Niner Noise
FanSided

Why 49ers tough finish to 2019 helps vs Packers in playoffs

By Nathan Bannerman

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 and offensive tackle Daniel Brunskill #60 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - DECEMBER 21: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 and offensive tackle Daniel Brunskill #60 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after a touchdown in the second quarter of the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi's Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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49ers Jimmie Ward
Free safety Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

The San Francisco 49ers started the first half of the 2019 campaign with a perfect record. They ended it with a bit of adversity, but as Ben Franklin once said: “Out of adversity comes opportunity.” The 49ers have a big opportunity on Sunday.

It’s easy to say the San Francisco 49ers had a favorable schedule to begin the year. The 49ers faced teams that ultimately didn’t make the playoffs. However, San Francisco won those games.

They needed to win those games, because they knew four of their final seven opponents would be fighting for No. 1 seeds and playoff positioning. They even faced the NFC representatives in last year’s Super Bowl.

So you could agree with the notion that the 49ers have been playing playoff football for a month. If indeed the 49ers have felt they’ve been playing “playoff football” for the last month or so, it bodes well for them against the Green Bay Packers.

During the final eight games of the regular season, the 49ers finished with a record of 5-3. All three of their losses came within the final 30 seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime.

As we saw throughout Wild Card weekend, many games in the playoffs can come down to the final possession.

On the Packers’ side of things, after their Week 12 loss to San Francisco, they rattled off five straight wins to end their regular season. Only two of those games were won by less than eight points.

Despite being an extraordinary team, they haven’t faced a lot adversity over their final stretch of games. The only other team on their second half schedule in the playoffs were the Vikings.

The 49ers will come into the NFC Championship game with a bit of advantage. They had an extra day of rest, they don’t need to travel, and they’ll have a pretty significant crowd on hand. But it’s important they remember the struggles they went through to get to this point.

Their first loss of the season was in overtime against the Seattle Seahawks. In this game, the 49ers had the lead up until late in the third quarter, and never regained it. It wasn’t from lack of chances, though.

After kicker Chase McLaughlin tied the game with four seconds left in regulation, he had a chance to win it in overtime. Unfortunately, he missed, and three drives later, the Seahawks won the game with time running out.

San Francisco’s second loss of the year came during an extremely rainy day in Baltimore. The 49ers did a lot of great things against the Ravens. They were able to force the NFL MVP front-runner, quarterback Lamar Jackson to fumble and lose possession.

The defense also held Jackson to 206 total offensive yards, which was practically impossible at the time. They also limited the Ravens to 20 points, which was the lowest the Ravens scored all regular season.

But with the game still tied at 17 a piece, and a chance to extend the drive with 6:33 left in regulation at hand, head coach Kyle Shanahan decided to go for it on fourth down. Throughout the season, the 49ers were one of the best teams in the NFL when it came to third and fourth downs.

Rather than run the ball with running back Raheem Mostert, Shanahan decided to attempt a passing play to tight end George Kittle. It didn’t work out, thus allowing Jackson and the Ravens offense to march down the field and kick a game-winning field goal with no time remaining.

The Niners’ third loss of the season was a pure trap game. With no disrespect to the Atlanta Falcons, the 49ers should have dominated their Week 13 meeting. The Falcons had only four wins heading into what was dubbed their Super Bowl.

It was the first time Shanahan was coaching against his former team, and both sides wanted to win. The fourth quarter, once again, let the 49ers down. They gave up 19 points, including this game-winning touchdown to wide receiver Julio Jones, while only being able to produce nine points theirselves.

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These losses, and the three close victories, have put the 49ers in a great position—not only physically, but mentally. They have the mental toughness to push against the Packers.

They know what it takes to win in either a shootout or a down-to-the-wire game.