The San Francisco 49ers learned first-hand that you don’t want to give the ball to “Bad Man” Aaron Rodgers when the game is on the line. Even if he has just 37 seconds and no time-outs to work with.
After having a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter in their Sunday Night Football clash against the 49ers, the Green Bay Packers found themselves behind 27-28 late in the fourth period. San Francisco managed to bounce back from a bad start and were less than a minute away from claiming a big win against their NFC rivals, thanks to Kyle Juszczyk’s touchdown.
Rodgers and the Packers offense took the field with 37 seconds left on the clock and had odds stacked against them. They were on their own 25-yard-line with all of their time-outs gone.
On the first play, Rodgers connected with his wideout Davante Adams for a 25-yard gain. Adam tried to get to the sidelines, but was tackled in the field with the time running out. Green Bay managed to set themselves and spike the ball with 20 seconds left.
After one incomplete pass, Rodgers and Adams connected again for 17 yards, and the Packers managed to spike the ball in time to give kicker Mason Crosby a 51-yard field goal try. As the time was winding down, Crosby’s shot went between the uprights, and the Packers started celebrating a memorable win.
Speaking with reporters after the game, Rodgers, who finished with 261 yards and two TDs, said that he had a feeling Crosby would make the FG and seal it for Green Bay.
“He’s gonna make it. That’s what he’s done his entire career,” Rodgers said. “He’s made a bunch of big kicks for us. I love him to death. We’ve been playing together for fifteen years, sitting next to each other every bus ride, every plane ride. He’s an incredible guy, and he’s so clutch.”
