SANTA CLARA — The 49ers will face the Green Bay Packers in the postseason for the 10th time in franchise history, making it the most common matchup in NFL history. Remarkably, all of the playoff games have come over the last three decades.
Here’s a look at the previous nine games, with the 49ers winning the last four in succession:
49ers 13, Packers 10
Divisional round
Date/site: Jan. 22, 2022 at Lambeau Field
What happened: The 49ers trailed 10-3 and had nothing going on offense but tied the score 10-10 with 4:41 to play when Jordan Willis blocked a Corey Bojorquez punt with Green Bay backed up at its own 12. Talanoa Hufanga scooped it up and ran 6 yards for the touchdown. Taking over with 3:20 left, Jimmy Garoppolo got the 49ers in position for a 45-yard Robbie Gould field goal at the gun.
Quotable: “We were struggling. With the snow and the dark, we couldn’t see it. But then I heard it bounce to my left. I wasn’t going to jump on it. I wanted to score,” — Talanoa Hufanga
The aftermath: The 49ers lost 20-17 to the host Los Angeles Rams in NFC Championship Game.
49ers 37, Packers 20
NFC Championship Game
Date/site: Jan. 19, 2020 at Levi’s Stadium
What happened: The 49ers led 27-0 at halftime and dominated Green Bay with the run throughout, with Raheem Mostert rushing for 220 yards on 29 carries and four touchdowns. He became the first player in NFL history to break 200 yards and score four touchdowns. In all, the 49ers ran the ball 42 times for 285 yards and Garoppolo threw just eight passes, completing six for 77 yards. Defensively, the 49ers sacked Aaron Rodgers three times and got interceptions from Emmanuel Moseley and Richard Sherman.
Quotable: “I can’t believe I’m in this position right now, and I did the things I did tonight,” — Raheem Mostert
The aftermath: The 49ers lost 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIV in Miami.
49ers 23, Packers 20
Wild-card round
Date/site: Jan. 5, 2014 at Lambeau Field
What happened: Green Bay was the home team by virtue of their NFC North title despite an 8-7-1 record, with the 12-4 49ers the second-place finishers to Seattle. The 49ers escaped on a 33-yard Phil Dawson field goal at the gun, with quarterback Colin Kaepernick completing 16 of 30 passes for 227 yards and a touchdown and seven rushes for 98 yards. Kaepernick drove the 49ers 65 yards in 14 plays for the winning points. The 49ers’ defense sacked Rodgers four times, including 1 1/2 from Aldon Smith.
Quotable: “Didn’t think we were going to pull it out, did you?” — 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh
The aftermath: The 49ers lost to host Seattle 23-17 in the NFC Championship Game.
49ers 45, Packers 31
Divisional round
Date/site: Jan. 12, 2013 at Candlestick Park
What happened: It was a tour de force by Kaepernick, who shook off a 52-yard pick-six to Sam Shields in the first quarter for one of the dominant performances in 49ers postseason history. Kaepernick was 17 of 31 for 263 yards and two touchdowns, and had 16 rushes for 181 yards and two scores, including a 56-yard scoring run. Frank Gore added 119 yards on 23 carries as the 49ers rushed for 323 yards and gained 579 in all.
Quotable: “He’s making it happen. With his feet, with his arm, just out there making plays,” 49er wide receiver Michael Crabtree on Kaepernick.
The aftermath: The 49ers beat Atlanta 28-24 on the road in the NFC Championship Game, then lost to Baltimore 34-31 in Super Bowl XLVII.
Packers 25, 49ers 15
Wild-card round
Date/site: Jan. 13, 2002 at Lambeau Field
What happened: The Packers broke up a 15-15 tie in the fourth quarter with a 45-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell and a 9-yard by Ahman Green. The Green Bay defense bottled up Garrison Hearst, who had 42 yards on 13 carries, and held the 49ers to 290 yards of total offense. Quarterback Jeff Garcia was 22 of 32 for 233 yards and one touchdown. The 49ers tied on a 14-yard touchdown pass from Garcia to Tai Streets and a two-point conversion pass from Garcia to Streets.
Quotable: “We’re going to come back next year bigger, faster, stronger than ever,” — 49ers quarterback Jeff Garcia
The aftermath: Green Bay lost 45-17 in the divisional round to the host St. Louis Rams.
49ers 30, Packers 27
Wild-card round
Date/site: Jan. 3, 1999 at Candlestick Park
What happened: In one of the most memorable finishes in 49ers playoff history, Steve Young threw a 26-yard touchdown pass to Terrell Owens with eight seconds to play for the 49ers win. Green Bay had taken a 27-23 lead at the two-minute warning on Brett Favre’s 15-yard pass to Antonio Freeman. Owens had lost a fumble and dropped several passes leading to the fantastic finish. Garrison Hearst had 128 yards on 22 carries for the 49ers and Young was 18 of 32 for 182 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions.
Quotable: “First, I stumbled pulling out from center, and I believe I may have disappeared for a second, which made the defense unsure. And secondly, I looked and saw Terrell was there. Actually, there was a bigger hole down the middle than I expected,” — 49ers quarterback Steve Young.
January 3, 1999: Trailing by 4 PTS to the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Playoffs, San Francisco #49ers QB Steve Young hit WR Terrell Owens for a TD in the end zone with 3 seconds left to advance, known as “The Catch II”
pic.twitter.com/NINNT5a6du— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) January 3, 2022
The aftermath: The 49ers lost 20-18 on the road to Atlanta in the divisional round.
Packers 23, 49ers 10
NFC Championship Game
Date/site: Jan. 11, 1998 at Candlestick Park
What happened: The 49ers never got untracked offensively, getting just a 28-yard field goal from Gary Anderson and nothing else. The 49ers’ other points came on a 95-yard kickoff return from Chuck Levy when they trailed 23-3 with 3:58 to play. Young was 23 of 38 for 250 yards, an interception and was sacked four times. Dorsey Levens rushed for 114 yards and a touchdown against the 49ers’ defense in the mud.
Quotable: “We’ve got to find a way to beat the Green Bay Packers. We have to play better on game day and coach better. I’ve got to be better. I’ve got to do everything in my power to get better,” — 49ers coach Steve Mariucci
The aftermath: The Packers lost 31-24 to the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego.
Packers 35, 49ers 14
Divisional round
Date/site: Jan. 4, 1997 at Lambeau Field
What happened: Steve Young didn’t make it out of the first quarter attempting to play with a rib fractured in the previous week’s playoff win over Philadelphia. Playing in the rain at 35 degrees, Elvis Grbac was 19 of 36 for 125 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions. Desmond Howard opened the scoring with a 71-yard punt return for Green Bay. The Packers threw just 15 times, with Edgar Bennett and Levens combining for 32 carries and 126 yards.
Quotable: “Green Bay has not won any Super Bowls. They haven’t done much other than win a couple of playoff games. They need to win the whole thing before you can say they are a great team.” — 49ers linebacker Ken Norton Jr.
The aftermath: The Packers beat Carolina 30-13 in the NFC Championship Game and then New England 35-21 in Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans.
Packers 27, 49ers 17
Divisional round
Date: Jan. 6, 1996 at Candlestick Park
What happened: The Packers jumped out to a 21-3 lead when Adam Walker fumbled a swing pass from Young and Craig Newsome returned it 31 yards to open the scoring. It came on the 49ers’ first play from scrimmage. Playing from behind, Young was 32 of 65 for 328 yards with a pair of interceptions while Favre was 21 of 28 for 299 yards and two touchdowns. The 49ers were defending Super Bowl champions and 10-point favorites.
Quotable: “This game was really a shock. The quick score by their defense elevated their game,” — 49ers linebacker Gary Plummer
The aftermath: The Packers lost the NFC Championship Game 38-27 on the road to the Dallas Cowboys.