49ers report card: Despite numerous errors, the team triumphed over the Packers with great joy.
Though Brock Purdy directed the game-winning drive that ended with Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 remaining, he was throwing far more off-target than usual. During the drive, Purdy completed passes for 47 yards, including a 7-yard pass to Jauan Jennings (five receptions, 61 yards), a 10-yard pass to Brandon Aiyuk, and an unexpected 17-yard pass to infrequently used receiver Chris Conley. Luckily, Darnell Savidge’s pick-six in the first quarter was dropped, and Keisan Nixon also failed to intercept a possible pass. In his first comeback victory as the 49ers’ quarterback, Purdy completed 23 of 39 passes for 252 yards.
McCaffrey scored from 6 and 39 yards, doing what McCaffrey does. The 49ers gained 111 yards total from 24 carries (Purdy had six carries for 14 yards), and even Jennings lost a yard on a play that was intended to go to the injured Deebo Samuel due to an inconsiderate rush. The 49ers gained 4.6 yards per carry on average, though a large portion of that was due to McCaffrey’s explosive touchdown run. Even though it wasn’t the 49ers’ typical steady, grind-it-out rushing game, it ultimately accomplished the goal.
On Green Bay’s first drive, Charvarius Ward had an end-zone breakup and Dre Greenlaw had two huge interceptions, especially the second one. However, some defenders had trouble keeping their feet while covering passes, and some blew coverages to receivers who were on their own. Among them were passes of 38 yards to Romeo Doubs from Jordan Love, 27 yards to Jayden Reed, and 19 yards to Bo Melton for a touchdown. Though Love was 21 of 34 for 194 yards, the second half saw both of Greenlaw’s interceptions.
It’s the end of the streak without a 100-yard rusher. Aaron Jones: eighteen carries for 108 yards. In addition to causing damage early when Green Bay was pressing the 49ers and controlling the clock and tempo, he broke a 53-yard run late in the game. The Packers gained 136 yards overall on 28 carries. One of the 49ers’ best plays was stopping a Jordan Love fourth-and-1 sneak at the 14-yard line. Greenlaw did the honors to prevent the Packers from scoring.
With 14:56 left, Jake Moody’s 52-yard field goal saved a possession that started with Greenlaw’s first interception and pulled the 49ers within 21-17. It might have been game over if they hadn’t scored after a turnover. Additionally, Moody’s 48-yard attempt was blocked; Colby Wooden of Green Bay made a smart play, but the kick seemed to be fine. Additionally, Keisean Nixon returned a kickoff 73 yards for the 49ers (Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles forced a fumble, but the Packers recovered). The Packers went ahead 21-14 after a Green Bay touchdown and two-point conversion.
Pretty much everyone from coach Kyle Shanahan to players such as McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and others were in agreement the 49ers have had much better games. But whatever the coaching staff thought, there wasn’t enough anger or panic on the sideline to prevent a come-from-behind win against a difficult opponent. The Packers were the better prepared team considering they were on a short week. Bosa said Green Bay appeared to use a lot of plays it hadn’t in recent weeks and the 49ers were deficient in all three phases at one time or another. Still, they did enough to win the game against an inferior opponent. The 49ers were penalized six times for 83 yards, Green Bay only once for five yards.
