NFC: San Francisco 49ers 30.2C Green Bay Packers 27 1998–99 NFL playoffs

at 3com park @ candlestick point, san francisco

game time: 4:00 p.m. est/1:00 p.m. pst
game weather: 60 °f (16 °c), clear
game attendance: 66,506
referee: gerald austin
tv announcers (fox): pat summerall (play-by-play) , john madden (color commentator)

the 49ers defeated packers, had eliminated them playoffs in each of past 3 seasons, in 1 of wildest back-and-forth games in league history in last hurrah in 49ers dynasty.

both teams took advantage of each other s turnovers , mistakes throughout game. in first quarter, green bay safety pat terrell s recovery of fumble receiver terrell owens set 48-yard drive ended ryan longwell field goal. later in quarter, chris doleman recovered fumble dorsey levens on packers 17-yard line. 2 plays later, steve young threw 1-yard touchdown pass tight end greg clark, giving san francisco 7–3 lead. packers offense responded driving 62 yards in 9 plays, , levens made miscue 22-yard run 49ers 2-yard line on fourth down , 1. on next play, quarterback brett favre finished drive 2-yard touchdown pass antonio freeman 4 seconds second quarter.

later in second quarter, 49ers defensive r. w. mcquarters returned punt 19 yards 47-yard line. running garrison hearst rushed 3 times 28 yards on 37-yard drive ended field goal wade richey, tying game @ 10. before half ended, packers retook lead 9-play, 83-yard drive, aided 2 15-yard penalties against san francisco. levens finished drive 2-yard touchdown run, giving green bay 17–10 halftime lead.

early in third quarter, 49ers linebacker lee woodall intercepted pass favre , returned 17 yards packers 33-yard line. 4 plays later, owens dropped pass in end zone, young threw second touchdown pass clark on next play, tying score @ 17. after forcing punt, took lead driving 48 yards , scoring 48-yard field goal richey.

in fourth quarter, packers drove 60 yards in 11 plays, featuring 33-yard reception fullback william henderson, , scored 37-yard field goal tie game. on 49ers ensuing drive, 34-yard completion young owens set richey field goal put them in lead, 23–20. 6:16 left in game, 49ers cornerback darnell walker intercepted pass favre , returned packers 40-yard line, giving team chance put out of reach. after 2 runs hearst failed make significant gain, owens dropped potential first-down catch, fourth drop of day, , san francisco had punt.

taking ball @ own 11-yard line 4:19 remaining, favre led packers retake lead on 15-yard touchdown pass freeman @ end of 89-yard drive, featuring 47-yard completion seldom-used rookie receiver corey bradford. san francisco responded equally impressive drive, in jerry rice visibly fumbled on first reception of game, ruled down contact though replays appeared show ball came out before knee hit ground.[1] use of instant replay challenges not in effect until following year, allowing drive continue behind young, completed 7 of 9 passes on 76-yard drive winning score. owens, had dropped 4 passes , lost fumble, caught 25-yard winning touchdown pass 8 seconds left in game.

hearst finished game 128 rushing yards , 3 receptions 15 yards. levens rushed 116 yards, caught 6 passes 37 yards, , scored touchdown. favre threw 292 yards , 2 touchdowns, while young passed 182 yards , 3 scores. both young , favre intercepted twice. packers receiver roell preston set postseason franchise record 198 kickoff return yards.

this game later featured on nfl s greatest games catch ii.