SANTA CLARA, Calif. — San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy’s throws were off target all night. The team’s defense kept giving up big plays. There were even a couple of blunders on special teams.
Just when it seemed like the NFC’s top seed might have a one-and-done appearance in this year’s NFL playoffs, the 49ers did something they hadn’t managed to do all season: mount a late-game comeback.
Christian McCaffrey capped a 69-yard series that proved to be the winning drive by running for his second touchdown with 1:07 to play, and the 49ers held on to beat the Green Bay Packers 24-21 in a divisional-round thriller Saturday night.
“We’re built for those moments,” McCaffrey said. “We didn’t play well at all but still had a chance at the end. To go out there and execute is a sign of a high character team.”
After spending all regular season as front-runners, going 12-5 to secure a bye in the opening round of the playoffs last weekend, the 49ers rallied behind their backfield stars to reach their third straight NFC championship game, and they will host it this time after losing the past two on the road.