Upon Further Review: Packers enact harsh revenge on San Francisco

The bully just got punched in the mouth.

After the San Francisco 49ers housed the Green Bay Packers twice in Santa Clara in the 2019 season, the Packers returned the favor in a 34-17 beatdown at Levi’s Stadium on Thursday Night Football.

Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and a rejuvenated Aaron Jones led the offense ran smoothly and spurred the Packers (6-2) to a big lead while the defense held San Francisco (4-5) to three points in the first three quarters.

Most importantly, Green Bay allowed 55 rushing yards to the 49ers on 17 attempts (3.2 yards per carry). That has to be a great result for the Packers after they let the Minnesota Vikings run for 173 yards last week and the 49ers rush for an average of 198.5 yards in their two games last season.

Obviously, the 49ers team the Packers beat was much more injury-stricken than the 2019 49ers, with starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, tight end George Kittle and defensive end Nick Bosa, among others all out against Green Bay. Throw in the fact that Trent Williams, Deebo Samuel, Kendrick Bourne and Brandon Aiyuk were all missed the game because they were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. But that is life in the NFL in 2020 and Green Bay certainly is not going to feel sorry for them. This had to be a game circled on the Packers’ schedules and they took care of business.

Green Bay was dealing with absences, too. Notable missing players from this contest were running backs Jamaal Williams and A.J. Dillon, who were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, along with Allen Lazard and David Bakhtiari, who are both injured.

Still, the Packers were able to lean on Jones in the run game. He rejoined the team after missing the past two weeks with a calf injury and acquitted himself well with 58 rushing yards and five catches for 21 yards. Backup running back Tyler Ervin had four receptions for 48 yards and ran eight times for 24 yards.

The Packers got back on the winning track and exercised their demons from last year. The win may have come against a below-average team, but as last week proved, that is not always a simple task.

Here’s a recap of Thursday’s game (STORY | PHOTOS):

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Rodgers looked like his vintage self and it was more than enough to shred apart the 49ers. He executed the easy throws, fed the ball to Adams and placed deep balls where they needed to be. It all added up to 25 completions for 305 yards and four touchdowns. Green Bay’s starter now has four games with four touchdown passes this season.

Rodgers displayed his arm strength and accuracy in this touchdown strike to Marquez Valdes-Scantling in the third quarter.

TD ✌️ for @MVS__11!
#GBvsSF | #GoPackGo

Watch live ? https://t.co/mbJEbMgi4t pic.twitter.com/WDT2UbTf3a

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 6, 2020

DON’T FORGET ABOUT ME

Adams proved once again why he is Rodgers’ favorite target. The Bay Area native was constantly open, carving up the 49ers’ defense to the tune of 10 catches for 173 yards and a touchdown. It was his third game of the season with at least 10 receptions and 150 yards in a game, and that is despite missing two games.

His stutter move on this deep shot in the third quarter perfectly illustrates Adams’ excellence against San Francisco.

.@tae15adams’ route running is next level

via @NFL
pic.twitter.com/iU5VKu8jrA

— FOX Sports Wisconsin (@fswisconsin) November 6, 2020

THAT MOMENT

Rodgers’ 52-yard touchdown pass to Valdes-Scantling ended this game before it was officially over. At their own 48-yard-line just after the two-minute warning, the Packers dialed up a bomb to MVS who was wide open after torching his defender down the field. That play helped Green Bay step on the throat of San Francisco and go up 21-3 at half.

Going DEEP to @MVS__11 for the TOUCHDOWN!#GBvsSF | #GoPackGo

Watch live ? https://t.co/mbJEbMgi4t pic.twitter.com/829GogXgYt

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 6, 2020

THIS NUMBER

6.4 – Both the Packers and 49ers finished the game with a 6.4 yards per play average. If you watched the game it would not seem that way, but San Francisco picked up a good chunk of yards in garbage time. In fact, the 49ers had 17 plays for 149 yards (8.76 per play) in the fourth quarter. Green Bay had 63 plays for 405 total yards and San Francisco recorded 337 total yards on 53 plays.

THEY SAID IT

“At the end of the day, I’ll tell you yes, absolutely, I think I’m the best wide receiver in the game, but there’s a lot of things that go into me being able to make that statement.” – Adams on his status as the best receiver in the NFL.

“We hit him with a lot of different things tonight. Hit him on the first possession with a go ball that he made a nice adjustment on. On the last possession we were in on an inside go route. He’s so talented, he can do it all, handles himself the right way. Just a joy to play with. A special guy.” – Rodgers on getting the ball to Adams.

“I thought the energy was there. That was something that we were looking for, and I thought really all three phases came to play.” – Packers coach Matt LaFleur.

“He’s a dynamic guy. He had a couple plays the first drive that were special. It was fun seeing him out there.” – Rodgers on Jones’ return.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Packers will return back to Lambeau Field for a Week 10 matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars next Sunday at noon. Jacksonville is 1-6 and will host the Houston Texans this Sunday.