GREEN BAY – After going two weeks without a takeaway, it was only a matter of time before the Packers' defense found its way back to the football.
On Sunday, Green Bay generated three key takeaways in the second half that it converted into 21 points on its way to a dominant 38-10 win over the San Francisco 49ers.
While Xavier McKinney's third-quarter interception of Brandon Allen got things started, defensive linemen Lukas Van Ness earned a strip-sack of Brandon Allen to start the fourth quarter and Keisean Nixon forced a fumble on the 49ers' next series.
Defensive linemen Kenny Clark and Karl Brooks, respectively, recovered the two fumbles to put the game out of reach for Green Bay, which now has 22 takeaways on the year.
"They usually come in bunches," Nixon said. "Real contagious. Infectious. That was a big play in the game because they broke free. Got off the field and scored. I think every turnover we had we scored."
Playing a 49ers team without quarterback Brock Purdy or left tackle Trent Williams, the Packers didn't provide much breathing room. They held running back Christian McCaffrey to just 31 rushing yards on 11 carries while Allen threw for just 199 yards on 29 pass attempts.
As the Packers began to extend their lead in the second half, the mistakes started to pile up for the 49ers. Green Bay was holding onto a 24-10 lead with a little more than 12 minutes left in the fourth quarter when Van Ness plowed through the 49ers' front to strip Allen.
After pouncing on the ball, Clark ran to the end zone and chucked his second recovery of the year high into the Lambeau Field stands.
"It was crazy because the play out there was the same play he was getting a couple series ago," said defensive end Rashan Gary of Van Ness. "It showed how locked in he is, and we're locked in, and you see the formation, you pull the trigger and when you pull the trigger big plays happen and we needed it."
Despite a Josh Jacobs 1-yard TD run, San Francisco tried to keep its slim hopes of a comeback alive with a quick pass to McCaffrey for 23 yards.
That time, Nixon punched the ball out of his grasp and Brooks quickly jumped on it. In a playful tone, Nixon said the takeaway was a bit of makeup after McKinney stole his interception in the third quarter.
"It was coming to me and he gon' jump and grab it, so I think God was just telling me to be patient," said Nixon with a wry smile. "But it was just hustle to the ball. I was backside corner. They said God rewards those who run to the ball. He rewarded me today."
Green Bay posted three takeaways, its league-best sixth time doing so this season, the most by the Packers in a season since 2011 (also six). The Packers recorded 21 points off the three takeaways, their top single-game mark since Jan. 1, 2023, vs. Minnesota.
If that wasn't enough, Green Bay then earned a four-play turnover on downs after the back-to-back takeaways.
"We talk about the importance of turnover differential," said safety Evan Williams, who tackled Jauan Jennings two yards shy of the first down on that play. "When you're plus-2, you have like an 80% chance of winning the game. So yeah, we definitely take pride in raking at the ball, hunting the ball in all facets and we did a good job of that today."
Doubs' impact: Although Romeo Doubs exited in the second half due to a concussion, the third-year receiver made a significant impact through the first three quarters.
In addition to drawing a defensive pass interference penalty in the end zone on the play in which he was injured, Doubs converted three third downs on Green Bay's 12-play, 71-yard scoring drive at the start of the second quarter.
That included a 29-yard reception on third-and-11, a 10-yard slant on third-and-5 and a 15-yard catch on third-and-10 for a total of 54 yards.
"He was just making plays. He was just being the Rome that I know," receiver Christian Watson said. "He was getting the opportunities and making the most of them. It was huge though on that drive."
Doubs also was there to support Watson after he dropped a potential 49-yard touchdown pass at the end of the second quarter, a miscue for which Watson took full ownership.
"He was just saying it's gonna come back my way. Just trying to lift me up as much as he can," Watson said. "Obviously, I'm definitely gonna be mad, definitely gonna be pissed. I was upset. But it always helps to have guys rally around you, for sure."
Heath's touchdown: With Doubs out for the remainder of the game, backup receiver Malik Heath capped Green Bay's scoring when he hauled in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Jordan Love with a little more than four minutes left in the game.
Heath had four catches in eight games entering Sunday but stayed ready. He was rewarded with his first touchdown at Lambeau Field and second of his NFL career.
"It's the league. You gotta be ready," Heath said. "You never know what might happen. This the NFL. It's just next-man-up mentality and be ready when it's time for your time, so that's how I approach the game and that's how I'm gonna keep approaching it."
Seeing red: The Packers went a perfect 5-for-5 in the red zone against the 49ers, beginning with tight end Tucker Kraft's 11-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter.
To Kraft, it was no secret why Green Bay was so efficient inside the 20 against San Francisco – running the ball 42 times for 169 yards and three touchdowns.
"It was a great opportunity to get back to running the ball," Kraft said. "We weren't beating ourselves up. We were playing complementary football with the defense. They'd get a turnover; we'd turn it into points. It was just smooth."
