49ers’ Playoff Victory Raises Questions Amid Defensive Struggles.
The San Francisco 49ers’ return to the NFL playoffs may have left many in Santa Clara, Calif., worried Saturday night after watching their team beat the Green Bay Packers 24-21.
In the NFC divisional round game, the 49ers didn’t take the lead until about five minutes into the third quarter. Then the Packers#039; quarterback Jordan Love found Tucker Kraft open for a 2-yard reception, followed by a two-point conversion by Aaron Jones that made Green Bay 21-14. The 49ers didn’t take the lead until 1:07 into the game after Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run made it 24-21. Maybe if it wasn’t for the errant throw he made to Love that led to Dre Greenlaw’s interception, the Packers, not the 49ers, would have gone to the NFC Championship Game.
If you’re the 49ers and head coach Kyle Shanahan today, you’ll have plenty of questions to ask the next morning as they prepare for the Detroit Lions the next morning or the Tampa Bay Buccaneers next weekend. San Francisco avoided complete disaster in what could be considered one of their worst performances of the season by hitting in every phase of their game. But the question is, was this just rust after a weak week and a meaningless Week 18, or is this a real concern for the conference title game? 47 yards on the game-winning drive that included crucial third-down conversions with both his legs and arm. But maybe the reason the 49ers were in this situation is because of one of Purdy’s worst games.
Purdy was 23-of-39 for 252 yards and one touchdown with an 86.7 passer rating.When Purdy missed his receivers, he failed miserably, even though they somehow ended up in the hands of Packers defenders. Even so, Purdy still completed less than 60% of his passes, prompting San Francisco to punt three times before the Packers scored one early in the fourth quarter. The 49ers’ offense was hampered by two three-and-outs and another five plays that combined with Purdy’s three incomplete passes..
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