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Crosby’s 51-yard FG lifts GB past SF, 30-28; Lions fall on record FG

Green Bay Packers wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (83) catches a touchdown pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — Aaron Rodgers completed two deep passes to Davante Adams on a last-minute drive, setting set up Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal on the final play of the game that gave the Green Bay Packers a 30-28 victory over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.

Rodgers delivered for the Packers (2-1) after Jimmy Garoppolo gave San Francisco the lead on a 12-yard TD pass to Kyle Juszczyk with 37 seconds to play.

Green Bay had no timeouts but Rodgers completed passes of 25 and 17 yards to Adams to set up the game-winning kick and a raucous celebration in the end zone.

The comeback spoiled the first game for the 49ers (2-1) with fans since beating Green Bay in the 2019 NFC title game. San Francisco had rallied from 17 points down to take the lead before getting crushed by Rodgers.

Rodgers threw for 261 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers to back-to-back wins after a season-opening 38-3 loss to New Orleans. Rodgers had six TD passes and no interceptions in wins over San Francisco (2-1) and Detroit.

Baltimore Ravens kicker Justin Tucker celebrates after kicking a 66-yard field goal in the second half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in Detroit, Sunday, Sept. 26, 2021. Baltimore won 19-17. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

The Niners returned home following back-to-back road wins back East but struggled to slow down Rodgers.

Rodgers connected on a 1-yard TD pass to Davante Adams and a 12-yarder in the fourth quarter to Marquez Valdes-Scantling as he exploited a banged-up 49ers secondary that lost two more players to injuries.

Starting cornerback Jason Verrett went down with a season-ending knee injury in the opener and K’Waun Williams (calf) and Josh Norman (chest) left this game in the first half with injuries.

The Packers were dealing with their own injury problems on the offensive line with their top linemen missing with Elgton Jenkins out with an ankle injury and David Bakhtiari on the physically unable to perform list with a knee injury.

Rodgers got rid of the ball quickly to neutralize Nick Bosa and the Niners pass rush and was only sacked once in the win.

INJURY REPORT

Packers: Adams was down for a few minutes after taking a hard hit from Jimmie Ward that didn’t lead to a penalty. His teammates kneeled near him as he was being treated but he was able to return after missing only one play. … LB Krys Barnes left the game in the first half with a concussion. … DL Tyler Lancaster was evaluated for a concussion in the second half. … WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (hamstring) also left the game in the fourth quarter.

UP NEXT

Packers: Host Steelers on Sunday.

Also on Sunday, in Detroit, Justin Tucker ended the game as if he was starting it, backing up an extra step or two and kicking the football with every bit of force he had in his right foot.

Tucker set an NFL record with a 66-yard field goal, bouncing it through off the crossbar as time expired to lift the Baltimore Ravens to a 19-17 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

“That one was more like a kickoff,” he said. “It’s like you’re a competitor in a long-drive contest. You just let it rip and hope it stays straight.”

The kick topped the 64-yard field goal Matt Prater made for Denver against Tennessee on Dec. 8, 2013. Prater’s attempt at a 68-yard kick for Arizona on Sunday fell short and was returned 109 yards for a touchdown by Jacksonville’s Jamal Agnew, a former teammate in Detroit.

On fourth-and-19 from the Baltimore 16, he threw a 36-yard pass to Sammy Watkins to get the Ravens across midfield with 7 seconds left. The superstar quarterback spiked the ball to stop the clock, and on the next snap, he threw it away after TV footage suggested the play clock expired.

“We’ll get an apology and it doesn’t mean anything,” Detroit coach Dan Campbell said.

Then Tucker — who made a 61-yard kick to beat the Lions in Baltimore’s previous visit to Detroit eight years ago — came out and made the record-breaking field goal.

Referee Scott Novak told a pool reporter that he had not seen a replay of the play in which the play clock appeared on TV to expire before Jackson’s incomplete pass to the sideline, adding he had no idea if there was an error made.

“The back judge is looking at the play clock and if it were to hit zero, he sees the zero, and he then looks to see if the ball is being snapped,” Novak said. “If the ball is being snapped, we will let the play go. If it’s not moving, it’s delay of game. Those are the mechanics that we apply on that play.”

Ryan Santoso made a go-ahead, 35-yard field goal with 1:04 left, giving Campbell an opportunity to win his first game with the Lions (0-3).

“It hurts because you put yourself in position to win,” Campbell said. “The silver lining is we’re getting better and I’m proud of the way they competed.”

Tucker, who was wide right on a 49-yard field goal in the first quarter, made a 39-yard kick with 10:05 left in the first half to put them ahead 3-0. Tucker made two field goals in the third.

MEGATRON’S VISIT

Calvin Johnson set aside his hard feelings for the Lions long enough to be honored at halftime, receiving his ring of excellence from the Pro Football Hall of Fame after being inducted last month.

UP NEXT

Lions: Play at Chicago on

Sunday.

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