5 things we learned from the Packers’ 24-21 loss to the 49ers in the divisional playoffs

While Jordan Love struggled to set his disappointment aside late Saturday night to try and put his first year as the Green Bay Packers starting quarterback into perspective, coach Matt LaFleur was able to do so.

There was no ignoring the disappointment in the immediate aftermath of the Packers’ 24-21 NFC divisional playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California,

“I think he’s had an outstanding season. I know it didn’t end the way we wanted it to, (but) I couldn’t be more proud of just who he is as a man (and) as a leader of this team,” LaFleur said after Love’s late interception sealed the defeat and ended the Packers’ unexpected playoff run.

“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. But I think you saw so much growth throughout the course of the season, not only from just his ability to go out there and playing consistent winning football, but also I think he grew as a leader. And I think that’s very important obviously to be the franchise quarterback that I expect him to be for a long time around here.

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“I love working with him. … It just, it sucks right now.”

Love finished 21 of 34 for 194 yards with two touchdowns and those two second-half interceptions for a passer rating of 72.4. Those numbers were well below his numbers over the previous nine games, in which he had completed 70.7% of his passes for 2,422 yards with 21 touchdowns and just one interception for a 116.6 passer rating.

“I think just understanding how small the margin for error is in this league, especially in critical games like this when you win and advance, you lose and you go home,” Love said when asked what he’ll take away from the loss. “But there’s so many areas and so many lessons I’ve learned throughout this season and teams learn throughout the season that I think is going to make us better in the future.”

Here are five things we learned from Saturday night’s season-ending loss.

No NFL kicker missed more kicks this season than Packers rookie Anders Carlson. His final miss turned out to be a backbreaker.

LaFleur quickly dismissed the suggestion at midweek that the team might want to consider signing a veteran kicker given the microscopic margin for error in the postseason. And special-teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia got rather irritated when he faced more questions about the inconsistent rookie kicker.

Turns out, those questions and concerns were well-founded. After Carlson’s 41-yard field-goal attempt with 6 minutes, 18 seconds left in the game was wide left, the 49ers took the ball and drove 69 yards in 12 plays en route to Christian McCaffrey’s game-winning 6-yard touchdown run.

“I think if we had the answer, we would have fixed it, right?” LaFleur replied when asked why Carlson missed at least one kick in 10 of the Packers’ final 12 games. “Certainly, we’ve just got to work on the consistency. We’ve seen him do it. We know what he’s capable (of), but you’ve got to be consistent in order to last in this league. “

Remarkably, Carlson never missed back-to-back kicks all season, but he never got another chance on Saturday night.

“No. Operation was great, blocking was great. It’s all me,” Carlson said. “You plan to make every kick that you go to. (You feel) frustration, and then get to the sideline and reset for another opportunity.”

Joe Barry’s defense held the 49ers in check for most of the night — until it didn’t

Facing a 49ers team that ended the regular season as the NFL’s No. 2 overall offense and No. 3 scoring offense, the Packers defense was up to the challenge … until the game was on the line.

The 69-yard game-winning drive unfolded this way:

• A 7-yard Brock Purdy-to-Jauan Jennings completion.

• A 2-yard McCaffrey run.

• A 2-yard Purdy quarterback sneak to convert a third-and-1.

• A 5-yard McCaffrey catch.

• A second-and-5 drop by tight end George Kittle.

• A leaping 10-yard Brandon Aiyuk catch to convert a third-and-5.

• A 17-yard Purdy-to-Chris Conley catch against Carrington Valentine.

• An 8-yard catch by Kittle.

• A 2-yard McCaffrey run right before the 2-minute warning.

• A catch by McCaffrey for no gain.

• A 9-yard scramble by Purdy on second-and-10.

• McCaffrey’s 6-yard TD.

Whether that ignominious ending will mean the end of Barry’s tenure as the team’s defensive coordinator is up to LaFleur. But he didn’t sound like a man who felt Barry’s defense was the reason for the loss.

Asked how he thought the defense played, LaFleur replied: “I thought it was fantastic. Certainly, you’d like to get a stop at the end. That’s one of the best offenses in this league. It’s one of the best football teams in this league. Like I said, there were so many opportunities, I thought, in the first half, even in the second half, where we didn’t take advantage of them. It stinks.”

LaFleur wanted to be aggressive, and it worked — but missed opportunities haunted the offense

Having taken the ball after winning the coin toss in his team’s biggest games — in a Thanksgiving Day win at Detroit, and in last Sunday’s NFC wild card win at Dallas — LaFleur did it again when the Packers won the toss on Saturday night.

And while the Packers drove 58 yards in 14 plays after taking the ball, they had to settle for a 29-yard Carlson field goal after the drive stalled at the San Francisco 11-yard line when cornerback Charvarius Ward broke up Love’s pass for Romeo Doubs in the end zone on third-and-8.

The Packers’ failure to get a touchdown on the drive was one of three red-zone failures by the offense. Not only did they settle for two Carlson field goals, they also were stopped short on third- and fourth-and-1 plays and turned the ball over on downs.

“I told the guys, I think part of the reason it stings so bad right now is we fully believed and fully expected to win this game,” LaFleur said. “Give San Francisco credit. They made more plays in some of those critical situations down the stretch. But I felt like we had plenty of opportunities to kind of put the game out of reach and unfortunately just didn’t do enough.”

Running back Aaron Jones extended his streak of 100-yard games to five — a franchise record. But it wasn’t enough.

Facing a defense that came into the postseason as the NFL’s No. 2-ranked run defense, Jones carried 18 times for 108 yards — with his biggest play being a 53-yard run that jump-started the drive that ultimately ended in Carlson’s miss.

Jones, who missed six games and parts of two others with hamstring and knee injuries, returned to health just in time for the Packers’ late playoff push. He’s entering the final year of his contract and, while his late-season surge would seemingly mean he’ll be back with the only NFL team he’s ever known, there are no guarantees.

“Nobody thought we’d be here,” said Jones, who joined the team as a fifth-round pick in 2017 and became one of the elder statesmen on such a young squad this season. “But it just shows if you buy in, if you believe in each other, if you block out the outside noise and really come together, it’s hard to stop.”

Had the Packers won, Eric Wilson might’ve been the hero

While Carlson’s miss was obviously a glaring failure that ultimately played a huge role in the loss, the special-teams units delivered multiple critical plays, from Colby Wooden partially blocking a field-goal attempt just before halftime to keep the Packers within 7-6 at the break to Keisean Nixon’s 73-yard kickoff return immediately after the 49ers had taken a 14-13 lead midway through the third quarter.

Nixon’s return set up Love’s 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tucker Kraft and Jones’ ensuing 2-point conversion to give the Packers a 21-14 lead, but it never would have happened had veteran linebacker Eric Wilson not saved the day.

Wilson was Johnny-on-the-spot when Nixon was hit at the end of his return and fumbled. A diving Wilson caught the ball in mid-air and held onto it as he wound up at the bottom of the pile, keeping the ball for the Packers to extend their lead.

Asked if he owed Wilson a steak for his save, Nixon replied, “I owe Eric more than a steak.”

As for the loss, Nixon added: “It hurts. It’s a good football team, in their house. We’ve got to put a team like that away. You let ‘em hang around, you get the results like that.”

See the Packers in the NFC divisional playoff game vs. the 49ers

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas (20) celebrates after stopping the Green Bay Packers on a fourth down during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love (10) leaps past San Francisco 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir (2) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) makes a catch in front of Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage (26) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Jed Jacobsohn

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) throws under pressure from Green Bay Packers linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (59) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson, right, runs against San Francisco 49ers safety Logan Ryan, bottom, and linebacker Fred Warner during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Jed Jacobsohn

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers place kicker Anders Carlson (17) kicks a field goal from the hold of Daniel Whelan (19) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Jed Jacobsohn

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle (85) scores in front of Green Bay Packers safety Darnell Savage during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) leaps past Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt (95) and over safety Jonathan Owens (34) during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against the Green Bay Packers during the first half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III (3) is tackled between Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark, left, linebacker De’Vondre Campbell and linebacker Preston Smith (91) during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) runs after the ball to recover it during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) runs against San Francisco 49ers linebacker Dre Greenlaw (57) during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton catches a touchdown pass during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Jed Jacobsohn

San Francisco 49ers cornerback Ambry Thomas (20) is called for a pass interference penalty against Green Bay Packers wide receiver Bo Melton (80) during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones (33) recovers a fumble an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson, top, leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

Green Bay Packers place kicker Anders Carlson (17) watches a missed field goal during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

Jed Jacobsohn

Green Bay Packers running back Emanuel Wilson, top, leaps over San Francisco 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Godofredo A. Vásquez

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) scores a rushing touchdown during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Ashley Landis

San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) celebrates his rushing touchdown with teammates during the second half of an NFL football NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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