49ers grades, analysis from NFC Championship win vs. Packers

In a big game, special teams were nothing less than perfect. Every component was perfectly executed.

Mitch Wishnowsky was giving the Packers fits for the entire game. One kickoff was muffed, one punt required a diving catch that would have ordinarily been a highlight reel play if it was a catch for actual gain, and the Packers couldn’t get going on any returns.

On that note, the coverage units won the battle against Green Bay decisively.

Robbie Gould looks back to normal, kicking perfectly against Green Bay, including a long 54-yard field goal.

Richie James continues to show why he’s considered one of the most dynamic players on the roster with a 26-yard punt return that gave the 49ers excellent field position.

Everything went right. Even the slight sensation of nerves when the lead was cut to 14 was more a byproduct of how the Week 17 contest against the Seattle Seahawks had gone.

The reality was simply: Kyle Shanahan and Robert Saleh coached an absolute masterpiece to the point that the game was over as soon as it hit 27-0.

Similar to Mostert, words alone cannot express the brilliance we saw in this game. All the weapons of Green Bay were shut down until it was too late, every defensive flaw was ruthlessly exploited, every inch given by Green Bay was a mile taken by San Francisco.

If Shanahan coaches like this in the Super Bowl, there is no question that the 49ers will hoist their sixth NFL Championship.