John Kuhn: UPI/Bill Greenblatt
The Green Bay Packers joined Atlanta and Carolina as the N-F-C’s only unbeaten teams after grinding out a 17-3 victory at San Francisco on Sunday.
Aaron Rodgers passed for 224 yards and a touchdown and John Kuhn rushed for a one-yard touchdown, but the Packers offense wasn’t on its “A” game.
The Packers did make it look easy at the start, moving 80-yards on the first possession, capping off a touchdown drive with a 9-yard scoring strike to Richard Rodgers. The Packers would score only one more touchdown, the short scoring run from Kuhn.
The Packers needed their defense at times in the past and didn’t get enough help. Sunday they did. The Packers defense not only sacked Colin Kaepernick six times, but they held him to 160 yards passing and 57 yards rushing. They also held running back Carlos Hyde to 20 yards on eight carries. That defense gave up 196 total yards, just 72 in the second half.
Aaron Rodgers was sacked three times, but that number could have been higher if it weren’t for Rodgers ability to scramble out of trouble.
Sam Shield had the games only interception and Eddie Lacy rushed for 90 yards on 18 carries.
The Packers won scoring 19 points or less for the first time in five years. Scoring 17 points usually leads to a loss in the N-F-L. That’s how special the Packers defensive effort was on Sunday.
The Packers improved to 4-0 and opened a full two-game lead on Minnesota in the N-F-C North. The Vikings (2-2) fell 23-20 at Denver yesterday. Chicago won its first game of the season, knocking off Oakland 22-20. The Detroit Lions will look for their first win of the season tonight at Seattle.
AUDIO: Aaron Rodgers says it’s great to see the defense step up :19
AUDIO: Clay Matthews on the Packers 4-0 start :20