point favorites with the Over/Under set at 50.5. 

I think that's a lot of points to expect on a rainy afternoon in San Fran. I think the Niners win, but that's a lot of points to give in the playoffs. 

I think Niners win 24-13 and move on to the NFC Championship. 

Ravens moving on 

The other one seed, coming out of the AFC, is already through to Championship Weekend. They ran away with their first playoff game in the second half to down the Houston Texans. We could awaiting a Super Bowl match up between the two top seeds in each conference, but the Niners have to take care of buisness tonight against the Packers. 

Weather report

Weather has been a factor so far in the NFL playoffs. Whether it was KC’s frigid showdown with the Dolphins in subzero temperatures or Buffalo’s rescheduled game due to lake effect snow that dumped down on Orchard Park for days on end. Tonight it won’t be too cold but it will be rainy in the Bay Area. Kickoff temperatures are expected to be around 56 degrees with some light rain falling to start the game. The rain might get a little heavier as the night moves on, so we will have to wait and find out how that is going to affect each teams game plan. You have to give the advantage to San Fran if this becomes a ground and pound battle, but we will see what Jordan Love and Aaron Jones have to say about that. 

Run CMC

Lamar Jackson might have wrapped up his second MVP of his young career with his dominant performance of the Ravens beat down of the Niners, but if it wasn’t for the Baltimore QB, Christian McCaffery would have had to be a serious candidate for the award. The Niners ball carrier led the league in rushing yards with 1,459, which was almost 300 more than any other RB, and added another 564 yards to bring his season total to +2,000 yards and 21 TDs. He also tied the record for most consecutive games with a touchdown in 17 games. 

All they need is Love

There are only two quarterbacks who had more touchdown passes in the regular season then Brock Purdy. One of them is Dak Prescott who was KO’d by Jordan Love who is second on the TD list this season with 32 in his first year as the Packers starter. He has filled the shoes of Aaron Rodgers in his first year as his replacement while taking the Packers to the playoffs, something that neither Rodgers nor Brett Favre were able to do. This “rookie” QB has showed he is ready for the spot light and he is doing it with a bunch of WRs in their first or second year. Last week he went 16/21 for 272 yards and threw 3 TDs in his first playoff game. Tonight he will have to be just as good, if not better tonight in San Fran. 

Purdy's return to postseason football

It’s redemption time for Brock Purdy who we saw last in the playoffs getting helped off the field after suffering a AC joint against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship. The Niners saw their back up to Purdy, Josh Johnson, get knocked out with a concussion and they had to put Purdy who couldn’t throw the ball, back in under center for the rest of the game. Purdy has looked like the best quarterback in the league not just on the field, but in the stats game as well. His 4,280 yards are fifth in the league, his 31 TDs are third in the league and his 113.0 rating is the best in the league. It’s true he is surrounded by some of the most dangerous weapons in the league, but he’s still go to make those throws and he has to make those throws and up until now, he has been doing that for the Niners. 

Packers last week 

I don’t even think the most delusional of Packers fan would have predicted what Green Bay to the Cowboys in Dallas last week. Aaron Jones came out of the gates on a mission scoring two first half TDs on a night in which he had 118 yards on 21 carries to set the tone for the Pack. A Darnell Savage pick six put the Pack up 27-0 as the embarrassed the two seed Cowboys on their home soil. Jones would get his third TD of the game in a second half in which the Packers would stretch the lead to 48-16 Green Bay cruised past Dallas to set up a match up with the top seed in the NFC. 

How the Niners got here

The Niners came into to the season as one of the favorites to represent the NFC In the Super Bowl this year after falling short to the Eagles in the conference championship last year. They were expected to be in the playoffs, and here they are earning the one seed and wrapping up home field advantage with a 12-5 record. They started the season red hot winning their first five games, and scoring 30+ points in each of those games. They went on a three game losing skid that had everyone up in arms, but Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffery calmed the waters, winning the next six. They did lose two of their last three, but one was against the Ravens in a potential Super Bowl preview and the last one was on the final week of the season when all the starters were on the sidelines.

We are live from the Bay 

Hello everyone and welcome to Levi’s Stadium where the Niners will start their playoff campaign after enjoying their week off while getting everyone back to full strength for their first game of the postseason. The Niners have looked like one of the best teams, if not the best team, in the league when they are healthy but they welcome a Green Bay Packers team playing with nothing to lose. They are in the opening year of the Jordan Love era and the first year starter has taken them back to the postseason, and took down one of the NFC toughest looking teams last week in Dallas. 

Packers vs. Niners

We’ve got NFC Divisional Round action tonight from Levi’s Stadium. The NFC’s top team are fresh off their bye after earning the one seed and will start their playoff run tonight against a Green Bay Packers team that no one expected to be here in their first year without Aaron Rodgers. AS English will be with you all night providing live coverage, stats, highlights and analysis of tonight’s game from San Fran.