Week 1: 49ers too much for Rodgers, Packers

With the San Francisco 49ers set to kickoff the 2012-13 NFL season in front of a national audience on FOX as part of America's Game of the Week, the team under second year head coach and the reigning Coach of the Year Jim Harbaugh would be tested right out of the gates and given the daunting task of having to face the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field where they haven't won since 1990. As if taking the field against an opponent who they've lost 8 consecutive games against wasn't tough enough, the 49ers would be facing last year's MVP in Aaron Rodgers. But even a date with the game's best quarterback would be an inviting challenge for a stingy 49ers defense which ranked tops in the league last season. And while there may be no such thing as stopping Aaron Rodgers, the 49ers were able to contain him. 

After winning the coin-toss and electing to receive, the 49ers appeared to have a long day ahead of them with Clay Matthews and the Packers D forcing San Francisco to punt on their first drive following a three-and-out. But that wouldn't stop them from getting on the board first as Alex Smith and co. marched down-field on their following drive, setting up David Akers for a 40-yard field goal to take an early 3-0 lead. The successful drive would spark a steak of five consecutive scoring drives for the 49ers offense. On their next possession, San Francisco would get some production from one of their biggest acquisitions during the off-season in Randy Moss. Taking snaps for the first time in over a year, Moss would be targeted by Alex Smith in the end-zone for a 14-yard Touchdown, capping off a 92-yard drive.

But being the player that he is, Rodgers would answer with an impressive drive of his own, marching the Packers down the field and highlighting an 80-yard drive with a 1-yard pass to his tight-end Jermichael Finley to make it a 10-7 ballgame. The rest of the half would be all about David Akers as the 49ers kicker stole the show by etching his name into the record books. Following a 43-yarder, Akers who set an NFL record just a season ago with 44 made field-goals, gave San Francisco a 16-7 lead at the half after splitting the uprights from 63-yards out with the help of the crossbar, tying Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski for the longest field goal in NFL history. 

In need of a second-half jolt, the Packers would fail to find it on their first drive of the second-half as they were forced to punt following a three-and-out. The 49ers would then add to their lead as Alex Smith found his favorite target -- Vernon Davis in the end-zone from 4-yards out for another Touchdown. After exchanging a pair of punts, Green Bay would get something working in the special teams department as second year player Randall Cobb returned an Andy Lee punt 75-yards for a Touchdown. With an illegal block in the back by Green Bay during the return, the score looked like it was coming back, but the officials instead picked up the flag and said there were no penalties on the play. With the Packers getting away with one, the 49ers lead was bumped to 8-points as Rodgers and co. converted on a 2-point conversion. Getting the ball back after a San Francisco three-and-out, Rodgers failed to tie the game as Navarro Bowman came up with an interception on a pass intended for Gregg Jennings.

49ers running back Frank Gore would be sure to capitalize on Green Bay's mistake, rushing 23-yards into the end-zone on San Francisco's first play from scrimmage. Down 30-15, Rodgers would refuse to give up, answering with a touchdown of his own, connecting with wide-out James Jones on back-to-back plays before eventually linking up with him in the end-zone from 10-yards out to make it a one possession game. With one last chance to tie it up and potentially send the game into overtime, the game would come down to a final fourth and ten play with Rodgers taking a shot at the end-zone where his pass intended to Jordy Nelson was broken up by cornerback Chris Culliver, allowing Alex Smith to take a knee and milk the clock with the score 30-22. 

Despite allowing 324 yards in total offense including 303 coming through the air, San Francisco's defense for the most part kept Rodgers in check and prevented him from making the big plays when they needed to. And while Alex Smith threw nearly 100 yards fewer than Rodgers, he was able to match him with a pair of TD's and topped him in the turnover department, 0-1, playing mistake-free football. The run defense would be the difference in the game, however, as the 49ers allowed a measly 45 yards rushing on 14 carries compared to the 186 yards rushing Green Bay allowed on 32 carries. Frank Gore would lead the show with 112-yards and a TD. Giving up only 22-points, 7 of which coming off a punt return to a high octane offense such as Green Bay's proves that the 49ers can hang with the best regardless if they're on the road or at home. Winning the time of possession battle 33-minutes to 27-minutes, the 49ers snapped an 8-game losing streak to Green Bay.

Preview & Prediction: With Week 1 in the books, the potent 49ers defense will direct their attention to Matt Stafford and the Detroit Lions in Week 2 as Alex Smith and company look to take the field in front of their home crowd for the first time this season in a Sunday Night battle. Though the 49ers have won the last 8 consecutive meetings versus the Lions, the league's best wide receiver in Calvin Johnson a.k.a. Megatron will do everything possible to put an end to that streak. Unfortunately for them I see that streak reaching a ninth consecutive loss and have the 49ers winning, 27-14.  


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