The 2022 Pre-Season began the same way the 2021 Post Season ended, with a loss to the San Francisco 49ers. The Green Bay Packers made a handful of big mistakes in the first half, rallied to retake the lead, only to fall in the end at Levi’s Stadium 28-21.
Jordan Love threw a pretty 33 yard TD strike to rookie Romeo Doubs in the first quarter to give the Packers a 7-3 lead. Doubs ran an up route from the right slot and quickly got behind the defender and Love delivered a strike, on a 4th and two call no less from Head Coach Matt LaFleur. The TD answered an opening field goal drive by San Francisco.
Just three plays after the Packer score, Trey Lance, the successor to Jimmy Garoppolo, hit Danny Gray down the sideline as he got behind safety Dallin Leavitt. The 76 yard bomb put the Niners back on top. That was the first big negative snap. The second came just as the Packer offense was moving again thanks to a 50 yard kickoff return from Amari Rodgers. Love threw an inside slant that Tyler Davis couldn’t pull in and Michael McCrary picked off the deflection returning it 57 yards into Green Bay territory on the final play of the first quarter.
On the first snap of the second, backup quarterback Nate Sudfeld found a wide open Ray-Ray McCloud for a 33 yard touchdown to make it a 17-7 game. Rico Gafford slipped in coverage on the play.
The Packers crossed midfield again when Love threw an out to Doubs that he appeared to gather before rolling to the ground. San Francisco challenged the play and the catch was overturned into an interception by Samuel Womack. While the defense got a stop, Womack came up with another pick on the next series. He got in front of a crossing Rodgers and Love’s throw was slightly behind his target. This time, Womack returned the ball 50 yards to the Packer 16.
Robbie Gould’s second field goal of the night pushed the 49er lead to 20-7.
Love bounced back from the turnovers by running a nice two minute drive. He hit Samori Toure for 23 yards on third and 6 and on third and 4 from the San Francisco 33, Love floated an inside back shoulder up the right sideline that rookie free agent Danny Davis adjusted to. He stepped inside of the corner to make the catch and then sprinted upfield, diving into the end zone to cut the lead to 6.
The defense forced it’s only turnover with only seconds left in the half. Safety Dallin Leavitt smashed into McCloud after a catch, forcing a fumble that Krys Barnes recovered. The unfortunate side is Leavitt had to leave the game with a shoulder injury.
The third quarter was scoreless although rookie free agent kicker Gabe Brkic lined up for a 32 yard field goal. He hooked the the ball horribly to the left. Danny Etling took over at quarterback and sparked by a 25 yard run by newly re-signed Dexter Williams, he drove the Packers to the lead. A quick out to Rodgers in the left flat allowed him to get the corner past a closing defensive back. One up the sideline he wiggled past a safety and the reached the ball to the pylon to complete an impressive 22 yard touchdown. Brkic hit the PAT to put the Packers up 21-20 with 12:53 to play.
San Francisco responded with a 69 yard scoring drive. Brock Purdy found Tanner Hudson on a five yard TD. The tight end crossed the formation and linebacker Ray Wilborn dropped coverage allowing him to get free in the right corner. The Niners cashed in a two point try for the final margin.
Green Bay’s last possession died when Etling was stopped inches short on a 4th and 1 quarterback sneak at the San Francisco 43. The Niners ran out the final 4:20 of the game.
The Packers outgained San Francisco 437 to 328. They fared better on the ground with 141 yards compared to 116. Passing yards were 296 for Green Bay, 212 for the Niners. Head Coach Matt LaFleur said afterwards the difference in the game were the two big plays given up by the defense and the three turnovers. He absolved Love for two of the three picks that were in the hands of Davis and Doubs. On the third, LaFleur said two receivers ran wrong routes although Love’s decision and accuracy on that play left a little to be desired. Yet, LaFleur was pleased with Jordan’s performance. He finished 13 of 24 for 176 yards with the two scores and 3 picks, good for a passer rating of 66.0. Etling wound up 6 of 8 for 123 yards and a score. The 3 San Francisco QB’s combined to go 15 of 22 for 231 yards with 3 touchdowns and no interceptions for a collective rating of 142.2.
Tyler Goodson led Green Bay’s ground game with 37 yards on 12 carries. Williams, after just one practice, and three rushes for 29 and a game best 25 yard burst. Doubs and Juwann Winfree each had three receptions to lead the team.
Defensively, Isaiah McDuffie and defensive tackle Chris Slayton led with six tackles. San Francisco was led by a couple of former Green Bay draft picks, Oren Burks had 8 stops, Ka’Dar Hollman had 6.
Tipa Galaei, Kingsley Enagbare and Kobe Jones each had a sack.
The offensive line, which has struggled at times in camp, did a better job protecting Love. Yosh Nijman, Jon Runyan, Josh Myers, Jake Hanson and Royce Newman played the entire first half. Hanson did commit a couple of penalties at guard before playing center in the second half.
A whopping 33 players didn’t even dress for the game. The half dozen on the PUP list (Mason Crosby, Christian Watson, Kylin Hill, David Bakhtiari, Elgton Jenkins and Robert Tonyan) and 27 others- Sammy Watkins, Aaron Rodgers, Allen Lazard, Randall Cobb, Eric Stokes, Jaire Alexander, Darnell Savage, A.J. Dillon, Rasul Dougas, Adrian Amos, Aaron Jones, Donte Vaughn, Innis Gaines, Dominique Dafney, Rashan Gary, La’Darius Hamilton, Randy Ramsey, De’Vondre Campbell, Rasheed Walker, Cole Schneider, Malik Taylor, Marcedes Lewis, Jarran Reed, Preston Smith, Dean Lowry, Devonte Wyatt and Kenny Clark.
Next up for the Packers, a big week with the New Orleans Saints. They’ll arrive Monday evening and practice with the Packers both Tuesday and Wednesday in what will be the final two public practices of training camp on Ray Nitschke Field. The Packers announced both workouts will begin at 10:30 AM. The Saints will then meet the Pack in the only home pre-season game at Lambeau Field next Friday night.
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