Instant analysis of the Packers’ 37-8 loss to the 49ers in Week 12

Breaking down the Packers’ miserable night in San Francisco that ended with a 37-8 win for the 49ers.

The Green Bay Packers got thoroughly dominated for the second time in a month on the West Coast, losing 37-8 to the San Francisco 49ers in a nationally televised Sunday night game at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara.

It was over when …

… tight end George Kittle ran away from Kevin King and rumbled in from 61 yards out off a brilliantly designed play-action fake, giving the 49ers a 30-8 lead and destroying any hopes the Packers had of getting back into the game to start the second half.

Game balls

  • Offense: No game ball awarded.
  • OLB Za’Darius Smith: The defensive captain delivered 1.5 sacks and three quarterback hits. Both of his sacks ended drives.
  • Special teams: No game ball awarded.

Key Stat

3.2: Yards averaged per attempt by the Packers passing offense. They averaged a full yard more rushing (4.2). Overall, the offense averaged only 5.2 yards per completion.

Quick takes

– The Packers got dominated at the line of scrimmage on offense. It started early, got worse when Bryan Bulaga went out and never really stopped. Everything about the blowout starts there.

– Aaron Rodgers attempted 33 passes on 41 dropbacks. He produced 66 net yards passing, took five sacks, lost a fumble and scrambled three times for 13 yards. This was one of the worst ever performances in the long career of the future Hall of Famer.

– The Packers have fatal flaws. There is no second option in the passing game and they can’t cover the middle of the field. No magic cure is coming for either ailment. The 49ers and Chargers exposed each flaw mercilessly. Future opponents, if capable, will do the same. And there are plenty that can do it in the NFC field.

– Teams that can rush the passer with four players and cover effectively and consistently with seven are going to give the Packers a lot of problems. Matt LaFleur and Aaron Rodgers haven’t found an answer.

– I can’t shake the feeling that the 2019 Packers are just the 2015 Packers. They don’t scare anyone in the passing game and good offenses chew up their defense.

– The 49ers didn’t do anything special on offense, but they ran the ball well enough and found explosive plays in the middle of the field. Jimmy Garoppolo hit touchdown passes of 42 and 61 yards. Once again, the Packers defense got beat by the big play. Another fatal flaw.

– The Packers keep hitting new lows on special teams. JK Scott had a miserable night, and the punt return group lost more yardage. There is no bottom for Shawn Mennenga’s unit.

– The receivers behind Davante Adams did next to nothing. Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Geronimo Allison, Allen Lazard and Jake Kumerow combined for four catches on 10 targets for 23 total yards. The Packers not adding a legitimate No. 2 receiver at the deadline might have sunk their season.

– The Packers were 1-for-15 on third down. The one conversion came on the final drive.

– Things look really bad for the Packers right now, but they have two extremely winnable games coming up. Matt LaFleur’s team really needs to be 10-3 going into the final three games against the NFC North. It’s possible. This is still a playoff team, but they have a lot to figure out over the final month.

– Up next: The Packers go back on the road, this time to the East Coast for a game against the two-win New York Giants.