SANTA CLARA — A look at how the 49ers graded out Saturday night in their 24-21 divisional playoff win over the Green Bay Packers at Levi’s Stadium:
PASS OFFENSE: B-
There were way more off-target throws from Brock Purdy than usual but he directed the game-winning drive that resulted in Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left. Purdy threw for 47 yards on the drive, starting with a 7-yard completion to Jauan Jennings (five receptions, 61 yards) a 10-yarder to Brandon Aiyuk and a 17-yarder to seldom-used receiver Chris Conley that came out of nowhere. He was fortunate to avoid a first-quarter pick-six by Darnell Savidge (it was dropped) and Keisan Nixon also dropped a potential interception. Purdy was 23 of 39 for 252 yards in his first come-from-behind win as the 49ers’ quarterback.
RUN OFFENSE: B-
McCaffrey did what McCaffrey does, scoring from 6 and 39 yards. In all, the 49ers had 24 carries for 111 yards (Purdy had six carries for 14 yards) and even Jennings got an ill-conceived rush and lost a yard on a play that would have gone to the injured Deebo Samuel. The 49ers averaged 4.6 yards per carry although McCaffrey’s touchdown burst had a lot to do with that. It wasn’t the sort of steady, grind-it-out rushing game the 49ers are known for but it still did the job in the end.
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PASS DEFENSE: B
Dre Greenlaw’s two interceptions — particularly the second — were huge and Charvarius Ward had an end-zone breakup on Green Bay’s opening drive. But there were issues with footing for some defenders in pass coverage, as well as some blown coverages to receivers who were all by their lonesome. Included was a 38-yard pass from Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs, a 27-yard pass to Jayden Reed and a 19-yard pass to Bo Melton for a touchdown. Love was 21 of 34 for 194 yards but both Greenlaw interceptions came in the second half.
RUN DEFENSE C
The streak without a 100-yard rusher is over. Aaron Jones 108 yards on 18 carries. He broke a 53-yard run late, but was also doing damage early when Green Bay was taking it to the 49ers and controlling the clock and the tempo. In all, the Packers had 136 yards on 28 carries. A highlight for the 49ers was stuffing a Jordan Love fourth-and-1 sneak at the 14-yard line, with Greenlaw doing the honors to snuff out a Packers’ scoring opportunity.
SPECIAL TEAMS: C
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Jake Moody’s 52-yard field goal with 14:56 remaining brought the 49ers within 21-17 and saved a possession that began with Greenlaw’s first interception. Failing to score after a turnover could have been a death knell. Moody also had a 48-yard attempt blocked — there appeared to be nothing wrong with the kick but Green Bay’s Colby Wooden made a good play. The 49ers also gave up a 73-yard kickoff return to Keisean Nixon (Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles forced a fumble but the Packers recovered). That led to a Green Bay touchdown and a two-point conversion put the Packers up 21-14.
COACHING: C
Pretty much everyone from coach Kyle Shanahan to players such as McCaffrey, Fred Warner, Nick Bosa and others were in agreement the 49ers have had much better games. But whatever the coaching staff thought, there wasn’t enough anger or panic on the sideline to prevent a come-from-behind win against a difficult opponent. The Packers were the better prepared team considering they were on a short week. Bosa said Green Bay appeared to use a lot of plays it hadn’t in recent weeks and the 49ers were deficient in all three phases at one time or another. Still, they did enough to win the game against an inferior opponent. The 49ers were penalized six times for 83 yards, Green Bay only once for five yards.
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