NFL

Final-whistle Gould field goal sends 49ers past Rodgers' Packers

By Sports Desk January 22, 2022

The Green Bay Packers had a special teams' nightmare before Robbie Gould's final-whistle field goal clinched the San Francisco 49ers a spot in the NFC Championship Game with a 13-10 win in snowy conditions at Lambeau Field on Saturday.

The Packers had led for most of the game after AJ Dillon's first-quarter touchdown but the 49ers drew level late when Jordan Willis blocked Corey Bojorquez's punt allowing Talanoa Hufanga to collect the loose ball and run into the end-zone.

The 49ers regained possession with 3:25 to play, with Deebo Samuel helping drive them into field-goal range before 39-year-old Gould nailed his 45-yard attempt on the final whistle.

Samuel had 10 carries for 39 yards along with three catches for 44 yards and two kick returns for 59 yards, while 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo completed 11 of 19 passes for 131 yards with one interception.

San Francisco will face either the Tampa Bay Buccaneers or Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Championship Game, while it is season over for Aaron Rodgers' Packers.

Rodgers completed 20 of 29 passes for 225 yards but with no touchdowns, with running back Dillon scored their TD after a 10-play drive.

The Packers might have led 10-0 at the main break after Adrian Amos' pick, with Rodgers finding Aaron Jones for 75 yards although his run was curtailed. In the same drive, Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby had his 39-yard attempt blocked by Jimmie Ward on the half-time whistle.

The 49ers got on the board with Gould's third-quarter field goal, before the late drama with the veteran sealing their passage into the NFC Championship Game.

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    Denver (8-5) was able to earn a third consecutive win despite Winston throwing for a Browns franchise-record 497 yards and four touchdowns and a huge night as well for former Bronco Jerry Jeudy, who racked up 235 yards and a touchdown on nine catches in his first meeting with his ex-team since being traded to Cleveland in the off-season.

    Winston also threw three interceptions, however, with two coming back for touchdowns. McMillian's score came with 1:48 remaining and the Browns (3-9) threatening while trailing by just two points, 34-32.

    Bo Nix was picked off twice for Denver while completing just 18 of 35 passes for 294 yards, though the rookie did connect with Marvin Mims for a 93-yard touchdown that gave the Broncos a 28-17 lead early in the third quarter.

    Cleveland answered with a long touchdown pass of its own a mere 11 seconds later, as Winston hit a wide-open Jeudy in stride on a deep ball for a 70-yard score. The duo then teamed up for a successful 2-point conversion that brought the Browns within 28-25.

    After Wil Lutz gave Denver some breathing room with a 36-yard field goal, Winston led the Browns on a nine-play, 72-yard drive culminating with his 5-yard touchdown pass to Nick Chubb that put Cleveland up 32-31 with 8:57 left.

    The Broncos responded with an 11-play series that Lutz finished with a go-ahead 27-yard field goal with 2:54 remaining. McMillian then sealed the outcome by taking Winston's ill-advised pass the other way on the following possession.

    WInston's first interception of the night was returned 71 yards for a touchdown by Nik Bonitto to stake Denver to a 21-10 advantage late in the second quarter. The veteran quarterback quickly rebounded, though, by engineering an 11-play, 70-yard drive that ended with his 4-yard touchdown pass to David Njoku with 13 seconds left until half-time.

    Njoku also had a touchdown catch in the first quarter and finished with nine receptions for 52 yards. Elijah Moore added 111 yards on eight catches for Cleveland.

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  • Nuno looking beyond Man City's poor form ahead of clash with Nottingham Forest Nuno looking beyond Man City's poor form ahead of clash with Nottingham Forest

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    "I've lived better before than now," he said. "But I'm incredibly honest with myself and, when we were winning a lot, my perspective was I was fortunate to live that.

    "Now I'm not depressed that everything is going bad. When I think I cannot do it we will talk with the club but I feel that I want to do it and life is not in all departments perfect."

    PLAYERS TO WATCH

    Manchester City - Erling Haaland

    Haaland has failed to score in back-to-back Premier League games for City, although he does still have 15 goals in his past 11 games at the Etihad Stadium in all competitions.

    The leading Premier League top scorer this season, who has 12 goals in 13 matches overall, has also netted four times in two games on home soil against Forest.

    Nottingham Forest - Chris Wood

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    The New Zealand international is looking to become the first Reds player to score in four successive away games in the competition, and the first in the English top flight for the club since Garry Birtles in 1983-84.

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    — Premier League (@premierleague) December 2, 2024

    MATCH PREDICTION: MAN CITY WIN

    City have conceded three-plus goals in both of their past two home games in all competitions, which they last managed in 1963 when going on to be relegated from the top flight.

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    Forest have also lost their past four away league games against City by an aggregate scoreline of 12-0, while they are winless in their past seven top-flight visits since 1989.

    The Reds have lost their past five away games against reigning top-flight champions by an aggregate scoreline of 21-2, meanwhile, since beating Manchester City 2-1 in December 1994.

    If the omens were not already stacked against Forest, opponents City are unbeaten in their past 31 home Premier League games on a Wednesday, winning each of the past 20.

    OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

    Manchester City win - 66.8%
    Nottingham Forest win - 14.8%
    Draw - 18.4%

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