The Green Bay Packers found themselves in a position few expected on Monday night, trailing the San Francisco 49ers by a touchdown in the fourth quarter at Lambeau Field.
The Packers were 9.5-point favorites entering the night, with seemingly the whole world on them to cover against the C.J. Beathard-led Niners. However, the Packers defense struggled mightily, giving up 30 points to the Niners causing Green Bay to once again turn to Aaron Rodgers for some late game heroics.
Rodgers, banged up with a brace on his injured left knee, did what he does best, orchestrating a nearly flawless comeback to give the Packers the win. His touchdown pass to Davante Adams on the first play after the two-minute warning was perfect, lofting it just over the outstretched arms of a Niners corner after Adams got separation on a double move.
PERFECT throw from @AaronRodgers12 to @tae15adams!
We're TIED at Lambeau! #SFvsGB #GoPackGo
📺: ESPN https://t.co/eGBdYv1Fni
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2018
The 49ers then found themselves in prime position to retake the lead after a nice return and a 15-yard penalty on Green Bay put them near midfield, but then C.J. Beathard lofted a deep ball too far to the inside where it was picked off by Kevin King.
.@King_kevvoo with the CLUTCH interception! 😱 #SFvsGB#GoPackGo
📺: ESPN https://t.co/j1a6dcqph0
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2018
That turned the ball back over to Rodgers with a minute to play, and he did that thing he does, throwing dimes and also using his legs to pick up chunk yards despite his knee injury.
Vintage Rodgers. https://t.co/4TV43V8BQ2
— The Checkdown (@thecheckdown) October 16, 2018
The throw to set them up in field goal range was an absolutely filthy back shoulder throw to Equanimeous St. Brown, and he followed that up with another shot down the sidelines to Adams to get them deep into Niners territory and tee it up for the game-winning field goal.
Just ridiculous. #GoPackGo #SFvsGB https://t.co/vWl655FeBc
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2018
With Rodgers doing all he could, it was Mason Crosby’s turn for redemption after a miserable performance a week ago, banging through the short game-winner as time expired.
This week… @Crosbykicks2 is the hero. 🙌#SFvsGB #GoPackGo https://t.co/bslZHEUuLL
— NFL (@NFL) October 16, 2018
The Packers improved to 3-2-1 with the win and kept their playoff hopes alive entering a much needed bye week that will be followed by a rough stretch of games. For the Niners, it was a brutal loss that all but seals their fate for the season at 1-5, although they can take some positives from Beathard’s performance.