Facing a tough playoff test against an offense featuring dynamic quarterback Colin Kaepernick, the Green Bay Packers' defense failed in a 45-31 loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
Packers’ defense at a loss after falling to 49ers
The 49ers dominated the second half against the Packers, and Green Bay players were left picking up the pieces.
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In addition to scoring 45 points, the 49ers racked up 579 yards and 29 first downs. Kaepernick led the way with 444 total yards and four touchdowns. Following the game, injured Packers linebacker Desmond Bishop defended defensive coordinator Dom Capers:
“You can’t have a great defense and win the Super Bowl one year and then be kicked out the next year, or a year or two later,” Bishop said. “I don’t think it should work like that at all. I think Dom Capers is a great coach.”
As for Green Bay’s defensive players who were on the field against San Francisco, they’ve had a hard time coming up with an explanation for the Packers’ performance. Cornerback Charles Woodson was at a loss for words after the game:
“What does it feel like?” Woodson was asked when the 579 yards was mentioned. “I don’t know. I probably can’t say what it really feels like. But it happened.”
As for defensive lineman B.J. Raji, the Packers' problems were pretty obvious: Green Bay couldn't do anything to stop the 49ers' rushing attack, which gained 323 yards:
“When the quarterback can run like that, that opens up the arsenal of play-calling,” Raji said. “Obviously if you can’t stop the run, that’s football 101.”
While Packers players can look at film from the loss and examine what went wrong, wide receiver Greg Jennings seems to believe that the result was out of Green Bay's hands:
“There’s no coulda, shoulda, wouldas,” Jennings said. “We lost to a better team.”
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