The Green Bay Packers squandered a lead by allowing 10 straight points in the fourth quarter and blew a chance to go to the NFC Championship Game on Saturday night at Levi’s Stadium.
Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run gave the San Francisco 49ers a 24-21 lead with 1:07 left, and Dre Greenlaw intercepted Jordan Love with just under a minute to go to finish the win and send the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game.
The Packers have now lost five straight playoff games to the 49ers, including three since 2019.
Green Bay had a chance to be the lowest seed to ever advance to a conference title game. Instead, the top-seeded 49ers will host the title game next Sunday night.
The Packers led 21-14 to start the fourth quarter. Jake Moody hit a 52-yard field goal to start the quarter, but the Packers got a 53-yard run from Aaron Jones and set up a chance for Anders Carlson to extend the lead back to seven points, but the rookie kicker missed his 41-yard attempt wide left.
Given new life, the 49ers drove 69 yards in 12 plays to take the lead for good.
Love’s final pass of the year was arguably his worst of the season. On 1st-and-10, the first-year starter scrambled right but threw back to the middle of the field, and Greenlaw made the easy interception in traffic to seal the deal.
The Packers — who entered the postseason as the NFL’s youngest team — squandered too many opportunities early and were unable to make the winning plays late. Green Bay trailed 7-6 at halftime.
Jones rushed for over 100 yards for the fifth straight game. Love threw two interceptions, both in the second half. He also threw touchdown passes to Bo Melton and Tucker Kraft, both of which gave the Packers leads in the second half.
McCaffrey rushed for 98 yards and two scores. George Kittle caught a touchdown pass in the first half.
The 49ers will host the winner of the Detroit Lions and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Packers — who were minutes away from the NFC title game after starting 2-5 — will begin the offseason. Despite the disappointment, an incredible foundation has been set in Green Bay for 2024 and beyond.