The Green Bay Packers have been eliminated in the ongoing 2023-24 NFL playoffs, and it came at the hands of their familiar rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.
The Bay Area-based team escaped with a 24-21 victory in their Divisional Round matchup on Saturday, January 20, held at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The game was close throughout, with both teams exchanging leads in the fourth quarter.
Notably, the 49ers have now been responsible for eliminating the Packers in three out of their last four postseason appearances.
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3 Green Bay Packers players to blame for Playoff loss
1. Anders Carlson
The Packers were in control with a 21-17 lead with 6:21 left in the fourth quarter, but a pivotal moment occurred when rookie placekicker Anders Carlson missed a 41-yard field goal that could have extended Green Bay's lead to seven, providing the 49ers with a chance for a sensational comeback.
Capitalizing on this opportunity, 49ers star running back Christian McCaffrey scored the go-ahead touchdown with just 1:07 left in the game.
Even after the 49ers scored the touchdown, they would only have the option to either tie the game via a field goal or attempt a two-point conversion for the win. In the event of a tie, the Packers could have pursued a game-winning play without the need to force the situation.
Heading into this contest, many had concerns about the 25-year-old's capabilities. The former Auburn player had recently experienced a slump, missing a kick in 10 of his last 12 games, with a particularly challenging stretch of five consecutive outings featuring missed kicks.
2. Jordan Love
Packers quarterback Jordan Love has generally performed well in his first season as the team's starting quarterback.
The 25-year-old concluded the Divisional Round game with 194 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions.
Nevertheless, his choice to attempt a deep pass across the field to running back Christian Watson in the waning seconds of the fourth quarter was not a clever play, and it resulted in a game-sealing interception by 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw.
Love acknowledged that he "threw away" the game with the pass and has vowed to learn from the experience.
"I don't know if I had an opportunity to be able to run, maybe get out of bounds. But force it across the middle late, which is a mortal sin, and it cost us. So, it's something I'll look at, but that's an area right there where I'll be able to look at, grow from and get better in the future," the former Utah State player said after the game.
3. Darnell Savage
Packers safety Darnell Savage emerged as one of Green Bay's heroes against Dallas with a 64-yard interception return for a touchdown.
Savage had another opportunity to play the hero in the game when 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy threw a pass directly to him on San Francisco's opening drive.
However, this time, Savage dropped the potential interception that could have resulted in another pick-six, giving Green Bay a 10-0 lead.
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