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Packers-49ers Final: Strong Start, Slow Finish

The Green Bay Packers took a top-ranked run defense to task on its way to a 30-24 win over the 49ers.  Running back Ryan Grant ran for 129 yards with a touchdown.  The Packers improved to 6-4 while San Fransisco fell to 4-6 to push themselves out of the playoff picture.

The game was certainly a tale of two halves.  The Packers defense held the 49ers to a measly 3 points while Aaron Rodgers and the offense rolled over the defense with 23 points.  In the second half, the offense played as if it had the lead while Alex Smith loudly led his team to a surging second half comeback.

However, Smith threw a costly interception to Nick Collins that allowed the Packers offense to capitalize.

The game was all but out of reach when Josh Morgan returned a Mason Crosby kickoff 76 yards to put Alex Smith in perfect field position to bring the game within two possessions.

Injuries to Al Harris and Aaron Kampman nearly decimated the Packers defense as it gave up 14 unanswered points.  Fortunately, Rodgers and the offense were able to run out the clock on their final possession.

Wes’s Quick Take:

The big stories coming from this game are the injuries to Aaron Kampman and Al Harris.

Harris is ruled out for the season with a torn ACL and rumors are that Kampman is done as well.  Such disheartening news dampens the spirits after a crucial victory.  Brad Jones, Tramon Williams, and Jarrett Bush are now called into action to carry the weight left behind.

With Jarrett Bush’s sloppy play and Brad Jones’ inexperience, someone on the team or the coaching staff needs to light a fire under these guys so they play at an elite level.  Dom Capers‘ play options are now limited until these players can prove to handle their one-on-one match-ups.

Both the Packers and Lions escaped with a win on Sunday, but the Packers need to take extra precautions as they enter the holiday game on Thursday. Lions rookie QB Matt Stafford torched a lackluster Cleveland Browns’ secondary for 5 TD, one of those for the game winner.

This will be the first time the Packers face Stafford, who sat out their October match-up with a knee injury.

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