49ers vs. Packers: Key moments and analysis from Green Bay’s blowout
For the banged-up San Francisco 49ers, playing with just three starters on offense, Thursday’s game played out as expected.
The Green Bay Packers took a 21-3 lead into halftime thanks to three touchdown passes from Aaron Rodgers, while Nick Mullens, replacing Jimmy Garoppolo, tossed an interception and had a scoring play dropped by receiver River Cracraft, playing because Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel and Kendrick Bourne were all on the reserve/COVID-19 list.
The rematch of last season’s NFC title game was never close. It started with a touchdown on Green Bay’s first drive and the road team didn’t look back. The final score, 34-17, was closer than the game was.
San Francisco’s offensive line struggled to give Mullens time, but he was able to find Richie James Jr., who returned from an ankle injury, had a career night with nine catches for 184 yards and a touchdown.
Mullens finished with 291 yards while completing 22 of 35 passes with a touchdown, interception and lost fumble.
Fred Warner, once again, was the 49ers’ best player on defense, recording 13 combined tackles and a tackle for loss. But the 49ers were simply out-manned in the blowout coming on a short week. Here’s our rundown of the key moments.
First quarter
The Packers got on the board quickly, driving 75 yards on six plays with a 36-yard touchdown from Aaron Rodgers to Davante Adams to beat strong coverage by Emmanuel Moseley, who has struggled against elite receivers throughout the season. The play was reviewed but the call was upheld giving Green Bay the 7-0 lead.
Aaron Jones, who healthy after missing time with a calf injury, had four touches for 37 yards on the series.
The 49ers made a switch in their starting lineup by having Daniel Brunskill move from right guard to center with Tom Compton getting his first playing time at right guard. Hroniss Grasu, who struggled last week in Seattle, was benched. San Francisco went three and out on its first possession.
Moseley ended the Packers’ second drive with a strong pass breakup downfield on another throw to Adams.
San Francisco’s next possession got rolling with a 43-yard catch and run from Richie James Jr., who missed time recently with an ankle injury and got the start because of the team’s injuries issues at receiver.
The 49ers had to settle for a 22-yard field goal after Mullens tried to hit River Cracraft with a good throw to the right corner of the end zone on third down. Cracraft made a leap and got two feet in bounds, but he didn’t hold the ball as he hit the ground and the play was ruled incomplete after review.
Second quarter
Mullens threw an interception to defensive back Raven Greene while getting hit by pass rusher Preston Smith, who beat Justin Skule on a third-and-16 from midfield. It was Mullens’ fourth pick of the season. It gave Green Bay the ball pack in 49ers’ territory.
The Packers converted on a fourth-and-short with a 4-yard pass to Adams with Jamar Taylor in coverage, who was playing in place of K’Waun Williams, who returned from a knee injury last week against the Seahawks.
Green Bay then scored its second touchdown of the game. Tight end Marcedes Lewis sneaked into the end zone behind Jaquiski Tartt after starting the play pretending to block. It came after cornerback Jason Verrett was flagged for a questionable pass interference against Adams in the end zone while making contact during a pass that appeared uncatchable.
Tartt, who hasn’t played since Week 6 because of a groin injury, checked out of the game and Rodgers immediately picked on his replacement, Marcell Harris. Rodgers his Marquez Valdez-Scantling for a 52-yard touchdown. Harris was flat-footed while Valdez-Scantling ran right past him and found himself wide open deep in the middle of the field.
The Packers took a 21-3 lead into halftime.
One of the highlights for San Francisco was Jordan Willis, added in a trade with the Jets in October, registered his first sack with the 49ers late in the second quarter.
A highlight of the first half was Jordan Willis, the pass rusher San Francisco acquired from the Jets in October, recorded his first sack with his new team.
Third quarter
The Packers opened things to make it a 28-3 game with Rodgers’ fourth touchdown pass, his second to Valdez-Scantling. Rodgers improved to 19-of-24 passing for 222 yards and a 144.8 passer rating.
The 49ers turned the ball over for a second time when Za’Darius Smith beat Skule, who struggled badly, to strip Mullens, who completed just 10 of 20 passes for 94 yards to that point.
It led to the Packers kicking a 19-yard field goal to make it 31-3.
Fourth quarter
The 49ers got deep into the Packers’ territory, but gave the ball up when Mullens was stuffed in the backfield on a quarterback sneak on fourth and short.
The Packers continued to run it up, making it a 34-3 game with a 53-yard field goal from Mason Crosby. It capped a 12-play drive that lasted 8:14 and started at Green Bay’s 5-yard line.
San Francisco scored its first touchdown after the game had been decided with James taking advantage of a busted coverage from the Packers’ secondary, scoring on a 41-yard catch-and-run from Mullens. It was James’ first touchdown of the season as he entered the weekend with just three catches for 47 yards on the season. It made the score 34-10.
The Packers then inserted backup quarterback Tim Boyle in place of Rodgers, who finished with 305 yards on 25-of-31 completions, 305 yards and four touchdowns.
The 49ers got the ball back and tried to score before time expired, getting down inside the 5-yard line, and Jerick McKinnon, who had 52 yards on 12 runs, scored with four seconds remaining to put some window dressing on the final score, 34-16.
This story was originally published November 5, 2020 at 6:55 PM.
