Nick Wright "appalled" Packers win thriller over 49ers on walk-off field goal, 30-28
Published at : September 29, 2021
It was all Packers for 29 minutes. Then, for another 30 or so, it wasn’t. But 37 seconds at the end of the game changed everything as two of the oldest Packers delivered.
After three straight blowouts, one in one team’s favor in 2020 and two in the other team’s during the 2019 season, the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers finally played an exciting, close game on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium. Tonight’s game saw a pair of lead changes in the final minute, but when Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal went through the uprights with zeroes on the clock, the Packers had a 30-28 victory over their recent NFC rivals.
Almost everything went right for the Packers in the first 29 minutes, as they jumped out to an early lead and were up 17-0 shortly before halftime. But a big special teams play turned the tables and the momentum in San Francisco’s favor as the 49ers whittled away Green Bay’s lead before taking a 28-27 edge of their own with just 37 seconds left.
But it was two of the Packers’ 37-year-old players, Aaron Rodgers and Mason Crosby, who delivered in the game’s final minute, sending the Packers to a 2-1 start on the season. Rodgers hit Davante Adams on a pair of clutch throws over the middle of the field to get the Packers into field goal range, setting up Crosby to drill the game-winning kick inside the left crossbar to send the Packers home with a victory.
Rodgers’ start was blistering, and he finished the game 23-of-33 for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Adams was the main recipient, catching 12 of 18 targets for 132 yards and his first touchdown of the season, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling connected on his first deep ball of the season and a score of his own.
The Packers’ defense even got its pass rush rolling, picking up four sacks in the game and forcing a pair of turnovers out of Jimmy Garoppolo. But, ironically, it was the fact that the group allowed Kyle Juszczyk to break a tackle and get into the end zone without taking too much time off the clock that allowed Rodgers, Adams, and Crosby to deliver the game-winning score.
The Packers got off to a dream start in the first quarter of this game, marred only by issues from starting left tackle Yosh Nijman on the opening series. Aaron Rodgers hit Allen Lazard for a 42-yard gain on 3rd and 4 to jump-start the offense on its first set of downs, setting Green Bay up in the red zone. However, Nijman facemasked Nick Bosa to drive the Packers back to the edge of field goal range, forcing the the Packers to open up the scoring with a 54-yard field goal from Mason Crosby.
Kenny Clark then forced the 49ers to open up three-and-out almost singlehandedly, throwing center Alex Mack aside with ease to lead to the Packers’ first tackle for loss by an individual player (Preston Smith cleaned up Trey Sermon on the run), leading to a punt. Rodgers then hit his favorite deep threat, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, for a deep shot on the ensuing drive to set up a short touchdown pass to Davante Adams, his first of the year, to put Green Bay up 10-0.
Following punts by both teams, Jimmy Garoppolo tried his first deep shot of the game early in the second quarter. It did not go well for him, as Jaire Alexander tracked his shot to Kittle over the middle and made a magnificent over-the-shoulder interception. Green Bay stalled out just shy of the goal line, however; the Packers tried a 4th-and-1 attempt from the 4-yard line, but the play was rushed and disjointed and Rodgers threw the ball wide of Randall Cobb after pressure from Nick Bosa.
Even as the Packers were moving the ball in the first half, Bosa was proving to be a massive problem. Largely lined up against Nijman, who started in place of Elgton Jenkins at left tackle, Bosa was a frequent presence in the Packers’ backfield, and only Rodgers’ quick throws in rhythm seemed to alleviate the pressure he was applying.
After three straight blowouts, one in one team’s favor in 2020 and two in the other team’s during the 2019 season, the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers finally played an exciting, close game on Sunday night at Levi’s Stadium. Tonight’s game saw a pair of lead changes in the final minute, but when Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal went through the uprights with zeroes on the clock, the Packers had a 30-28 victory over their recent NFC rivals.
Almost everything went right for the Packers in the first 29 minutes, as they jumped out to an early lead and were up 17-0 shortly before halftime. But a big special teams play turned the tables and the momentum in San Francisco’s favor as the 49ers whittled away Green Bay’s lead before taking a 28-27 edge of their own with just 37 seconds left.
But it was two of the Packers’ 37-year-old players, Aaron Rodgers and Mason Crosby, who delivered in the game’s final minute, sending the Packers to a 2-1 start on the season. Rodgers hit Davante Adams on a pair of clutch throws over the middle of the field to get the Packers into field goal range, setting up Crosby to drill the game-winning kick inside the left crossbar to send the Packers home with a victory.
Rodgers’ start was blistering, and he finished the game 23-of-33 for 261 yards and two touchdowns. Adams was the main recipient, catching 12 of 18 targets for 132 yards and his first touchdown of the season, while Marquez Valdes-Scantling connected on his first deep ball of the season and a score of his own.
The Packers’ defense even got its pass rush rolling, picking up four sacks in the game and forcing a pair of turnovers out of Jimmy Garoppolo. But, ironically, it was the fact that the group allowed Kyle Juszczyk to break a tackle and get into the end zone without taking too much time off the clock that allowed Rodgers, Adams, and Crosby to deliver the game-winning score.
The Packers got off to a dream start in the first quarter of this game, marred only by issues from starting left tackle Yosh Nijman on the opening series. Aaron Rodgers hit Allen Lazard for a 42-yard gain on 3rd and 4 to jump-start the offense on its first set of downs, setting Green Bay up in the red zone. However, Nijman facemasked Nick Bosa to drive the Packers back to the edge of field goal range, forcing the the Packers to open up the scoring with a 54-yard field goal from Mason Crosby.
Kenny Clark then forced the 49ers to open up three-and-out almost singlehandedly, throwing center Alex Mack aside with ease to lead to the Packers’ first tackle for loss by an individual player (Preston Smith cleaned up Trey Sermon on the run), leading to a punt. Rodgers then hit his favorite deep threat, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, for a deep shot on the ensuing drive to set up a short touchdown pass to Davante Adams, his first of the year, to put Green Bay up 10-0.
Following punts by both teams, Jimmy Garoppolo tried his first deep shot of the game early in the second quarter. It did not go well for him, as Jaire Alexander tracked his shot to Kittle over the middle and made a magnificent over-the-shoulder interception. Green Bay stalled out just shy of the goal line, however; the Packers tried a 4th-and-1 attempt from the 4-yard line, but the play was rushed and disjointed and Rodgers threw the ball wide of Randall Cobb after pressure from Nick Bosa.
Even as the Packers were moving the ball in the first half, Bosa was proving to be a massive problem. Largely lined up against Nijman, who started in place of Elgton Jenkins at left tackle, Bosa was a frequent presence in the Packers’ backfield, and only Rodgers’ quick throws in rhythm seemed to alleviate the pressure he was applying.
Wright"appalled"Packers