Refs Steal Packer-49er Playoff Game From Packers

The Packers went into the playoff game with the 49ers with a tremendous amount of injuries, which meant that the game was going to be close.  They had 15 players on injured reserve, and this does not include key players like Clay Matthews, their best defensive player, and others.  In addition, they lost two key defensive starters, Shields and Neal, on the 49ers’ first possession, and an offensive lineman later in the game.

The bad calls by the refs, some of which went against the 49ers, cost the Packers the game, a game they would have almost definitely won even with all these bad calls if they didn’t have so many injuries, as they “lost” on a field goal on the last play.

Let’s look at the calls, including the calls that went against the 49ers.

1.  When it was 3-0 S.F., the 49ers were driving, and pass interference should have been called on the Packers in the endzone, giving the 49ers a first-and-goal from the one.  The 49ers got a field goal, but almost definitely would have scored a touchdown if the interference was called.

2.  In the third quarter, up 13-10, the 49ers had a 2nd-and-7 from their own 37, and completed a 22-yard pass to Crabtree to the Packer 41.  Crabtree blatantly pushed off on House, the DB.  This should have been a penalty, pushing the 49ers back.  The 49ers ended up punting, but the much-better field position due to the non-call meant the Packers started from their own 16, and had to punt, giving the ball back to the 49ers around midfield.

3.  Jordy Nelson was blatantly held in the open field going out for a pass, with no call.

4.  Down 13-10 with 5:16  left in the third quarter, on 3rd-and-23 from their own 14, the Packers threw a long pass to Jordy Nelson at the S.F. 35.  The defender grabbed and held Nelson’s left hand, preventing him from catching the pass, and there was no call.

5.  At the beginning of the 4th quarter, down 13-10, on first down from the S.F. 38,  the Packers threw a pass to Jones at the S.F. 10.  Jones was interfered with, and the Packers should have had a first and goal from the 10, but there was no call.  The Packers did end up scoring a touchdown (see below).

6.  Three plays after the no-call in number 5 above, the Packers completed a 4th-and-2 pass to the S.F. 4.  On this play, a Packer offensive lineman blatantly held a 49er with no call, and had this been called, the Packers would have faced a 4th and 12 from the S.F. 40.  However, had the interference been called on the earlier Jones pass, this play never happens and the Packers have a first-and-goal.

7.  With the score 20-20 and 4:09 left in the fourth quarter, on the 49ers’ “winning” field-goal drive, the 49ers faced 3rd-and-10 from their 31.  They completed a 17-yard pass, which kept the drive alive and led to the “winning” field goal.  The 49ers blatantly held on the play, which was a sustained hold, with no call.  Had the call been made, the 49ers would have faced 3rd-and-20 from their own 21, making it very likely they would have had to punt, allowing the Packers to try to drive for the winning score with decent field position.  Daniels, the Packer that was held, was coming right at Kaepernick, which is why the lineman grabbed him.

8.  With 1:13 left in the 4th quarter, still tied at 20, the 49ers faced 3rd-and-8 from the Packer 38.  Kaepernick ran for 11 yards and a first down to the Packer 27, keeping the drive alive and putting the 49ers in winning-field-goal range.  On this play, the Packers blitzed Bush off the right corner.  He was running at Kaepernick, and Gore, the running back, put both arms around Bush in a blatant hold so he couldn’t get to Kaepernick, and this allowed Kaepernick to scramble for the first down.  This was in the open field and near the QB, so it’s a legitimate question as to how this could not be called.  It, along with the other calls, determined the outcome.  Had this been called, the 49ers would have had 3rd-and-18 from the Packer 48.

Once again, a Packer season is ended by the refs, and not the opposition.