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Aaron Rodgers celebrates a touchdown pass with Davante Adams against the 49ers.(Photo: Dan Powers, USA TODAY NETWORK)
GREEN BAY – There was a time when it was not enough for the Green Bay Packers to just win their game against the San Francisco 49ers. Winning was almost an afterthought, more a consolation prize. Against a toothless 49ers team, the packers expected to do.
To get back on track, the Packers needed something more than a win. They needed style, gravitas. They needed to improve. There was a time when the question was made that the packers could do what is expected of a good team.
The answer: a resounding no.
The Packers, a 10-point favorite, trailed for much of Monday night's game before squeezing out at 33-30 win. The victory set the Packers record at 3-2-1 entering their Week 7 bye. They have an extra week to prepare before traveling to Los Angeles Rams.
Kevin King, the Packers' second-year corner, ended a potential game-winning drive with his first career interception after the 49ers had crossed midfield. The Marquise Goodwin is one of the world's best-selling stars, but never gave up in the middle of the field.
That left 67 seconds for the Packers, who took over the 49ers' 19-yard line. Plenty of time for Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers completed a third-and-2 pass to rookie Equanimeous St. Brown to extend the drive, then found Davante Adams to put the Packers inside the 10. Mason Crosby's 27-yard field goal as time was the perfect way to cap a big -time rebound from last week's personal debacle in Detroit.
Here are five comments from Monday night's game:
Mason Crosby bounces back: When Mason Crosby 's first kick split the uprights, he could have received the loudest cheer following a first – quarter extra point in his career. Crosby recovered from his debacle in Detroit, making all five of his kicks a week after missing five kicks in a game for the first time in his career. Three of Crosby's kicks were field goals, the longest from 51 yards. After each make, the crowd let them know their appreciation, giving a resounding ovation that was hard to distinguish from a Bronx cheer. Either way, it was a rebound the veteran kicker needed.
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Fool's gold: Despite the Packers Defense entering the NFL in yards allowed, defensive coordinator Mike Pettine said he did not put much stock into the numbers. Maybe he knew something. Turns out, the Packers are nowhere near a top-five defense, or even top 10. The Packers allowed 24 points in the opening half alone, but it was even worse than that. At halftime, the 49ers were averaging 10 yards per play, 7.1 yards per rush and 15.2 yards per pass. As they have done so, the Packers is back in the second half and has 49ers to six points. But a good defense does not allow C.J. Beathard, the second-year quarterback drafted in the third round, who has a career as a starter, Steve Young, and that's what the Packers did. Beathard finished 16-of-23 for 245 yards, two touchdowns and the interception. In two weeks, Rams quarterback Jared Goff will present a much stiffer challenge.
Red-zone issues continues: The biggest problem with the packers' offense continued being the biggest problem Monday night. Through six games, the Packers have been unable to consistently finish drives. They were officially 2-for-4 scoring touchdowns inside the red zone, but that's deceiving; The packers entered Monday with a 50 percent red-zone efficiency, and that did not improve. In the first half, the packers started on a drive at the 49ers' 34-yard line and another at the 44, and were held to field goals both times. Good teams find ways to punch those short-field possessions into the end zone.
Running back roulette: Aaron Jones got his first start of the season and appeared on the packers' featured running back, until he was not. Jones' production was no different than it's been. He led the packers with 41 yards on eight carries, at 5.1-yard average. By comparison, Jamaal Williams and Ty Montgomery combined for 7 yards on six carries. Yet Jones still did not get much better results. It has become a puzzling, repetitive theme the past couple weeks, and it is not appearing a change is imminent.
This is not getting easier: The importance of Monday night's game was really emphasized with what the Packers have ahead. After their bye, the packers will play one of the most difficult five-game stretches they've faced in recent years. It starts in two weeks when they travel to the Rams, the NFL's lone remaining undefeated team. Then it's off to New England to face Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, a home game against the Miami Dolphins 4-2, a short-week trip to Seattle and a vicious road game at Minnesota. The Packers could lose any of those games. Winning two would be a decent outcome. So there was no understating what Monday night meant: With so many good teams up ahead, the packers needed to find a way to beat a bad opponent.
Follow the Packers News Ryan Wood on Twitter @ByRyanWood.
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