GREEN BAY, Wis. — The San Francisco 49ers simply will not go away.
The same Niners that were once 3-5 and headed for a long offseason full of questions are now headed to the NFC championship game for the second time in three seasons.
To get there, San Francisco had to pull out the type of late-game magic that has been a hallmark of its late-season surge to the playoffs. The result was a wild 13-10 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Saturday night at Lambeau Field.
After a disappointing offensive performance marked by drops, protection issues and costly missed throws, the Niners pieced together the drive they needed at the biggest moment with receiver Deebo Samuel taking a handoff 9 yards for a first down on third-and-7 at Green Bay's 38.
That run set up kicker Robbie Gould's game-winning 45-yard field goal as time expired.
For a team that had won eight of its past 10 entering Saturday's game, this one might have required the most unpredictable of contributions to make it happen.
Buoyed by a dominant defensive performance in which they didn't allow a touchdown after the first drive of the game, the Niners put the special in special teams to overcome the Packers in a game they trailed for most of the first three and a half quarters.
With their offense struggling mightily, the 49ers finally got points from a special teams unit that often came under fire in recent weeks as the team's biggest weakness.
On fourth-and-19 at Green Bay's 12, Niners defensive end Jordan Willis, nursing a high ankle sprain, burst through the middle and blocked punter Corey Bojorquez's punt. The ball popped straight in the air before landing near rookie safety Talanoa Hufanga.
Hufanga scooped it up and raced 6 yards for the touchdown and Gould's
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