Santa Clara, Calif. (AP) -- With only seconds to play and no time-out, Aaron Rodgers had no doubts about where he would take the Green Bay Packers for a game-winning kick.
Rodgers completed two deep passes to Davante Adamson on the last-minute drive, setting up Mason Crosby's 51-yard field goal in the final game of the game, giving the Packers a 30-28 win over the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night.
"My first thought in deciding how I wanted to get us to field-goal range was how I could get 17 balls," Rodgers said.
Rodgers did it twice to Adams for 25 and 17 yards, when the Packers capped their 25 with 37 seconds and a no time finish following Jimmy Garoppolo's 12-yard TD pass to Kyle Juszcic.
Adams came back after taking a hard hit from Jimmy Ward that looked like it might knock him out of the game and ended up with 12 catches for 132 yards.
"How can you not be romantic about football?" Rodgers said.
All that was left for Crosby to make a kick and celebrate the victory for the Packers (2-1) came after a 17-point lead.
"Celebrating with the people in the end zone, seeing that energy and feeling that juice, that's what it's all about," Crosby said. "And then taking over the locker room and people pouring water on my head and all, that's the game. It was really special."
The return since beating Green Bay in the 2019 NFC title game spoiled the first game for the 49ers (2-1) with fans. San Francisco rallied below 17 points to take the lead before being crushed by Rodgers.
Rodgers conceded 261 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Packers to back-to-back victories after losing 38-3 at the start of the season to New Orleans. Rodgers had six TD passes and no deterrents in wins over San Francisco (2-1) and Detroit.
"I feel good about my team," Rodgers said. “Week one was an anomaly. I said so and believe me. We made a comeback in Week Two. A great team played tonight right down to the wire. This plane ride is going to feel incredible.”
The Niners returned home after back-to-back road wins, but struggled to slow Rodgers.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said, "It took some great individual effort to guys to make incredible plays that brought us in and gave us a chance to win that game." "But some of the mistakes we made throughout the game, you can't win a lot of football by doing that. That's what we have to clean up."
Rodgers added a 1-yard TD pass to Adams and Marquez Valdes-Scantling from a 12-yarder in the fourth quarter to help the Packers hold the lead.
He made it 27–21 when Garoppolo inexplicably threw the ball to the ground behind him while trying to avoid a sack by Kenny Clarke, which set up a field goal by Crosby.
Garoppolo responded with a TD drive but it was not enough.
"There is always too much time on the clock if there is ever time on the clock, especially with Aaron Rodgers," said tight end George Kittel. "I think we have a really good defense. I don't really care when our defense is on the field. But it's Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams over there. They did what it took for them to win. Had to do."
FAST START
The Packers got off to a brisk start with scores on their first two drives. Rodgers connected on a 42-yard pass from Alan Lazard on the first drive to set up a field goal by Mason Crosby. Rodgers hits Valdes-Scantling at 47-yarder to set up a short TD pass for Adams. Rodgers was 9 for 9 for 127 yards in the quarter.
DOUBLE DIP
The Niners avoided being shut out in the first half when they scored in the final game. After a clear intentional grounding off Garoppolo that would have ended the half, Lance came in for his first snap after the opener. He ran behind a big block from Trent Williams for a score of 1 yard, which cut Green Bay's lead to 17-7.
Packers coach Matt LaFleur was furious about the lack of a deliberate grounding call and told referee Jerome Bogar about leaving the field.
San Francisco then scored in early second-half possession when Garopolo hit an 8-yard TD pass to Brandon Ayuk, the Niners scoring 14 points without touching Rodgers' ball.
INJURY REPORT
Packers: Adams was down for a few minutes after taking a hard hit from Jimmy Ward, which didn't result in a penalty. His teammates knelt beside him as he was being treated but he was only able to make a comeback after missing a game. ... LB Chris Barnes left the game with an injury in the first half. ... DL Tyler Lancaster was assessed for a concussion in the second half.