Seattle Seahawks @ SAN FRANCISCO 49ers
SAN FRANCISCO - Heartbreak in the city by the bay after the San Francisco 49ers dropped their season finale to the Seattle Seahawks 28-20. After wins by Atlanta and Arizona, the loss knocked the Niners out of the playoffs and into the offseason.
Defensively, San Francisco (9-6-1, 2-4 NFC West) forced four turnovers from superstars quarterback Russell Wilson. However, the 49er offense struggled to get into the end zone and Seattle (10-6, 4-2) walked away with the division.
Quarterback Teddy Bridgewater struggled to find room to run all afternoon and the absence of Julio Jones compounded the offensive struggles. Coach Kyle Shanahan wants to see his quarterback get in quality work the next few months after he faded down the stretch in his first full season since 2015. "Teddy has to have a tremendous offseason." Shanahan said.
San Francisco was hit hard all season by injuries and the fact that they were competing for a division title week 17 was still remarkable. GM CD will likely look back on this season as one with missed opportunities but will now look forward to improving his roster through the draft and free agency. "I'm pissed." He said after the game, "But we will move on and work to have the best draft class we can with our picks."
The 49ers have pick 17 in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
GREEN BAY PACKERS @ Chicago Bears
CHICAGO - The Green Bay Packers went into the game with the Chicago Bears fully expecting to walk out with the number five seed in the playoffs regardless of the outcome. However, an improbable Minnesota loss to Detroit combined with a 28-9 win over the Bears left Green Bay with a division title and number one seed in the NFC.
The Packers (11-4-1, 4-2 NFC North) were once again led by all-everything quarterback Aaron Rodgers who likely locked up his second consecutive 3GML MVP award. Rodgers threw for an efficient 284 yards a four touchdowns to keep Chicago (6-10, 2-4) from ever thinking they had a shot in this one. Rodgers ends the year with a 5,000-yard campaign and will look to keep hot in the playoffs. "We're not done. Our goal is to bring the Lombardi home." Rodgers said.
Green Bay will get a bye next week and wait to face the lowest advancing seed on the NFC side of the bracket.
Tennessee Titans @ HOUSTON TEXANS
HOUSTON - Comeback game of the year was locked up in this one as Houston overcame a 21-0 deficit the beat the visiting Titans 28-27 Sunday. The Texans looked all but done after Tennessee scored it's third straight touchdown to open the game on a Derrick Henry run. However we've seen this team fight back in games all year and this one was no different.
"There's something special about this team." Quarterback Andy Dalton said, "We just don't quit no matter the score. I'm so proud of the men in that locker room."
After coming out of halftime down 21-3, the Texans used a quick strike 63-yard touchdown to Kenny Stills to claw back into things. The Texans defense was a brick wall the rest of the way and the door was cracked. After the Titans pushed it to 24-13, Dalton found Sterling Shepard in the end zone to make it 24-20. Tennessee answered with a field goal and Dalton once again led his team down the field finding little used tight end Ryan Griffin for a 24-yard touchdown giving Houston the lead for good.
GM TH said after the game, "I am so thrilled with how this team performed down the stretch. To go from 2-9 to 7-9 shows the heart these guys have. David [Shaw] has done a wonderful job and should be commended for getting every ounce out of his team."
The win combined with a Jacksonville loss to Indianapolis created a three-way tie at the top of the division at 7-9. However, Houston lost the tie-breaker to the Colts and just missed out on a playoff spot. "We didn't get in but I still think these last five games give us momentum heading into the offseason." TH Said.
Houston will have pick number 13 in April's NFL Draft.
