Love Packers fall short in finale
The seventh-seeded Green Bay are the NFL’s youngest team finished the year 10-9 after falling to the San Francisco 49’ers 24-21 in front of 71,364 fans at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
By Earl Heath | Contributing Sports Writer
The seventh-seeded Green Bay are the NFL’s youngest team finished the year 10-9 after falling to the San Francisco 49’ers 24-21 in front of 71,364 fans at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
Bakersfield’s own Jordan Love and company followed their usual m.o. get the ball first and go score. They were 5-2 before the game when they scored on the first drive. They won the toss and took the ball and marched right down the field with a 14-play 58-yard drive. Unfortunately for the PACKERS, it lead to a just 3-0.
They were “ hotter than July” winning the final seven of eight games to force their way into the play-offs.
The Packers outgained the 49ers, 111-22, in the first quarter and had seven first downs to San Francisco’s one. The Packers ran 22 plays, while the 49ers had just five, and Green Bay held the ball 11:47 vs. just 3:13 for San Francisco.
The Packers reached the red zone three times in the first half and managed just six points. They settled for 29-yard field goals, and on the third opportunity they turned the ball over on downs.
“We obviously didn’t do a good enough job in the red zone, didn’t come away with enough points down there,” Love said. “We started getting going a little bit later in the second half, things like that, but it was too little too late.
“So there’s a lot of little things you can look at, point at, but not scoring enough points in the red zone is going to be tough to win a game going against a good offense when you’re not putting up enough points like that.”
Love had not thrown an interception since Dec. 11 when the Packers faced the New York Giants. But Love missed tight end Tucker Kraft badly late in the third quarter and San Francisco linebacker Dre Greenlaw intercepted.
You can tell this team has just begun to reach some of its potential.
Aaron s had 108 yards on the ground including a 53-yard jaunt. Romeo Doubs had 4 catches for 83 yards, while Jayden Reed also had 4 for 35 yards.
Boock Purdy was 23 of 39 for 252 yards and a TD. Christian Mc Cafferty ran for 98 yards and 2 touchdowns for the 49ers who advance to the fifth conference title game.
“I think he’s (LOVE) had an outstanding season, “Packer Head coach Matt LaFleur said. “I know it didn’t end the way we wanted it to. I couldn’t be more proud of just who he is as a man, first and foremost, as a leader of this team. I know this one’s going to hurt him. I’m sure he’ll be really hard on himself. He’s just got to use it as fuel to continue to get better.”
