Current:Home > NewsSan Francisco 49ers need to fix their mistakes. Fast. -Horizon Finance School
San Francisco 49ers need to fix their mistakes. Fast.
View
Date:2025-04-14 07:34:50
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! (3545)
Related
- Selena Gomez engaged to Benny Blanco after 1 year together: 'Forever begins now'
- A Michigan man is charged with killing and dismembering a janitor he met on the Grindr dating app
- The Latest: Harris to visit Michigan while Trump heads to Georgia
- Hawaii nurses union calls new contract a step in the right direction
- Megan Fox's ex Brian Austin Green tells Machine Gun Kelly to 'grow up'
- Simone Biles Reveals Truth of Calf Injury at 2024 Paris Olympics
- Singer El Taiger Found With Gunshot Wound to the Head in Miami
- The Latest: Harris to visit Michigan while Trump heads to Georgia
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- Black man details alleged beating at the hands of a white supremacist group in Boston
Ranking
- Meet the volunteers risking their lives to deliver Christmas gifts to children in Haiti
- Q&A: Mariah Carey wasn’t always sure about making a Christmas album
- Pregnant Brittany Mahomes Shows Off Her Workout Routine
- 'Love is Blind' star Hannah says she doesn’t feel ‘love bombed’ by Nick
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- Prince William Shares He Skipped 2024 Olympics to Protect Kate Middleton’s Health
- TikToker Mr. Prada Charged With Second-Degree Murder After Therapist Was Found Dead
- What to watch: We're caught in a bad romance
Recommendation
Sarah J. Maas books explained: How to read 'ACOTAR,' 'Throne of Glass' in order.
Halle Bailey and DDG announce split: 'The best path forward for both of us'
On the road: Plenty of NBA teams mixing the grind of training camp with resort life
'Nothing like this': National Guard rushes supplies to towns cut off by Helene
Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
UNC relocates intrasquad scrimmage from Cherokee after Hurricane Helene’s impact to region
One disaster to another: Family of Ukrainian refugees among the missing in NC
US nuclear weapon production sites violated environmental rules, federal judge decides