GREEN BAY, Wis. — Enjoying inside a snow globe, surrounded by air that felt as if it had zero levels of heat, the 49ers’ hectic however profitable season discovered its trademark second.
There was no logical motive for the 49ers to beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers on Saturday evening. The Niners have been pushed round, couldn’t transfer the ball for hours, and appeared typically out of kinds for many of the contest.
However for all their shortcomings, in addition they had an entire lot of guts, loads of guile and a little bit of luck on their facet. San Francisco won't have been the higher crew Saturday, however they have been the stronger crew, little doubt, and that power was the inspiration of the Niners’ 13-10 win over the Packers to advance to the NFC Championship Sport for the second time in three seasons.
Such a victory was terribly unbelievable to all those that watched the competition unfold, nevertheless it mustn't have been surprising. No, the Niners got here into Saturday’s contest battle-tested. They'd been hardened alongside their unbelievable path to the second spherical of the playoffs.
And so they wanted all of that earned callous, all that fortitude — each psychological and bodily — to beat the weather, the Packers and even themselves on Saturday.
In case anybody forgot, Saturday evening’s sport proved as soon as once more that that is nonetheless a sport that rewards the robust from the weak. This was not a sport for wimps.
By the tip of the sport, it was 11 levels, the wind was whipping, and the snow engulfed the sphere. This was the form of chilly that you can really feel in your bones simply standing in place. One can solely think about how painful it was to play. Certain sufficient, the our bodies piled up as the sport progressed.
And all of it appeared for naught for San Francisco. The Packers managed the competition for greater than 50 minutes.
However they wilted in direction of the tip of the sport. They didn’t have the fortitude to complete the job.
Within the course of, they left the entrance door open for San Francisco.
And Jordan Willis — enjoying by means of a sprained ankle — went proper by means of that door.
Willis manhandled Inexperienced Bay lengthy snapper Steven Wirtel to dam a punt close to the Inexperienced Bay finish zone with 4:50 to play. The Niners scooped up the ball with ease and tied the sport at 10.
It was the Niners’ large break. They took full benefit.
The 49ers’ protection turned in a masterful efficiency, despite the fact that it was piecemeal all through the bruising contest. After the particular groups landing, they subsequently prevented Inexperienced Bay from responding, forcing a three-and-out on the subsequent drive.
After which the 49ers’ offense, sputtering all through the competition and unable to succeed in the tip zone even as soon as, completed the job — not with a game-winning landing, however a nine-play, 44-yard drive, highlighted by Deebo Samuel’s tough-as-nails third-down run that arrange a game-winning 45-yard area purpose because the clock expired.
Let’s be clear: The protection received the Niners this sport. There aren't any two methods about it.
They have been unbelievable Saturday — going to a different stage of excellence within the second half and holding the presumptive back-to-back NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers, to 225 passing yards on an evening the place he appeared poised to prepare dinner the Niners from Inexperienced Bay’s first sequence.
However the offense did come by means of on Saturday. They didn’t do a lot, however they did sufficient to win.
And “sufficient” within the playoffs ought to all the time be celebrated.
Samuel was the very best participant on the sphere, once more.
George Kittle’s large receptions down the stretch stored San Francisco alive.
And Jimmy Garoppolo — regardless of being downright terrible for the overwhelming majority of the competition — was cash within the clutch, as he has so usually been all through his 49ers’ profession.
This was a sport for individuals who lack the great sense to doubt. Stubbornness is a advantage within the NFL, it appears. And the Niners have it in spades. It may be their strongest high quality. They merely refuse to lose.
And Saturday’s win was a victory deserved for a squad that has discovered a option to scratch and claw and struggle its approach for the whole lot they've earned this season.
This was a sport that San Francisco straight-up stole. They need to don't have any apologies for that.
Going into the competition, I mentioned that San Francisco was enjoying with “home cash”.
Their chips are piled so excessive, they’re falling over now that the Niners sit one win away from the Tremendous Bowl.
It is not sensible in any respect, and but all of the sense on the planet.
The Niners merely refuse to let their season finish. They've since Week 10.
And with all that follow, why wouldn't it be a shock that they’re nonetheless surviving?