Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
There are several reasons why things did not go the Green Bay Packers’ way in their Week 1 loss to the San Francisco 49ers. Blown calls by the referees and unfortunate turnovers were certainly to blame. However, there is no question that the pass defense was once again a huge let down.
It was obvious the Packers were not going to allow San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick to beat them on the ground as he did in last season’s NFC Divisional Playoff loss. That is why outside linebackers Clay Matthews and Nick Perry were seen more content in containing the signal caller instead of an all-out pass rush that we will see throughout the season.
Unfortunately, the lack of a consistent pass rush is what allowed Kaepernick to throw for 412 yards through the air. 49ers newcomer Anquan Boldin had one of the best debuts for a new team one can have after hauling in 13 receptions for an impressive 208 receiving yards and one touchdown.
It is true the Packers were without starting safety Morgan Burnett and cornerback Casey Hayward, which certainly played a role. With both of those players back on the field, there is no doubt the pass defense will improve immensely. However, it still has to be concerning for Green Bay to watch San Francisco dismantle their defense the way they did.
There are some positives to take away from the game. The Packers were able to stand up to the 49ers time and again and kept the game close throughout. San Francisco is a very difficult team that will certainly be around come playoff time in January. For Green Bay to have success against them on the road is certainly encouraging.
