The Green Bay Packers are finding out what it must feel like to be the Bears. Like the Bears against the Packers, the Packers can’t seem to beat the 49ers anymore. Since the Mike Holmgren took over the Packers in 1992 the Packers have pretty much owned the 49ers. Not now.
The 49ers have won three in a row over Green Bay. They beat the Packers with the run last January, they beat them through the air yesterday and they beat them with a combination of both last September. The only common denominator is the Packers’ defense, which simply can’t stop the 49ers no matter how hard they try.
I never would have thought Colin Kaepernick could pass like he did against the Packers, but pass to win he did. Just like last January the Packers had no answer for the 49ers offense, even though they did shave 85 yards off the total they gave up in the playoffs and kept them under 500 yards. The 49ers are the NFC’s best team for a reason. NFL betting odds on the Packers will likely remain about the same considering the close game.
On offense the Packers were almost as unstoppable. The difference being two Packers’ turnovers that cost them. Wide receiver Jordy Nelson looked awesome in his return from training camp knee surgery as he and Randall Cobb both had over 100 yards receiving. The running game wasn’t much to speak of against the NFL’s fourth-ranked run defense, but did do just enough and even got a rushing touchdown from Eddie Lacy.
What worries me the most is the Packers’ defense. The Packers take the lead late in the game for the first time but then watch as the defense is shredded by a five play 80-yard touchdown drive by the 49ers to win the game. The difference between these teams is right there. After the 49ers re-took the lead the 49ers defense rose to the occasion and shut the Packers down.
I’m not even going to get into the stupid Clay Matthews situation. Much ado about nothing if you ask me. If it cost the Packers the game, so be it, it was because of their own doing – Matthews made a bonehead play.
The Packers can take some good from the game and the fact that they won’t be facing an offense that good for a while. Next week it is the Redskins and they look awful halfway through their game with Philly tonight. I would like to see Lacy get untracked a little so the Packers can maybe control the clock a little better. The 49ers had the ball almost twice as long and the Packers did yesterday.
Next Sunday it will be a rocking Lambeau Field with a full 80,000-plus fans for the first time ever with the new addition of 6,000 seats. The Packers certainly can’t afford a loss at home with a trip to Cincinnati looming. Confidence is high for this one.