After getting their hearts left broken by San Francisco twice in 2019, the Green Bay Packers broke a few hearts Sunday night with a thrilling, 30-28 victory over the 49ers at rowdy Levi’s Stadium as Mason Crosby drilled a 51 yard field goal on the game’s final play. The kick couldn’t erase the NFC Championship game defeat of a couple years ago, but it just might propel the 2021 season one game further.
The Packers played superior football and if not for a special teams mistake, nearly pitched a first half shutout on the road in the 49ers home opener.
Crosby’s 54 yard field goal opened the scoring after the Packers drove to the San Francisco 15 on the opening series. The big play was a 42 yard go route to Allen Lazard on the third snap. But in the red zone, the offense backed up with a batted ball that Aaron Rodgers caught himself for a loss of 4 and facemask penalty on Yosh Nijman who made his first career start at left tackle for the injured Elgton Jenkins.
The defense got a stop and the Packers went over the top again, Rodgers hitting Marquez Valdes-Scantling for 47 yards. They finished the drive this time with Davante Adams getting loose for a one yard scoring grab, his first touchdown of the year.
To start the second quarter, Jaire Alexander came up with a magnificent interception when Jimmy Garoppolo looked deep for George Kittle but Alexander covered more than 20 yards to snatch the interception and run it back 30 yards. The Packers couldn’t cash in however when on 4th and 1 from the 49er three yard line, Rodgers could only fire off target under pressure to Randall Cobb in the end zone.
The Packers finished the half with a 9 play, 87 yard drive, helped by a 32 yard pass interference penalty. Two back shoulder throws to Adams covered 15 and 19 yards and Aaron Jones capped the march with a three yard run for a 17-0 lead with just 1:02 left in the quarter.
But the Niners got a 68 yard kickoff return from Elijah Mitchell, ripped through a big crease up the left side. With :07 left in the half, it looked like Garoppolo grounded the ball when hit by Preston Smith but the play was ruled incomplete. On the next snap, number one pick Trey Lance took over at quarterback and got around the left end clean for a one yard touchdown as time expired.
San Francisco marched 83 yards with the first possession of the third quarter and Garoppolo found Brandon Aiyuk in the end zone from 8 yards out and Green Bay’s lead was cut to 17-14.
After an exchange of punts, Green Bay got another big play when Fred Warner interfered with Bobby Tonyan downfield for a 24 yard advance. On third and four from the 12, Rodgers lofted a perfect strike to Valdes-Scantling in the corner of the end zone to push the lead back to 10.
Another pass interference call, on rookie Eric Stokes, who started for Kevin King scratched hours before game time because of an illness, covered 25 yards on third and 14. The Niners finished it off with Trey Sermon scoring from a yard out to make it 24-21 with 7:48 left to play.
The Packers had to give up the ball on a three and out but Corey Bojorquez nailed a 63 yard punt. Garoppolo got the Niners to midfield when under pressure from Kenny Clark, tried to flip a screen pass but he got turned around the ball actually went backwards. De’Vondre Campbell alertly fell on the live ball at the San Francisco 48. Mason Crosby cashed in the turnover with a 38 yard field goal to make it 27-21 with 2:39 left.
Held in check most of the night, George Kittle got loose on a 39 yard catch and run. Deebo Samuel converted a third and 10 with a 12 yard catch. On first and goal from the 12, Garoppolo found Jusczcyk over the middle and he crashed in for the tying touchdown. Robbie Gould’s extra point gave the Niners at 28-27 lead with only :37 left.
With no timeouts, Rodgers still made two plays with Adams. Remarkable considering Davante was briefly knocked out of the game earlier in the 4th quarter when after an incomplete pass, safety Jimmy Ward belted Adams with what looked like a helmet to helmet shot against a defenseless receiver. No flag was thrown but Adams stayed down for several moments. He said later he had trouble breathing, getting hit in the chest more than the head. He walked off on his own and entered the sideline medical tent. He passed concussion protocols quickly, regained his breath and was back on the field missing only one play.
After the kickoff touchback, Rodgers found Adams crossing the middle to his left, delivering a strike over a dropping Warner. Adams thought about getting to the sideline but was tackled inbounds after a gain of 25. The offense got set for a spiked ball with :20 to play. After an incompletion to Adams, the two connected again on a similar route for 17 with the clock rolling. Rodgers punched the ball down with :02 left. In field goal formation, the Niners called time out but it didn’t phase Crosby.
He calmly delivered the game winning boot and it was anything but calm from there. The entire team literally chased the veteran kicker into the end zone for a wild celebration.
Not long thereafter, we heard from the principals, beginning with Matt LaFleur:
Rodgers completed his first nine passes on the night, finished 23 of 33 for 261 yards with 2 scores, no picks and a 113.3 rating. But it was his final two completions that set the stage for the dramatic ending.
Then there’s Crosby, nearly unflappable in his 15 year career, making it 26 straight field goals without a miss, and a walk off to boot:
The game winner pushes the Packers to 2-1, even with injuries mounting. Linebacker Krys Barnes left in the first half with a concussion with Ty Summers and Oren Burks filling in from there. Valdes-Scantling left late with a hamstring pull. The beat up offensive line has already been discussed but Nijman’s performance against Nick Bosa bears discussion. Yes he grabbed his facemask on an early rush that forced a field goal in the opening quarter but with some help from tight ends or backs, more than held his own. Bosa was credited with just one quarterback hit on the night. The rest of the young group, second year left guard Jon Runyan, rookies Josh Myers at center and Royce Newman at right guard, allowed only one sack of Rodgers all night. They also opened holes for an even 100 yards rushing between Aaron Jones (19/82) and A.J. Dillon (6/18). Rodgers repeatedly found Adams whether single or double-covered, connecting 12 times for 132 yards.
Green Bay’s defense was solid for most of the first half and while they gave up 298 yards total, held San Francisco to a 3.2 yard average on the ground, sacked Garoppolo four times (among five different players) and came up with two big takeaways.
Only four players were left inactive since Green Bay placed tight end Dominique Dafney on injured reserve on Saturday, those four were Jenkins, King, Vernon Scott and La’Darius Hamilton.
LaFleur after the game said special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton stayed with the team for the game even after dealing with tragedy, losing two family members recently. He didn’t disclose what happened but praised Drayton’s dedication, saying he’s helped get the units turned around despite a long runback Sunday night. He said he’s instilled a strong work ethic on teams and is a special coach.
The entire team put up an inspired performance with remarkable poise having young players in key roles, the two oldest veterans coming through in the clutch to deliver one of the most exciting finishes in recent memory. At 2-1, the Packer stand alone atop the NFC North and return to Lambeau Field to welcome the Pittsburgh Steelers next Sunday afternoon for a 3:25 PM kickoff.
