Current:Home > reviewsSan Francisco 49ers need to fix their mistakes. Fast. -CapitalSource
San Francisco 49ers need to fix their mistakes. Fast.
View
Date:2025-04-15 09:49:44
The San Francisco 49ers got away with one. They know it, too.
The NFC’s No. 1 seed sure didn’t play like one Saturday night, winning as much because of the Green Bay Packers’ gaffes as anything they did. Yes, they’re moving on, but they’re going to have to clean things up on offense, defense, special teams and coaching if they want to make it to the Super Bowl.
"That game felt off pretty much the whole game until the end there," said Christian McCaffrey, who ran for two touchdowns in the second half, including one with 67 seconds left to give the 49ers the lead for good.
"To be able to persevere through the adversity, to have mature guys on the team who can strap up and go out there and find a way to get a win, it’s a sign of a good team. Even when you’re playing bad."
The whole point at this time of year is surviving and advancing. By that measure, San Francisco is fine. They’re one of just four teams still playing, and they’ll host the Detroit Lions in the NFC Championship on Sunday.
NFL STATS CENTRAL: The latest NFL scores, schedules, odds, stats and more.
But the juggernaut of the regular season, San Francisco was not against the Packers.
Maybe it was the rain, which Brock Purdy acknowledged affected the accuracy on some of his throws. Though Jordan Love played in the same conditions and, horrendous throw to end the game aside, didn’t seem to have the same issues.
Maybe it was the rust. The 49ers clinched the No. 1 seed on Jan. 1, allowing them to rest most of their top players for the regular-season finale. Add in the first-round bye, and that’s three weeks since McCaffrey, Purdy, George Kittle, Dre Greenlaw, Arik Armstead and several other key 49ers had seen game action.
Maybe it was the shoulder injury that knocked Deebo Samuel out of the game in the second quarter. The 49ers are a lesser version of themselves without their electric and elusive playmaker, as we saw during the regular season. Samuel suffered a hairline fracture in his shoulder against the Cleveland Browns, then missed the 49ers’ next two games.
The Niners lost all three.
The reasons for San Francisco’s malaise really don’t matter, though. At this point in the year, the 49ers have to be able to adapt to everything. That’s what playoff teams do.
The ones that go far, that is.
"I don’t know what the reasons were," McCaffrey said. "We’ll never know for sure. I don’t like making huge broad statements after games. It’s just little things here and there that I know we can get corrected."
Say this for the 49ers: At least they owned their woes. They didn’t pretend it wasn’t as bad as what everyone saw or get defensive about the mistakes. They know this wasn’t what they’re capable of and they promised to get it fixed before next weekend.
That has to start with Purdy, who was masterful on the final drive but meh until then. He was six of seven on the final drive, but 17 of 32 before that. He finished without an interception, but only because Darnell Savage dropped what likely would have been a pick-six.
That final drive takes away some of the sting − as does the knowledge Purdy and the 49ers have the benefit of multiple players who can blow up a defense at any moment. As they did against Green Bay. On consecutive plays in the third quarter, Kittle had a 32-yard reception and McCaffrey ripped off a 29-yard scoring run.
"Our offense wasn’t as rhythmic as it usually is. Our defense − it probably wasn’t our best game of ball we’ve played all year. But slipping away? No," Kittle said. "It was more of a, `We know the type of team that we have, guys. Go out there and just do what you can do on every single play,’ and I’m very confident in our abilities to go down there and get a win."
The defense was gashed for 108 yards by Aaron Jones, almost half of which (53 yards) came on one play. According to Josh Dubow of The Associated Press, Jordan Love was 15 for 22 for 168 yards, two TDs and no interceptions on the Packers’ first six possessions.
On the last four, however, the 49ers’ defense made his life downright miserable. He was six of 12 for 30 yards and two interceptions, including one that ended Green Bay’s final drive.
"It’s all learning. The offense and the defense made a lot of mistakes that we need to clean up if we want to win," Nick Bosa said.
The 49ers did win. This time. But you can only get away with so many games like this, and the 49ers might not be so fortunate next time around.
Follow USA TODAY Sports columnist Nancy Armour on social media @nrarmour.
veryGood! (1514)
Related
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Microsoft adding new PC button in its first significant keyboard change in decades
- Turkish justice minister says 15 suspects jailed ahead of trial for spying for Israel
- What's Making Us Happy: A guide to your weekend viewing, reading and listening
- The Best Stocking Stuffers Under $25
- Connor Bedard, 31 others named to NHL All-Star Game initial roster. Any notable snubs?
- Lawyer for alleged victim of Dani Alves files legal complaint after video circulates on social media
- Justice Department sues Texas over state's new border security law
- The Daily Money: Spending more on holiday travel?
- Golden Wedding recap: Gerry Turner and Theresa Nist are married! See what made us tear up.
Ranking
- Meta donates $1 million to Trump’s inauguration fund
- 'I can't feel my fingers': 13-year-old Tetris winner dumfounded after beating game
- Wisconsin governor who called for marijuana legalization says he’ll back limited GOP proposal
- Abortion initiative hits milestone for getting in front of Florida voters
- 'No Good Deed': Who's the killer in the Netflix comedy? And will there be a Season 2?
- Thousands of opposition activists languish in prison as Bangladesh gears up for national election
- BPA, phthalates widespread in supermarket foods, regardless of packaging, Consumer Report says
- The U.S. northeast is preparing for a weekend storm that threatens to dump snow, rain, and ice
Recommendation
North Carolina trustees approve Bill Belichick’s deal ahead of introductory news conference
NYC subway train derailment: What we known about the collision that left dozens injured
US actor Christian Oliver and his 2 daughters died in a plane crash in the Caribbean, police say
After 16-year restoration, Greece unveils palace where Alexander the Great became king
New data highlights 'achievement gap' for students in the US
Many people wish to lose weight in their arms. Here's why it's not so easy to do.
Stanley cups have people flooding stores and buying out shops. What made them so popular?
Fire in Elizabeth, New Jersey: Massive blaze engulfs industrial warehouse: See photos