Scores for Sep 9, 2012
  • Final
     
    IND
    CHI
    21
    41
    21
    41
    0
  • Final
     
    PHI
    CLE
    17
    16
    17
    16
    1
  • Final
     
    STL
    DET
    23
    27
    23
    27
    2
  • Final
     
    NE
    TEN
    34
    13
    34
    13
    3
  • Final
     
    ATL
    KC
    40
    24
    40
    24
    4
  • Final OT
    OT
     
    JAC
    MIN
    23
    26
    23
    26
    5
  • Final
     
    WSH
    NO
    40
    32
    40
    32
    6
  • Final
     
    BUF
    NYJ
    28
    48
    28
    48
    7
  • Final
     
    MIA
    HOU
    10
    30
    10
    30
    8
  • Final
     
    SF
    GB
    30
    22
    30
    22
    9
  • Final
     
    SEA
    ARI
    16
    20
    16
    20
    10
  • Final
     
    CAR
    TB
    10
    16
    10
    16
    11
  • Final
     
    PIT
    DEN
    19
    31
    19
    31
    12
  • Final
     
    DAL
    NYG
    24
    17
    24
    17
    13
  • Final
     
    CIN
    BAL
    13
    44
    13
    44
    14
  • Final
     
    SD
    OAK
    22
    14
    22
    14
    15

Final

49ers 30

(1-0, 1-0 away)

Packers 22

(0-1, 0-1 home)

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Coverage: FOX

4:25 PM ET, September 9, 2012

Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI 

1 2 3 4 T
SF 3 13 7 730
GB 0 7 0 1522

Top Performers

Passing: A. Rodgers (GB) - 303 YDS, 2 TD, 1 INT

Rushing: F. Gore (SF) - 16 CAR, 112 YDS, 1 TD

Receiving: J. Jones (GB) - 4 REC, 81 YDS, 1 TD

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Niners lean on defense to upend Aaron Rodgers, Packers

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Associated Press
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Sunday Blitz: 49ers-Packers Recap
Jim Basquil and Eric Allen break down the 49ers' 30-22 win over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. A game which also saw David Akers tying an NFL record for the longest field goal.Tags: Sunday Blitz, Zubin Mehenti, Cris Carter, NFL, Fantasy, Packers, 49ers
Sunday Blitz: 49ers-Packers Recap
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  • Sunday Blitz: 49ers-Packers Recap
    Sunday Blitz: 49ers-Packers Recap
    Jim Basquil and Eric Allen break down the 49ers' 30-22 win over Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. A game which also saw David Akers tying an NFL record for the longest field goal.Tags: Sunday Blitz, Zubin Mehenti, Cris Carter, NFL, Fantasy, Packers, 49ers

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Randy Moss found his way back to familiar turf, celebrating a touchdown at Lambeau Field in his new uniform.

More Niners-Packers Coverage

spacer The Niners looked fresh and alert. The Packers looked tired. Kevin Seifert asks: Was this just a bad matchup for the Packers or was it a warning sign? Story

• Radio: Mike & Mike | Cris Carter
• More radio: Ditka | Jaworski
• NFC North Blog | NFC West Blog

The San Francisco 49ers' defense kept Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers out of the end zone for most of the day -- then made sure they didn't give the game away.

Showing the same brand of dominant defense that powered them to the NFC Championship Game last season, the 49ers smothered Rodgers and the Packers offense, then made one last stand to stop a late rally in a 30-22 victory on Sunday.

49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks said the 49ers' win could be an "eye opener" for the Packers, and a sign that the 49ers are poised for another big playoff run.

"Maybe we'll see them again in the NFC championship," Brooks said.

Facing a Packers team that lost only once in the 2011 regular season was a tough opening road test, the 49ers were more than ready.

"We were just tremendously on it today, and that was a big part of our victory," 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Things went so well for San Francisco that when David Akers tried a 63-yard field goal at the end of the first half, it bounced off the crossbar and then kept going through the uprights to tie an NFL record.

"When you hit the goal post at any part it usually makes that horrific noise and then it usually bounces back," Akers said. "This time it got there. It was a sweet bounce. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime type of a deal."

Smith on Target for Niners

spacer Randy Moss and Mario Manningham joined the 49ers' receiving corps in the offseason, and Alex Smith used his wide receivers more than usual on Sunday. Smith threw for 152 yards to wide receivers, his highest total since Week 13 of last season. Since 2010, San Francisco ranked last in the NFL in percentage of receiving yards produced by wide receivers.

2010-11 Sunday
Pct. of total yards 50.8 72.0
Completion pct. 61.8 93.8
Yards/attempt 7.7 9.5
TDs-Interceptions 12-13 1-0
-- ESPN Stats & Information

The Packers came into their opener with hopes that a rebuilt defense and improved running game could help get them back to the Super Bowl after coming up short in the playoffs last season.

"They've got a great defense," Rodgers said. "You've got to give them credit. They've got some of the top guys in the league at their position."

Rodgers finished the game as the Packers' leading rusher, with new addition Cedric Benson gaining just 18 yards on nine carries.

The Packers don't have long to prepare for their next game, Thursday night at home against the division rival Chicago Bears.

Asked if he at least was pleased that his team put together a comeback, Packers coach Mike McCarthy held his tongue.

"Boy, I'd like to answer that truthfully," McCarthy said. "We're 0-1. We have some work to do. We're up in 96 hours."

Rodgers cautioned against blowing one loss out of proportion.

"It's one game," Rodgers said. "This is a team that was in the NFC championship last year. It's a good team. Hopefully we see them down the road in the playoffs."

Rodgers finished 30 of 44 for 303 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, but the 49ers held him in check until late the in the game. Jermichael Finley had a 1-yard touchdown for the Packers.

Alex Smith was 20 of 26 for 211 yards and two touchdowns while Frank Gore rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown.

Moss scored a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter, a familiar -- and painful -- sight for Packers fans.

Moss turned his back to the crowd and pointed to the name on his jersey, opting for a more subdued celebration than the now-notorious fake mooning motion he made toward fans at Lambeau during his Minnesota Vikings days.

"He had a lot of juice, he blocked well," Harbaugh said. "He got open and he was a great big target in there."

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• NFC North | NFC West

The replacement officials called a total of 18 penalties, some of them questionable and drawing animated complaints from both sidelines.

"Some of the penalties were definitely a little bizarre," Rodgers said.

The 49ers took a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter, then twice let Rodgers and the Packers cut the lead to 8. But the defense held firm on a potential game-tying drive in the final minutes

Randall Cobb gave the Packers a chance with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown, and a 2-point conversion cut the lead to 8, at 23-15 in the fourth quarter. But Rodgers threw an interception to linebacker NaVorro Bowman, and Gore ran for a 23-yard touchdown.

Rodgers then threw a touchdown to James Jones, cutting the lead back to 8.

With the clock nearing the four-minute mark, a sack by
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