2019 NFC Championship Game

Background

The 49ers took a 27–0 lead into halftime behind the running of Raheem Mostert. Although the Packers scored in the second half, it was not enough to overcome their deficit. Mostert rushed for 220 yards and four touchdowns, while quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo set an NFC Championship Game record for fewest pass attempts with just eight.

Background

The Green Bay Packers fired head coach Mike McCarthy after two poor seasons and hired Matt LaFleur for 2019. They started 3–0, entered their bye week at 8–2, then lost 37–8 to the San Francisco 49ers, their worst loss of the season. They finished with a five-game win streak and a 13–3 record. The 49ers won their first eight games, then went 3–3 with all losses by one score or less on the last play.

They ended with back-to-back wins to also finish 13–3. The New Orleans Saints also finished 13–3. Tiebreakers gave the 49ers the first seed because they beat both the Packers and Saints; the Packers got the second seed due to a better conference record than the Saints. Both teams had first-round byes and won their divisional games: the Packers beat the Seahawks 28–23, and the 49ers beat the Vikings 27–10. The 49ers hosted the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020, as 7-point favorites.

First half

The 49ers began with a three-and-out, then the Packers drove to midfield before punting. San Francisco scored first on a six-play, 89-yard drive featuring a 30-yard catch by Deebo Samuel and a 36-yard rushing touchdown by Raheem Mostert. After another Packers punt, the 49ers added a field goal by Robbie Gould to lead 10–0. Aaron Rodgers fumbled on third down, leading to a short punt that set up a 37-yard touchdown drive, capped by Mostert's nine-yard run for a 17–0 lead.

The Packers moved the ball with a 23-yard catch by Jake Kumerow and four straight Aaron Jones rushes for 27 yards, but Rodgers fumbled the snap, recovered by the 49ers. San Francisco kicked another field goal for a 20–0 lead. Tyler Ervin muffed the kickoff return, and after a Packers first down, Rodgers threw an interception intended for Geronimo Allison. Mostert ran three straight times, scoring his third touchdown on an 18-yard rush. The Packers got the ball with 45 seconds left but punted, ending the half with the 49ers up 27–0.

Second half

The Packers opened the second half with an 11-play, 75-yard drive for their first points, as Rodgers completed nine passes and Jones caught a nine-yard touchdown, cutting the lead to 27–7. The 49ers responded with seven straight rushes, ending with Mostert's 22-yard touchdown, his fourth of the game. Green Bay then drove 75 yards in 10 plays, highlighted by a 42-yard reception by Jimmy Graham to the one-yard line, and Jones scored on a one-yard rush.

A failed two-point conversion left the score 34–13. The Packers attempted an onside kick, but the 49ers recovered. After a 49ers three-and-out, the Packers drove 92 yards in seven plays, including a 65-yard pass to Davante Adams, and Jace Sternberger caught an eight-yard touchdown to make it 34–20. The 49ers then held the ball for about five minutes and kicked a field goal to lead 37–20.

On the next drive, Rodgers converted a fourth-and-13 but then threw his second interception. The 49ers knelt three times to end the game.