More Banjo - Packers vs 49ers

[sharpe1027]

Special teams wasn't bad other than FGs. Conditions were bad, but Carlson's been shaky all year.

Nixon's return was key. Coverage was okay. Punts were solid.

[King Friday]

The loss at least is a likely nail in Barry’s coffin. The defense could not get off the field on third down. We got some pressure on Purdy, but he’s far better than Dak at handling it. The weather was a bit of an equalizer for us, and losing Deebo was a huge blow to SF. There opportunities to win were there, but the young kids couldn’t take advantage. Great learning experience to build on. Love needs to learn when to use his legs. He should be running the ball more often. That should be an emphasis this off season. He seems to rely on throwing too much when chances to grab 5-10 yards are there to run for.

[red]

well, we weren't suppose to make the playoffs, so we shouldn't have even been in this game. so its cool we made it this far with a team so young

on the other hand, we had so many opportunities to win, and we didn't get it done

tough game to lose, but not heart breaking

[MadtownPacker]

Agreed Red. Put a scare in ‘em and likely softened them up for the lions.

[Joemailman]

4 years ago when Packers lost to 49ers in the playoffs, it felt like Packers didn't even belong in the game.

2 years ago, it felt like the end of an era.

This year feels like they're just getting started.

[run pMc]

Boy that Niner D was playing with their hair on fire - especially Lenoir and Greenlaw. Thought the OL was decent enough against a very good and deep defensive front. Love looked a little uncomfortable back there for chunks of the game, I think the Niners had much better coverage than Dallas did. This will be one of those games that Love hopefully reviews like he did his first KC game and learns from.

I felt like SF was the more physical team, but GB wasn't backing down. Savage had a tough game, but in coverage, tackling, and the dropped pick was the cherry on the sundae. Campbell looks a step slow, injury or not. I have to think strengthening the spine of the defense - specifically at LB and S - will be a draft goal.
MLF called a decent game, I felt like GB gave SF all it could handle and showed they belonged. I don't think DAL would have fared better. This was a game of missed chances, and that can kill you in the playoffs.

Aaron Jones had a monster game. Some of his runs that won't show in the game log as big runs were practically heroic. Play him the 1st 4 games of the year, wrap him in plastic for the next 8, and then unwrap him for the end of season/deep playoff run next year lol. McCafferey is a monster because of his versatility, balance and agility, but you could argue Jones was the better back tonight. He was at least his equal.

SF left me thinking they have real vulnerabilities, and if it's BAL vs. SF in the SB I'd take BAL. Purdy is good but he's a bit of a system guy who can execute that offense better than Garropolo or Tua even though he's less talented than either. I thought he was shaky this game, and I wonder if it was rain or rust or GB's defense.

No idea what this does for Barry. I don't think the loss is on Barry specifically, they didn't give up 200+ yards on the ground, Purdy had to throw more than 8 times etc. I think you have to look at his entire body of work - this game as well as the NYG game, or the game vs. PHI last year when they gave up 300+ or the game vs. TEN last year to an ugly offense, or... plenty of highs and lows. My personal preference is for them to move on and find a new DC, but I don't have a vote in MLF's choices lol

I feel bad about the Carlsson kid. People are going to say all kinds of things about him. Meh. The missed FG was a big deal, but it's not like other plays mattered as much or more. Orzech's snaps haven't been great either. I do think they will bring competition for him into camp, it would be crazy not to.
Nixon as a returner can be wildly entertaining, and terrifying.

Overall a good season with a lot of positives (Love, rookies, sweeping da Bears, playoffs?!, beating DAL) but a loss is always tough. Looking forward to the draft and next season. Roster decision and cap mgmt will be fascinating, after 2024 they should have their major cap hits cleared.

[MadtownPacker]

Great post Run but I have to disagree that SF was more physical. For the first time in a long time it felt like the Packers had energy on their side vs SF. The loss was due to inexperience which this game provided. Walking away with the feeling like they should have got them is positive unlike licking wounds from a beat down.

As for Carlson he had it easy the past month missing extra points without worry because the offense was lighting the scoreboard up. When he was finally needed he let down.

[Fosco33]

My keys to the game (in the Gameday thread):

1. We’re gonna need another big game from Jones - 20 for 120.
2. We’re gonna need a clean game from Jordan and spread it out.
3. We’re gonna need to defend against their 3 receiving threats (Kittle, Deebo, Aiyuk) and contain Christian.
4. We’re gonna need 2+ turnovers and possibly a defensive TD.
5. And we can’t miss any kicks/PATs.

We failed on 2, 4 and 5. It’s too bad that Love had 3 bad series in a row and Carlson missed the FG. I think we were better yesterday but failed to capitalize on early drives, dropping INTs and a few bad calls was a clear difference.

[texaspackerbacker]

I remember that post, Fosco. I replied that if all five happened, we'd win by 4 TDs or so.

If the Packers had played even close to as well as they did against the Cowboys, they would have won easily. I still say the Niners are not near as good as the Cowboys.

Despite all of that, we "coulda/shoulda/woulda" won right down to the end ....... but that's for losers, as APB said in another thread.

I'm convinced that if we had won, it would have been another step down - an easier game next week against the Lions or whoever.

Basically, the football season is over now. I, for one, don't give a shit about any of the teams or games going forward, and I don't expect to even watch them.

Next year, though, and beyond should be something special.

[Bretsky]

I remember that post, Fosco. I replied that if all five happened, we'd win by 4 TDs or so.

If the Packers had played even close to as well as they did against the Cowboys, they would have won easily. I still say the Niners are not near as good as the Cowboys.

Despite all of that, we "coulda/shoulda/woulda" won right down to the end ....... but that's for losers, as APB said in another thread.

I'm convinced that if we had won, it would have been another step down - an easier game next week against the Lions or whoever.

Basically, the football season is over now. I, for one, don't give a shit about any of the teams or games going forward, and I don't expect to even watch them.

Next year, though, and beyond should be something special.

san Fran is way better than Dallas

When is the last time you saw Dallas Kick San Fran's ass like what occured a few weeks ago ?

[texaspackerbacker]

Talent-wise, Dallas is better. I'm not as negative about McCarthy as some, but it's probable that the Niners are better coached. The Packers going forward should be better than either of them.

[Fritz]

Lots of good points here. King Friday, for one, makes a good point that Love needs to use his legs once in a while. I don't know if he thinks he still has to prove he's a QB and is not just going to pull the ball down and run whenever things get dicey, but he had some field in front of him on that last drive, and on another play, a third down, I think, he threw badly to Jones six yards away when he could've run the ball. And Jones was going to get hit immediately.

Joe's post is good. Spot on. This does feel like the beginning of something.

So many missed opportunities, you can't blame only Carlson. The two dropped picks were huge, huge, huge. Both were right in the defender's hands.

The lack of pressure on Purdy at the end of the game was a problem.

Love, as mentioned above, did not have a great game. He was mostly pretty good, but he missed badly on some easy throws and should've tucked and run a couple of times.

I feel badly for Devondre Campbell. It's reminding me a leetle bit of Ray Nitschke's last two years or so. Not that Campbell is Nitschke, but just seeing a guy who just has lost a step. Or two. And is running in sand, can no longer get the job done. Sad.

I think MLF also strayed from Jones toward the end of the game, to the team's detriment.

Yet, all in all, it seems that with a "shoring up of the middle," as Run suggested (I think), this team is positioned to be in the mix next season. Safety or two, a corner, an inside linebacker - geez, we're talking defense AGAIN, a new defensive coordinator, a couple of offensive linemen (one being a center, please), a running back or two. That's all on the wish list. And maybe a nose tackle to compete with Slaton.

I was heartened to see Colby Wooden make a play or two, as I think did Brooks. With an offseason of work, it'll be fun to see them next year. And maybe Wyatt can up his game another notch. I hope so.

[run pMc]

san Fran is way better than Dallas

When is the last time you saw Dallas Kick San Fran's ass like what occured a few weeks ago ?

Agree. SF is better at the majority of positional groups, in some cases by a wide margin. Not to say DAL lacks talent, just that SF is stacked.
McCarthy has led them to double digit wins 3 straight years and they won the division over the Eagles. It would have been a bad move IMO to fire him, and I suspect after calming down Jerrah realized it. If anything, the GB beatdown was Dan Quinn's (and Dak's) fault. MLF had Quinn defense figured out. Not hard for GB to run Aaron Jones against a dime defense.

[Bretsky]

Agree. SF is better at the majority of positional groups, in some cases by a wide margin. Not to say DAL lacks talent, just that SF is stacked.
McCarthy has led them to double digit wins 3 straight years and they won the division over the Eagles. It would have been a bad move IMO to fire him, and I suspect after calming down Jerrah realized it. If anything, the GB beatdown was Dan Quinn's (and Dak's) fault. MLF had Quinn defense figured out. Not hard for GB to run Aaron Jones against a dime defense.

I think the talent of SF is way better than Dallas...that....and San Fran seems to own us

[King Friday]

Who did Dallas play this year? No one. Their 12 wins came against trash. The one good team they beat, the Lions, was controversial.

SF is a way better team top to bottom. The media just fawns over the Cowboys to get clicks.