In the biggest game of the year, the Green Bay Packers turtled their way to a pathetic 37-8 loss to the NFC-leading San Francisco 49ers.

Coming off the bye week, the Packers had two weeks to prepare with the healthiest roster they’ve had in recent memory and they collapsed in the face of the Niners’ top-notch pass rush.

Aaron Rodgers saw ghosts early, and the team couldn’t find anything in the form of a sustainable offense. The points started to domino thereafter for the 49ers, and the Packers couldn’t respond. Add onto that an early turnover and floundering special teams and you have the recipe for a blowout.

The Packers entered Sunday night’s matchup hoping to prove they were the class of the NFC. What they found out is that they’re currently at least a tier below the upper echelon of the NFC.

Onto the takeaways:

Rodgers, offense flashback to 2015

Yes, losing Bryan Bulaga played a big role, but injuries happen, and Bulaga can’t be the difference between eight points and, say, 24.

The Packers simply couldn’t execute any part of their offense. They struggled to open holes running the football. Aaron Rodgers had little time in the pocket it to throw, and anything downfield was either contested or overthrown.

Rodgers ended his night completing 20 of 33 passes for 104 yards (3.2-yard average). As a team, the Packers averaged 4.0 yards rushing with Rodgers in the game. Rare is the day when your offense is more efficient on the ground than through the air.

In a marquee matchup on Sunday night, Rodgers would exit and Tim Boyle would get mop-up duty.

Let’s start with Rodgers. Given the circumstances, this is one of his poorest games of the season. In the biggest games, you need your high-dollar players to be money. After the Niners got to Rodgers early, he developed a case of happy feet and held onto the ball, loathe to fit the ball into tight windows. As a result, Aaron Rodgers of 2019 looked a lot like the Rodgers we saw last year or in 2015. Without anything breaking open downfield, Rodgers takes the sack. He also wasn’t very accurate with the football, overthrowing Marques Valdes-Scantling in the end zone and Davante Adams on a deep out.

Rodgers has been at his best when he’s been forced into a quick rhythm passing game. He’s going to have to rediscover that approach if they’re going to beat this team again if and when they meet in the playoffs. The Niners only need to rush four to get to the quarterback, and one of the best ways to stymie a potent pass rush outside of an effective rushing attack is a quick, three-step drop passing offense.

This isn’t to say it’s all on 12. The offensive line couldn’t pass protect, and receivers weren’t catching the ball well. Geronimo Allison struggled with drops early, and Jimmy Graham dropped what would have been a big pass downfield in the first half. The broadcast officials suggested that it would have been a catch, but knowing the capricious nature the what is a catch, it’s hard to fault LaFleur for not throwing the red hankie.

All in all, the Packers couldn’t step to the plate and match blow-for-blow against a top-tier defense. If the Packers want to be Super, they’re going to need to come up with answers.

Offense lacks urgency

Down 23-0 at the beginning of the second half, the Packers would take 8:34 of game clock to score. The score was crucial, obviously, but the tempo – or lack thereof – with which the offense played was maddening. Down in and down out the offense would run through the bulk of the play clock. The offense was slow exiting the huddle and showed little urgency lining back up.

This is an issue that dates back well into the McCarthy years, and it’s something Matt LaFleur tried to eradicate in training camp. Alas, we’re here again. The Packers refuse to find any sense of tempo, and it’s a slow death when the offense can’t produce anything in the form of a big play.

LaFleur needs to re-emphasize it. Rodgers needs to acknowledge it.

Special teams once again a disaster

JK Scott began the season as a weapon; he’s since been disarmed.

On six punts, Scott averaged a paltry 37.2 yards. Scott’s been trending downward for a few weeks now, but one would have through the better weather would have cured some of his woes.

One issue may be with the length of his release. The Niners pressed the pocket quite well tonight, which may have shortened Scott’s approach. Whatever the reason, it’s crippling what had been one of Packers’ strengths.

The Packers were also awful again on the receiving end of the punt. Tremon Smith fielded two punts for a total negative three yards.

Like clockward, the Packers’ special teams are among the worst in football, and there are few signs for improvement.

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