The youngest team in the NFL had the number one seed in the N.F.C. on the ropes for a short time in the second half but failed to capitalize on opportunities and ultimately lost a playoff game they could have won. Four plays made the difference in a battle that went back and forth for the whole game.
Packers vs 49ers Analysis
The Four Game Changer Plays
- LaFleur’s decision to do a push-tush quarterback sneak on 4th and one on the first quarter.
- Darnell Savage dropping a sure pick six.
- Love’s interception with a seven-point lead.
- The missed field goal of Anders Carlson.
The Green Bay Packers played the vaunted San Francisco team equal for three quarters. Jordan Love led the offense to three long drives in their first three possessions but posted only six points on the scoreboard. The offensive line opened holes for Aaron Jones, he rushed 108 yards.
Multiple times Jones was hit at the line of scrimmage and powered for first downs. But on 4th and one at the 49er fourteen-yard line LaFleur decided to try and bully the best defense in the NFL for one yard.
The tush-push is the only play the Packers could run where the 49ers would know what the play was before the snap. Love’s attempt was ruled short, his offensive line getting little to no push against the Pro-Bowlers on San Francisco’s defense.
You can argue that taking the points with a lead was the wisest choice. But even if you do decide to go for it the play call was inexcusable.
Savage’s drop happened early. It would have required San Francisco to play from behind by more than a score. But in a game where the weather was impacting ball security, drops like that happen.
Mistakes Were Made
Unfortunately, they happened to the Packers not the 49ers. The 49ers were able to intercept Jordan Love twice in the second half. The two picks spoiled what was otherwise a good showing for Love, especially in the first three quarters.
The Packers struggles to get the ball in the end zone in the first half led to a 7-6 one-point deficit at half. But the third quarter was kinder with smart play calling from LaFleur and accurate passes from Love. Two drives led to two touchdowns.
Love didn’t hit any long bombs, instead relying on 49er Ambry Thomas for a couple of pass interference penalties, the second one bailed the Packers out of a 3rd and 15 for a 41-yard penalty. Thomas looked like he might be the San Francisco goat for the loss after Love found Bo Melton for the touchdown, but the Packers let him off the hook.
After Keisean Nixon gave every Packer fan heart palpitations with his 73-yard kickoff return that ended with a fumble and fantastic recovery by linebacker Eric Wilson, Love made some key throws lifting the Packers back on top. The Packers went up seven points with 5:23 left in the third.
The Packer defense then stood tall, forcing a punt with Brock Purdy looking unsure and inaccurate. But that is when Jordan Love gave San Francisco a gift interception that the 49ers turned into three points. The Packers finished poorly. Their last four possessions were interception, three and out punt, missed 41-yard field goal by Carlson and an interception.
Packers vs 49ers Defense
While the difference in linebacker play between the two teams was obvious, favoring the 49ers, the Packer defense did enough to win the game. The offense sputtered in the 4th quarter and could not close out the 49ers. Zach Tom was taken off the field and his replacement, Yosh Nijman, struggled against Nick Bosa.
The offense left the defense on the field too long and the 49ers took advantage of missed tackles by Darnell Savage and poor diagnosis from Quay Walker. The 49ers were able to score ten unanswered points in the 4th quarter and the Packer offense could not rise to that challenge.
This team should be proud of how far they came as a team in 2023. The playoff experience should be good for next year’s team and Jordan Love has played well enough to lead this team for years to come.
But this one hurt. Love and the offense will have to improve and must play better next year.
The learning year is over. Expectations will be back to a Super Bowl trip in 2024-5.
This game was lost in the first half, too many missed opportunities in the red zone, and dropped interceptions. The offensive line in the red zone was down right terrible. Losing Tom to injury certainly didn’t help. Felt they got some really bad spots and thought with the look down the line of scrimmage it was a first down. 2 for 5 in the red zone, that’s 35 points, the potential pick six is 42. The 49’ers were damn lucking to be even in this game at the half.
The classic 1972 movie Jeremiah Johnson with Robert Redford as the title character is worth a look if you haven’t seen it in a while. In the final scene of the movie Johnson is alone in his camp high up in the Rocky Mountains. Bitter cold with snow drifts everywhere. Undeterred, Johnson sits relaxed and confident with a raging fire and a rabbit cooking on a spit.
In the distance Johnson sees “Bear Claw” approaching. Played by fine character actor Will Greer. It was “Bear Claw” who taught Johnson not just how to survive in the wilderness by how to be a mountain man.
As Johnson shares his freshly cooked rabbit, the two men exchange small talk and get caught up on their last meeting. Finally “Bear Claw” breaks away from gnawing on his rabbit leg, looks Johnson in the eye, and out of respect and amazement says “ you’ve come far pilgrim.”
And so it is with Jordan Love and these young Green Bay Packers. The transformation of this team from October to January is nothing short of astonishing. As painful as this loss is, it wasn’t the blow out many predicted. It took everything the 49ers had to win this one. With one team at its peak, while the other just scratching the surface.
I won’t be critical here. This was a great experience. This young team fears no one and can play with anybody. Look out NFL, the dynasty continues……
The classic TV Show ‘Dynasty’ (aired 1981-1989).
Don’t remember character names but there was some hot biches on that show that would be worth a look if you haven’t seen it for awhile.
I’d talk more about it but i’m cooking rabbit right now and learning how to be a mountain man, my life’s dream.
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Dynasty??
Like the Steelers, Patriots, 49ers teams?
I love you guys, so entertaining
Never lose that sense of humor 😃
Yeah, dynasties require great coaches and great players in all phases of the game. The Packers have had coaches that know how to win alot of regular season games but they always fizzle out in the playoffs. MLF is following in the footsteps of Big Mike. Knows how to win regular season games but blows it in the playoffs. If MLF keeps Barry he will be following Mike M’s mistake of keeping his DC buddy even though it’s obvious to everyone else a change is needed. Dynasties don’t happen with the way the Packers build and run this team.
So are we cheering for the Lions now or what?
I am.
I’ll say it.
Do i think they’ll beat the 9ers, hell no.
But Any Given Sunday.
They’ve been such a dog shit franchise with such dogshit owners……
Their fans deserve some happiness.
I mean, 65 years since they won a Championship?
1 playoff win since 1991 before this season.
Can you imagine?
The Ford family has run this team so poorly, the NFL should have forced them to sell it awhile ago.
I mean…Matt Millen, really?
“In 2001, Millen left broadcasting to assume the job of the Detroit Lions’ CEO and de facto general manager. At that time, Millen had no prior player development or front office experience. When first approached by owner William Clay Ford, Sr. about the job, Millen told him “Mr. Ford, I really appreciate this, but I’m not qualified.” Ford responded “You’re smart. You’ll figure it out” – Wiki
After the Pack, it would be the second feel-good Superbowl win possibility.
Just glad it’s not Brady and Belichick. Let’s all be glad that time takes its toll on us all, especially on Brady and Belichick.
WOW… I know it’s from Wiki but it has a source to a Sports Illustrated article where the interviewer actually stayed at Millens house. Who in their right mind approaches a broadcaster with zero executive experience to be their GM, and then when the broadcaster tells them he isn’t qualified they say “figure it out.”
.
I read the rest of that Wiki excerpt. Unbelieveable…
“During the early part of Millen’s tenure (2001–2003), the Lions failed to win a road game for three years (0–24)”
“Overall, the Lions went 8–50 on the road during the Millen era.”
“Millen himself admitted to an interviewer in 2008 that the team’s record under his leadership has been “beyond awful.””
“The Wall Street Journal said that NFL executives admit in private that Millen “has made more bad draft decisions than anyone else in two centuries.””
“Despite the team’s record on the field, Millen was the second-highest paid general manager in the NFL.”
” Following the team’s 3–13 performance in 2006, Ford announced that Millen would be retained as general manager for at least another season, because, according to inside sources to the Ford family, they still believed that Millen was the best general manager that the Lions ever had.”
I also read the Sports Illustrated article. An interesting point I found out in that is Joe Barry is Rod Marinelli’s son in law. The article (2013) said-“Barry, meanwhile, was an overpromoted linebackers coach who failed to adjust his defense week to week.”
After Millen had gotten fired from the Lions, Al Davis called and wanted him to be the GM of the Raiders. Davis said he wanted “someone he could trust.” Yikes…
From the sounds of it, it seems like Millen is a good guy. He was just way in over his head being a GM, which is what he told Ford before getting hired. It is Ford’s fault for hiring Millen in the frst place and letting it go on for as long as it did. As a Packers fan, I’m ok with that as I got to witness the crown jewel of the Millen era Lions as they went 0-16 at Lambeau Field. But for Lions fans, it has been a rough go that’s for sure.
Agree with you. Time for new Kicker & DC. He sticks with Barry, MLF shd be out the door with him. Wink Martindale wld be upgrade
“I won’t be critical here. This was a great experience. This young team fears no one and can play with anybody.” – head in the sand
Cept of course….in the 4th quarter of a Divisional playoff game.
Here is what i find troubling about the end of the Packer/49er game.
We have a 2nd year 7th round QB, and a 4th year 1st round QB.
When the game is on the line, who are you betting on?
I think that has been answered.
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Speaking of which……
WTF was Love thinking throwing that ball that resulted in a pick?
I mean, it was 1st down, he had 2 time outs, why try to force such a low percentage throw?
His best option, is a Favre to Tracy Porter self destruct in the 2009 NFCCG?
Made no f’ing sense at all.
Call Love a franchise QB if it makes anyone feel all warm and fuzzy inside…but that isn’t what i was watching,
it’s hot take o’clock, folks
In the interest of accuracy….
PF4L 5 days ago
Pssstt Tommi…..
Rodgers….is no longer with the Packers.
Spread that news around your Trailer Park.
But Gute and MLF are with the Packers.
So what does reality tells us?
What do we have now with the ‘current’ Packers?
Gute’s roster is now 0-2 against the 49ers in the playoffs.
MLF is now 0-2 against the 49ers in the playoffs.
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Update:
Gute – 0-3
MLF – 0-3
JLo- 0-1
It’s kind of eerie the similarities between MLF and McCarthy with the Packers. They seem to be the same head coach. MLF is Mike with better grooming. Both can win you a lot of games but can’t get it done in crunch time. Both have/had bad DC’s but refuse to fire them when it’s obvious to everyone else a change is needed. Both make bad play calls when it’s all on the line and have questionable game management skills. I’ll give McCarthy credit for the one SB he won but it should have been several more with the QB’s he had.
MLF has the opportunity to fix the DC problem this off season by letting Barry walk. He doesn’t even have to fire him. We’ll see what he does but who has confidence he will do the right thing.
Paul, I agree with your 4 plays, but you are being to kind not adding in the last int. by Love. It was a big game changer. Throw the ball away on first down. You still have approximately 45 seconds (a lot of time), two time outs, and approximately 30 yards to get into field goal range. You can still use the entire field with two time outs. The question is can your kicker make the kick? BIG game changer play.
I would also as honorable mention add the 49ers first TD as a game changer. There was something wrong with the Packers alignment and spacing on that play. You bring 6, O.K. You have Smith and Gary side by side on the right. You have Wyatt standing up on the left edge? All 6 come up the inside with no contain? It appeared that Wyatt tried to crash and Walker was suppose to loop, but went to deep and got caught up before starting his loop? You don’t or shouldn’t allow a QB to exit the pocket that easy on a 6 man blitz.
Two plays before the 49ers TD involved a big mistake by the refs. Purdy clearly threw the ball away to avoid a sack. He was not out of the tackle box. Rather than being 2nd and 10 from the 49ers 37, it should have been 2nd and 18 from the 49ers 45. The refs blew it, and so did LaFleur and the players on the field by not screaming about the obvious grounding. Refs will throw late flags on grounding if the opposition points out the obvious penalty. It changed the way the next two plays were called by the 49ers.
I can remember some guy, (forget his name). Who needed a field goal to beat a 13-3 Cowboy team in the Divisional round.
Trouble was, this QB had 35 seconds and no time outs to do it in a game tied at 31-31.
Starting out at it’s own 25 yard line…..
35 seconds later…Packers 34 – Cowboys 31.
I think that same guy in 2021, at the 49ers, started at the Packer 25 yard line. No time outs, with 37 seconds left in the game needing a field goal to win. It took only two completions in the field of play to get into a walk off game winning field goal. I think both completions were with Fred Warner in the nearest coverage. I believe Love watched that lesson in game/clock management in person.
Love had 1:07 and two time outs. There was plenty of time. If you run out of timeouts you can still spike the ball, if needed. Hopefully a learning experience.
Yea, there is a lot to like about Love.
I think Rodgers influence on him and what he learned from him is more than many will discuss.
I love how he keeps his eyes downfield while moving around, classic Rodgers.
But, it was the 4th quarter (playoffs), it was 2 QB’s where game winning drives were needed.
Who was going to ‘take it’?
I look at it, how it was.
For now.
If it was just a good pass defensed, or even a great pick that a corner or safety jumped the route.
That would be less painful than what we witnessed.
Go down fighting!!
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Just imagine if you will Howard, if it was Love orchestrating the game winning drive.
Could you imagine?
1) NFCCG
2) 1-0 in the playoffs (against San Fran no less)
3) 50 mill/year contract….easy.
4) Accolades across the NFL (fans and media)
The whole game felt scripted to me. Always rumors about NFL fixing games and this had that feeling. Dropped INTs, bad spots by refs, 9ers lining up offsides numerous times, field goal miss (that’s another story) and that last INT thrown by Love. Too many coincidences for me.
The NFL fix is in??
So that’s how the Lions made a NFCCG!!
Makes sense now!!
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The last pick from Love was by design because the fix was in?
Is that you Tommi?
I gots to go, i’ve got a flat earth conference to get to.
I heard it was Al Gore and his weather machine at it again
Hey!!
If it wasn’t for Al Gore, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.
Well, it’s 3 days after 7th round pick Brock Purdy’s 4th quarter game winning drive that he led.
I guess QB’s can be found anywhere.
He wasn’t bad (zero picks), wasn’t great, but he got the job done at the end of the game when a scoring drive was needed, and came through like a franchise QB does..
Feel free to tell us your thoughts Tommi…when you’re done pouting.
You’re still alive?
That you Tommi?…lol