Packers: Top 5 playoff heartbreaks in Aaron Rodgers era

3. Blocked punt leads to early playoff exit (2021)

This one is still fresh in the memory.

While the game itself was a tough one to take, the talent of this Packers team also factors in.

Green Bay went 13-4 in the regular season with Aaron Rodgers securing his second straight MVP award. The Packers were perfect at Lambeau Field in the regular season and owned the NFC’s number one seed.

With the NFC running through Lambeau Field, Matt LaFleur’s team would be tough to beat. After a week off, the San Francisco 49ers came to town.

Green Bay marched down the field on the opening possession, with AJ Dillon placing a bow on a perfect 10-play drive that resulted in a touchdown.

After a 49ers three-and-out, the offense looked at ease once again. But an uncharacteristic Marcedes Lewis fumble shifted the momentum, and LaFleur’s offense failed to regain any rhythm the rest of the way.

Defensively, the Packers were dominant. They held the 49ers to six points, sacked Jimmy Garoppolo four times, and intercepted him once.

Dillon’s first-quarter touchdown looked to be enough. With just over six minutes remaining in regulation, the Packers stopped the 49ers on fourth-and-1 in the red zone. A turnover on downs.

Green Bay had the chance to drain the clock and, at worst, punt it away to force the 49ers to win with offense. Instead, a blocked punt resulted in a touchdown, and we were tied.

The Packers went three-and-out on the following possession, giving the 49ers enough time to replicate their 2013 accomplishment by killing the clock and kicking a walk-off field goal.

In the same end zone, too.