5 takeaways from the Green Bay Packers season-ending 24-21 NFC divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers

SANTA CLARA, California − On a rain-soaked field, the Green Bay Packers came less than a minute from advancing to the NFC championship game in Jordan Love’s first season as their starting quarterback.
The Packers controlled action for most of Saturday night’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, but costly mistakes led to a 24-21 loss in the NFC divisional round. It’s coach Matt LaFleur’s third playoff loss against former boss Kyle Shanahan.
Love had a chance to drive the Packers within field-goal range in the final minute, but he threw late and over the middle to Christian Watson and was intercepted by Dre Greenlaw to seal the 49ers’ win. It was Love’s second interception of the night. He finished 21-of-34 for 194 yards, two touchdowns, the two picks and a 72.4 passer rating.
San Francisco’s Brock Purdy finished 23-of-39 for 252 yards and one touchdown, but he played clean with no picks for an 86.7 passer rating.
The 49ers trailed late in the fourth quarter, but rookie kicker Anders Carlson’s miss on a 41-yard field-goal attempt left the door open for them to take a lead. They capped their game-winning drive with running back Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1 minute, 7 seconds left.
Here are some quick observations from the season-ending loss:
A week after pick-6, Darnell Savage has a regrettable night
On the opening series Saturday night, Packers safety Darnell Savage had a chance to repeat his pick-6 on Dak Prescott from last week’s win in the wild-card round. He dropped a Purdy pass that was thrown directly to him, and with fullback Kyle Juszczyk the only 49ers player between him and the end zone, Savage had a chance to return it for a touchdown. The dropped pick set off a poor night for Savage. The 2019 first-round draft pick was beaten for 32 yards against tight end George Kittle on the 49ers’ first touchdown. On their second, McCaffrey ran out of Savage’s tackle for a 39-yard score. It wasn’t a great night for fellow safety Jonathan Owens, who missed a tackle on Kittle’s 32-yard catch one play before McCaffrey’s touchdown, but it was Savage’s errors that led to points put on the board and taken off.
Anders Carlson continues missing critical kicks that should be automatic in today’s NFL
Carlson’s inconsistency has been a problem all season. The rookie’s inability to make corrections gave the feeling it could cost the Packers during this wild run they’ve been on, and Carlson missed another in the worst moment. With 6:21 left in the fourth quarter, Carlson pulled a 41-yard field goal wide left. The 3 points would’ve given the Packers a 24-17 lead, but instead their lead stayed at 21-17. It was the fifth straight game Carlson missed a kick, each of them from closer than 53 yards. The Packers drafted Carlson in the sixth round because they were enamored with his leg strength, but he made only 71.8% of his attempts in college. It’s clear his consistency hasn’t improved in the NFL.
Bo Melton continues to be a playmaker
Bo Melton wasn’t even on the active roster until Week 18. In what’s become one of the NFL’s deepest receiver depth charts, Melton could have stayed on the practice squad for the rest of this season. Then he caught more than 100 yards in Minnesota to give himself a shot at the 53-man roster, and it’s a good thing for the Packers that happened. With the Packers facing third-and-15 in Saturday night’s third quarter, Melton drew a 41-yard penalty for defensive pass interference against 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas. One play later, he caught an open 19-yard touchdown to give the Packers their first lead in the second half after 49ers safety Tashaun Gipson Jr. slipped in coverage. It’s a sign of the depth on this Packers offense. Another sign: Love targeted 10 pass-catchers on the night.
Kyle Shanahan clock management questionable at end of half
With 4:09 left before halftime, the 49ers got possession with a chance to potentially put the game out of reach. They led 7-6 at the time and were getting the football to start the second half. Oddly, 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan called a conservative drive, appearing content to settle for a field goal before intermission. The 49ers got a chance to give themselves a 10-6 lead at halftime, but Packers rookie defensive lineman Colby Wooden blocked 49ers kicker Jake Moody’s 48-yard attempt. In a parallel to the 49ers’ upset of the Packers in the 2021 NFC divisional round, it was San Francisco who blocked a Mason Crosby field goal on the final play before halftime with the Packers trying to stretch their lead to 10-0. Wooden’s blocked field goal ensured the Packers would be within one possession even if the 49ers drove for a touchdown to open the third quarter, but the Packers defense forced a three-and-out instead. It was a major momentum turn in the game.
Keisean Nixon nearly breaks one on a kickoff return
The 49ers gave All-Pro kick returner Keisean Nixon one too many opportunities. Most teams have kicked away from Nixon this season. He got a chance to return the opening kick Saturday and returned it 24 yards to the 31. After a McCaffrey touchdown gave the 49ers a 14-13 lead in the third quarter, they once again gave Nixon a kickoff he could return. This time, he burst through an opening and took it 73 yards, starting the Packers’ possession in the red zone. Nixon fumbled cutting back against the field at the end of the kickoff, but Packers special teams ace Eric Wilson recovered it on the bounce. On the 49ers’ next kickoff, they boomed it through the end zone.