GREEN BAY – The Packers pulled away in the second half for a 38-10 victory over the 49ers on Sunday at Lambeau Field to improve to 8-3.
Here are five takeaways from the triumph:
- The 49ers were really banged up, and the Packers made it look like it.
San Francisco was missing not just four starters to injury, but four major pieces to the squad, two on each side of the ball in QB Brock Purdy, left tackle Trent Williams, edge rusher Nick Bosa and cornerback Chavarius Ward.
Forgive the Packers, who have played multiple games without QB Jordan Love, top corner Jaire Alexander, and others, if they weren't feeling sorry for their opponent.
"They were down a lot of pieces," Head Coach Matt LaFleur said. "That's the reality of this league. I think for us, you have to take advantage of those opportunities."
The Packers did, putting together three straight scoring drives to start the game, sandwiched around a pair of San Francisco three-and-outs with QB Brandon Allen starting his first NFL game in three years.
"It was critical," LaFleur said of the fast start. "Especially when you're playing a team with a backup quarterback, to build a lead and kind of put them in a tough spot."
On the third scoring drive, for a touchdown, Love hit receiver Romeo Doubs to convert three consecutive third downs covering 54 yards on his way to a 107.7 passer rating (13-of-23, 163 yards, two TDs, no INTs).
"That's the way we want to start the game," Love said.
- Green Bay's ground game was dominant.
The Packers pounded their way to 169 rushing yards on 42 attempts, led by Josh Jacobs with 109 yards and a career-best three TDs on 26 totes.
Green Bay faked end-arounds on some runs and went straight at San Francisco on others. Jacobs was an absolute beast, leaving the game for a stretch with cramping and going to the locker room before later returning to the game.
"You know that No. 8 out there?" LaFleur said, referring to Jacobs' jersey number. "Did you see how many tackles … how many people he made miss? It was pretty impressive. I think early on that got us going."
If not for the brief absence, Jacobs probably would've topped 30 carries for the second time this season, and he looked so strong it wasn't a concern for LaFleur even with another game coming up right away Thursday night.
"That's one guy that I don't worry about is Josh Jacobs," LaFleur said. "That guy is an animal. He is a dog and a dog competitor. He definitely relishes those opportunities."
- The second half was all about turning takeaways into touchdowns.
San Francisco's best chance to get back in the game came on the opening drive of the third quarter, trailing 17-7. But safety Xavier McKinney broke up a fourth-and-2 pass to running back Christian McCaffrey inside the Green Bay 40-yard line, and the 49ers never really threatened to get within one score again.
McKinney followed the key turnover on downs with a traditional turnover, picking off an Allen pass over the middle that deflected off Deebo Samuel's hands and returning it 48 yards to the San Francisco 26.
The Packers needed just four plays to score, and soon enough more takeaways came.
Lukas Van Ness' strip-sack deep in 49ers territory set up another short field, and Keisean Nixon's punchout on a tackle of McCaffrey led to a third TD off a takeaway. Kenny Clark and Karl Brooks got the two fumble recoveries.
The turnover binge ended a drought of 2½ games without a takeaway for a defense among the league leaders in that category all year.
"It was awesome," Love said. "It's been a couple of games where we haven't gotten one, but this is what they've done other than those couple of games, the whole season.
"Those are some big-time plays, and they happened at just the right time."
- The Packers' red-zone offense had a banner day.
Mired in the bottom quarter of the league in red-zone efficiency this season, the Packers cashed in on all five chances and are now 8-of-10 in the red zone over their last two games.
Green Bay had to overcome one penalty on its first red-zone trip but otherwise didn't put itself in the types of difficult situations that have bogged down the offense at times this season.
LaFleur lauded "just the consistent execution," while Love handed the credit to the offensive line and Jacobs.
"I think it all started with the run game," Love said. "We were making some big plays in the run game. The O-line was doing a great job giving Josh some lanes, and then just handing the ball to 8. Three touchdowns on the ground for him, big night for him. It all started up front."
- For once, a win wasn't at the wire.
The only real regrets in this game were receiver Christian Watson dropping what should've been a 49-yard TD pass in the last minute of the first half for a 24-7 lead, and Doubs leaving the game in the second half with a concussion.
On a short week, that certainly puts Doubs' status for Thanksgiving night in doubt.
But the Packers' last three victories, over the Texans, Jaguars and Bears, all came down to the game's very last snap. This one was a comfortable triumph, as it should've been given San Francisco's major injuries.
"It's definitely a relief," Love said of a runaway win. "It's a lot less stressful that way.
"At halftime, it was probably closer than we would've liked it, but to come out there that second half, generate those turnovers and pull away, it's fun."
