3 areas 49ers must improve on from Packers game to win NFC Championship

Will the 49ers be able to maintain their momentum against the Lions in the NFC Championship game? Discover the areas the team needs to improve on after their victory over the Packers.

The San Francisco 49ers played the Green Bay Packers last weekend in an NFC divisional-round playoff game that probably took a couple of years off of the lives of many Niners fans.

Running back Christian McCaffrey would score the go-ahead touchdown with 1:07 left in the game, putting San Francisco up 24-21. Then linebacker Dre Greenlaw would get the game-clinching interception on the ensuing drive with less than a minute left to advance the 49ers to the NFC Championship game and a date with the Detroit Lions.

The game was anything but smooth for the Niners, though. The rain played a big factor, and many times it seemed as if the Packers were better prepared for it than San Francisco. Quarterback Brock Purdy seemed to be missing throws to his receivers throughout the first three quarters, whereas Packers quarterback Jordan Love seemed sure-handed for much of that same span.

There were six lead changes total in the game, and the 49ers did not even put points on the board until the second quarter. The fourth quarter seemed to be where the tides turned, however, and the Niners defense shut out Green Bay while the offense scored 10 unanswered.

And, of course, Purdy turned it on in the fourth quarter, leading San Francisco on that game-winning touchdown drive in the final minutes.

Although the 49ers escaped the divisional round with a victory, there was a lot to be desired from the team's performance.

Let's take a look at three areas the team needs to clean up when they play the Lions on Sunday in the NFC Championship.