During the game-winning drive, Purdy completed 6 of 7 passes for 47 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown to Brandon Aiyuk and a 17-yard pass to Chris Conley to convert a third down.
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“There’s a reason it’s four quarters, obviously. Thus, when I first started, I thought, “Man, I have to get better, I have to play football efficiently,” Purdy remarked. “But when it comes down to it, with the season on the line, you’ve got to make it happen for your boys around you.”
After McCaffrey’s touchdown run on third-and-short, the 49ers defense held strong, allowing San Francisco to defeat Green Bay (10-9) for the fifth week in a row. Dre Greenlaw picked off Jordan Love twice.
Love had given the Packers the lead with two touchdown passes in the third quarter, and that final toss over his body was one of his rare errors. However, the conclusion of his first full season starting in Aaron Rodgers’ place was disappointing.
On a soggy evening, Purdy, who had trouble with his accuracy at first, passed for 252 yards and a touchdown, while McCaffrey gained 98 yards on 17 rushes.
“Yes, the weather, I suppose. But, dude, that’s football. You have to get past it,” Purdy remarked.
Love placed the Niners in the unique position of having to start from behind. Ambry Thomas was called for a 41-yard pass interference penalty against Bo Melton, which allowed Green Bay to convert a third-and-15. The next play, Love and Melton connected for a wide-open 19-yard score, made possible by Tashaun Gipson’s coverage-side stumble on the wet grass.
Following a 39-yard touchdown run by McCaffrey to put San Francisco back up, Green Bay scored fast on an All-Pro kick return by All-Pro Keisean Nixon that he fumbled but teammate Eric Wilson recovered.
Love found Tyler Kraft for a 2-yard touchdown throw four plays later, and Aaron Jones’ 2-point conversion pass gave the Packers a 21-14 lead.
The Niners became the first team in 13 seasons to qualify for the playoffs without winning a game by rallying back from a halftime deficit.
Jake Moody’s 52-yard field goal on the opening play of the fourth quarter put them ahead by four points, and it remained that way when rookie Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard from goal for Green Bay.
The opening half of the game saw the Packers move the ball easily, starting the game with three consecutive drives into the red zone. However, they were unable to complete any of them, forcing them to settle for two field goals and being stopped on a fourth-and-1 sneak. They made history by being the first team in 20 years to enter the red zone during a playoff game’s first three drives without.
Purdy connected George Kittle on a 32-yard pass while on the run to give San Francisco the lead, and the Niners made them pay for it.
However, late in the half, San Francisco wasted more time under head coach Kyle Shanahan before settling for a 48-yard field goal try by Moody that was stopped by Colby Wooden, giving the Niners a 7-6 lead at the half.
Love went 21 of 34 for 194 yards, and Jones finished with 108 yards on 18 carries for the Packers.
Packers’ injuries: RT Zach After leaving the game in the third quarter to have his head examined, Tom never came back.
49ers: Wide Receiver Deebo Samuel missed the whole of the game after suffering a shoulder injury on the first drive.
