Green Bay Packers' Ryan Grant, left, breaks away from San Francisco 49ers' Tarell Brown on a run during the first half of an NFL football game Sunday, Nov. 22, 2009, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Jim Prisching)
After a slow start in the first half, the 49ers fell short in overcoming a 20-point deficit in a 30-24 loss to the Green Bay Packers. The 49ers held the ball for only 7:28 in the first half and never got the offense in rhythm while the Packers jumped to a 23-3 halftime lead.
With only 5 total passing yards by Alex Smith in the first half, the 49ers played catch up in the second half and opted to stick with the spread offense formation. Smith would finish the game with16-33, 227 yards and three touchdowns. However, Smith had one interception down in 49ers territory that would lead to a Green Bay touchdown.
Smith's counterpart, Aaron Rodgers, finished 32-45 for 344 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers was sacked only two times throughout the game. For the rest of the game, Rodgers was able to make the throws to his receivers for big gains. Packers running back Ryan Grant finished with 129 yards rushing and a touchdown.
With the 49ers falling behind early, the team couldn't establish a solid running game. Running back Frank Gore had only seven rushing attempts for 59 yards. In the second half, Gore was a beneficiary of a touchdown pass that closed the gap to six points. The Packers, however, would be able to run out the clock with key first downs to seal their win.
On 3rd & inches right before the 2-minute warning, Singletary challenged the spot of the ball, hoping that the Packers would be pushed back about a foot. Singletary would lose the challenge, the team's last timeout and the game immediately after Rodgers snuck in for the first down.
Singletary said that the challenge was a "good try", hoping that the distance would change the play call for the Packers, giving the 49ers a better chance to stop them.
Rookie wide receiver Michael Crabtree caught his first career NFL touchdown in the third quarter on a 38-yard pass over Packers cornerback Al Harris. Crabtree pushed off a little for separation in securing the ball in his hands. Tight end Vernon Davis had a 24-yard touchdown reception on a post route with 10:37 left in the game, then closing the deficit to 30-17.
The struggles that cost the 49ers the win were their inability to tackle at the line of scrimmage and the offensive play call. There were many opportunities for the 49ers, especially in the last drive, where the 49ers had tackles slip away. Those missed tackles cost the 49ers a chance to complete the comeback.
Also, the team did not start off great on offense. With a struggling offensive line, the 49ers continued to put Smith under center, which did not allow him to find his receivers. Smith was sacked three times in the first half, which forced the change to a shotgun offense in the second half.
In the spread, the 49ers were able to put together a string of strong drives for touchdowns. If the 49ers started the game with the same approach, the result might have been different. But right now, the team's struggles on both sides of the ball cost the 49ers a chance to stay within the playoff hunt. With a 4-6 record and the Cardinals playing good football, the 49ers have to essentially win the rest of their games to even have a little hope for a playoff spot. Looking at the team right now, the playoff picture is in a very distant view.
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Comments
The fact that we ran the ball effectively against a very good rush defense and protected Rodgers was encouraging. We had good pressure on Smith and our first half defense was smothering. But we sustained two major injuries (Harris and Kampman look to be out for the season) and gave up a lot of second half yards...my feelings were confirmed that Smith to Davis and Crabtree has some potential.
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