Down 10 but gaining confidence to start the second half, the San Francisco 49ers faced a pivotal play: 3rd-and-8 from the Green Bay Packers’ 45-yard line with six minutes left in the third quarter.
The margins are so thin in the NFL, and the result of this particular play proved it. Backup quarterback Brandon Allen threw a catchable ball for Deebo Samuel, but the veteran receiver failed to make a contested catch against linebacker Isaiah McDuffie and safety Xavier McKinney caught the deflection for the turning point play of the Packers’ 38-10 win over the 49ers.
McKinney’s league-leading seventh interception set up the Packers inside the 49ers’ 30-yard line, and Josh Jacobs powered in a touchdown run three plays later to extend the lead to 24-7 and help set up a comfortable victory.