Green Bay Packers passed SF 49ers in last 37 seconds
Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers (12), left, ready to send a pass against San Francisco 49ers middle linebacker Fred Warner (54), middle, during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
2021.09.26 – After Kyle Juszczyk’s 12-yard TD catch with 37 seconds gave the San Francisco 49ers the lead, Niners’ defense allowed Green Bay Packers Aaron Rodgers to complete two passes to Davante Adams and lost 30-28 on Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal, on the final play.
Everything seemed to be going to plan down the stretch of the 49ers’ first home game with fans in more than 20 months – with just one small problem.
They left Rodgers with a little too much time for a gut-crushing comeback.
“You always worry with Aaron on the other side,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. “That’s why we didn’t use any timeouts. We were hoping to take it down.”
San Francisco (2-1) took over at its 25 with 2:39 to play and facing a six-point deficit after an inexplicable fumble by Jimmy Garoppolo set up a field goal by Crosby.
Garoppolo responded with two big passes to George Kittle and a third-and-10 conversion to Deebo Samuel to get the ball to the 12 with 43 seconds left. He then hit Juszczyk on a slant for the score, giving the Niners a 28-27 lead in a game they trailed by 17 points in the first half.
As the 49ers players celebrated and the fans roared in their first game back at Levi’s Stadium since the 2019 NFC title game win over Green Bay, Rodgers was plotting the final comeback.
“I didn’t really have a lot of time to think about it,” Juszczyk said when asked if he left the Packers too much time.
“I think the entire team was swarming me. I didn’t even know how much time was left on the clock. It wasn’t really something that was on my mind during the play as well. We were down six. We needed a touchdown. So I was trying to score.”
2021.09.26 – (SF 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers) (NFL Video Highlights)
Green Bay Packers kicker Mason Crosby (2) kicks the game winning field goal from the hold of Corey Bojorquez during the second half of an NFL football game against the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
2021.09.26 – (SF 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers) (NFL Video Highlights)
2021.09.26 – (49ers vs. Packers) (Lombardi post-game Video)
2021.09.26 – (49ers vs. Packers) (Lombardi post-game Video)
Rodgers exploited a banged-up secondary that went into the game missing cornerback Jason Verrett and then lost K’Waun Williams and Josh Norman to injuries by completing two passes to Adams that set up the winning kick.
“There’s always too much time on the clock if there’s ever time on the clock, especially with Aaron Rodgers,” Kittle said. “I think we have a really good defense. I don’t really have any worries when our defense is out on the field. But it’s Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams over there. They did what they had to do to win.”
And the Niners made too many mistakes that they couldn’t overcome. Garoppolo threw an interception in the first half that helped put San Francisco in the 17-0 hole.
His fumble when he threw the ball to the ground behind him while trying to avoid a sack by Kenny Clark gave the Packers another score.
2021.09.26 – (NBC Sports Video) Every throw/run from 49ers Jimmy G
San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel (19) runs past Green Bay Packers free safety Darnell Savage (26) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)
2021.09.26 – (NBC Sports Post-Game Video) Rodgers leads winning drive
2021.09.26 – (NBC Sports Post-Game Video) Rodgers leads winning drive
There were also three long pass interference calls and a running game that was held to 67 yards on 21 carries.
That added up to a loss for a Niners team that returned home following back-to-back road wins at Detroit and Philadelphia to open the season.
“There were some great individual efforts of guys just making unbelievable plays that got us in and gave us a chance to win that game,” Shanahan said. “But some mistakes that we made throughout the game, you don’t win a lot of football doing that. That’s what we’ve got to clean up.”
FAST START
The Packers got off to a fast start with scores on their first two drives. Rodgers connected on a 42-yard pass to Allen Lazard on the first drive to set up a field goal by Mason Crosby. Rodgers then hit Valdes-Scantling on a 47-yarder to set up the short TD pass to Adams. Rodgers was 9 for 9 for 127 yards in the quarter.
DOUBLE DIP
The Niners avoided being shut out in the first half when they scored on the final play. After Garoppolo got away with an apparent intentional grounding that would have ended the half, Trey Lance came in for his first snap since the opener. He ran behind a big block from Trent Williams for a 1-yard score that cut Green Bay’s lead to 17-7.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was angry about the lack of the intentional grounding call and gave referee Jerome Boger an earful on his way off the field.
San Francisco then scored on the opening possession of the second half when Garoppolo hit Brandon Aiyuk on an 8-yard TD pass as the Niners scored 14 points without Rodgers touching the ball.
INJURY REPORT
Packers: Adams was down for a few minutes after taking a hard hit from Jimmie Ward that didn’t lead to a penalty. His teammates knelled near him as he was being treated but he was able to return after missing only one play. … LB Krys Barnes left the game in the first half with a concussion. … DL Tyler Lancaster was evaluated for a concussion in the second half.
49ers: CBs K’Waun Williams (calf) and Josh Norman (chest) left the game in the first half.
UP NEXT
Packers: Host Steelers on Sunday.
49ers: Host Seattle on Sunday.
Related – See below: Mostert’s Epic Dash to Super Bowl!
Related: 49ers top Eagles to finish 2-0 East road trip
Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
JEstevez@EMIsportsCentral.com
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Mostert’s Epic Dash to Super Bowl!