Packers grind out a victory over 49ers

No wonder Smith was so visibly ticked during the 49ers’ 17-3 loss to the Green Bay Packers that after storming off the field following a failed third-down conversion he was followed to the bench by coach Jim Tomsula, who had a few soothing words.

Hip-hip, hooray, the 49ers only allowed one touchdown pass to Aaron Rodgers, albeit a tone setter on the game’s first series. It was the 3 time in four games that he was unsuccessful in breaking 200 yards passing, and he got sacked six times. But it still doesn’t feel good at all losing.

In the third, Green Bay capitalized shortly after San Francisco’s Reggie Bush was stuffed for no gain trying to go up the middle on third-and-11 in a play call that was immediately scrutinized. The 49ers are looking at a 1-6 start if they can’t solve the offensive issues, because those three QBs have the experience and talent around them to beat the S.F. defense-even at home with loud fans. “Just keep working. You’re going to have games like that”.

Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com reports that the 49ers are not considering benching Kaepernick heading into the Week 5 matchup against the New York Giants. “As an offense, we’ve got to pick it up, find our identity”. When we do that, we have produced successful drives. Yes, it was a commendable outing for a defense that got torched the previous two games. His playoff performances against Green Bay in back-to-back seasons, beginning with the memorable 181-yard rushing game, helped make Kaepernick the talk of the NFL.

The Packers relished the first victory over their dual-threat nemesis.

FOX cameras picked him up on the mic saying, “You ain’t Russell Wilson, bro”, in reference to Seattle’s QB.

Nick Perry led the team with two sacks and Clay Matthews had one, which he celebrated by kissing his bicep, a la Kaepernick, for the 61st sack in his seventh season. What about those other wayward passes? Acker had tight coverage but didn’t turn back in time to see the ball was coming.

Tomsula acknowledged something is not quite clicking between Smith and Kaepernick.

“When you work like we do – and we work hard – success has to come”, Smith said. “There’s no point of getting down there if you can’t get touchdowns”.

But as much as the 49ers may be owning their mistakes and moving on to their next challenge, the “fix it” part has been largely ignored.

Aaron Rodgers was efficient enough, completing 22-of-32 for 224 yards and a touchdown, connecting with Richard Rodgers for a 9-yard score on the game’s opening possession. The completion prolonged a drive that eventually ended with fullback John Kuhn’s 1-yard touchdown plunge and a 14-3 lead. Against Green Bay, he has three passes go five yards or more. It was the Chico native and Cal product’s first win over the 49ers since 2010. They completely shut down halfback Carlos Hyde.

“We just won in one-on-one matchups and tried to get pressure and make him uncomfortable”.

The 49ers haven’t felt that winning feeling since September 14.

Smith reiterated that it’s the results that have stirred the frustration, not statistics.

Rodgers and company are doing what they want when they want to, and there’s not a team out there that can stop them. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I have nothing to say”, he said.