Jan 19, 2020; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers running back Raheem Mostert (31) scores a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers in the third quarter of the NFC Championship Game at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
NFLBy Phillip Bupp on

As the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers showed up in Santa Clara, one team was ready to play and one team was apparently not. After moving out to a 27-0 lead at halftime, the 49ers maintained the lead throughout the second half and depleted the Packers 37-20 and are heading to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2013.

We saw something rare in the first quarter, a Jimmy Garoppolo pass. Garoppolo only threw eight passes and had 77 yards all game but a 30 yard throw to Deebo Samuel midway through the first almost sprung for a touchdown. Just a couple minutes later, Raheem Mostert powered through on a 36 yard touchdown, his first of four TD’s.

After a Robbie Gould field goal made it 10-0 49ers, Tevin Coleman went down with what appeared to be a serious elbow injury. Out for the rest of the game, Mostert stepped up and performed beautifully and scored his second touchdown on the ensuing play.

The Packers tried to march up the field to try and get a score before halftime but a botched snap resulting in a fumble gave the 49ers the ball with enough time to get another score. The 49ers kept it with the hot hands and feet of Mostert who got his third TD in the half for a 27-0 first half score.

The Packers came back but by this point, the 49ers could afford to let off the gas a bit. The opening drive of the second half culminated in a nine yard Aaron to Aaron connection as Rodgers threw to Jones to at least get on the board.

That didn’t stop the 49ers as Mostert rounded the corner on a 22 yard run for his fourth touchdown of the game, breaking an NFC Championship Game record. Heading toward the end of the third quarter, the 49ers were up 34-7 and all seemed over.

Don’t get me wrong, this game was over but the Packers didn’t give up at all throughout the game. The fourth quarter started with a Rodgers threw bomb to Jimmy Graham who got right to the goal line so Jones could rush it in.

After a 49ers three and out, the Packers got back into the end zone on the next drive, and suddenly it was 34-20. The Packers made a run and tried to come back but it was just too many points to make up and not enough time to do that. In the end, the 49ers were just too powerful and tacked on a field goal for good measure to win 37-20.

Clearly, the star of the game was Raheem Mostert, who ran for a career high 220 yards. Mostert’s total was second to Eric Dickerson (248) for most rushing yards in a playoff game.

It’s now onto Super Bowl LIV where the 49ers take on the Chiefs. Most players on either team have never had Super Bowl experience and it’s been a while since either team has won the “Big Game.”

The Chiefs were in two of the first four Super Bowls back when the AFL was still a league. And after going 1-1, the Chiefs are back for the first time in 50 years. The 49ers last made the Super Bowl in 2013 but haven’t won the game since 1995. Despite not winning a Super Bowl for 25 years, the 49ers can become the third team to win six Super Bowls and tie the Patriots and Steelers for most.

Opening odds have the Chiefs at 1.5 point favorites with an over/under of 52.5 according to Caesar’s Palace. Vegas has this to not only be a close but high scoring game and if that’s the case, we should be in for a classic in a couple weeks.

About Phillip Bupp

Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.

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