FIELD GOAL SPOILS 49ERS’ HOME OPENER
Last-minute TD by 49ers’ Juszyzck went for naught as Crosby kicks winning FG for Packers
SANTA CLARA » No confetti showered down on Levi’s Stadium’s field like the last time fans packed a 49ers’ game against the Green Bay Packers.
Instead, it was the Packers who stormed the field in celebration, once Mason Crosby made a 51-yard field goal as time expired for a 30-28 victory.
It was a stunning reversal, all of which nullified the 49ers’ own fourth-quarter comeback and spoiled their long-awaited home opener.
So ended the 49ers’ first home game with fans since their NFC Championship Game rout of the Packers two seasons ago. And what an ending this was.
The 49ers, who spotted the Packers a 17-0 lead, finally went ahead with 37 seconds to spare as Kyle Juszczyk crashed over the goal line on a 12-yard touchdown catch.
But that left enough time for 49ers’ long-time rival Aaron Rodgers. He capped his 261yard night by spiking the ball to stop the clock for Crosby, but only after supplying Davante Adams’ 12th reception of his 132-yard night.
Jimmy Garoppolo, only minutes earlier, positioned himself for a heroic role in engineering a go-ahead drive, thanks largely to his connection with George Kittle and Deebo Samuel.
Fans jumped out of their seats, waved white T-shirts as rally rags, and they cheered on Kittle as he lumbered to the Packers’ 36-yard line to spark that final 49ers’ possession. Samuel hauled in a third-down converstion catch at the 24, and then it was Garoppolo-to-Kittle, again, for a 12-yard gain to set up Juszczyk’s score.
Most of the game, the 49ers offense was bogged down, with scant rushing success in Trey Sermon’s first career start,
though he did score on a 1-yard, fourth-quarter run. It took the insertion of fellow rookie Trey Lance to get the 49ers’ first points, on a 1-yard keeper as the first half expired.
Pass-interference penalties worked largely in the Packers’ favor — converting a trio of third-down plays — and the 49ers’ drew one on fourth-quarter heave by Garoppolo in the midst of their comeback bid. That kept alive a drive which ended with Sermon’s first career touchdown, cutting the 49ers’ deficit to 24-21.
Two Packers’ penalties against Garoppolo (roughing, tripping) vaulted the 49ers into Packers’ territory with just over five minutes remaining. But then came an officiating call that ruined the 49ers’ comeback: Garoppolo spiked the ball as a backward pass with pass rusher Kenny Clark approaching, and that ensuing fumble was recovered by the Packers.
Rodgers completed his first 12 passes, including a 1-yard touchdown strike to a wide open Davante Adams that put the 49ers in a 10-0, first-quarter hole. That margin grew to 17-0 before the 49ers struck just before halftime, inserting rookie Trey Lance for a 1-yard touchdown run as the clock expired. TOUCHDOWN TREY » Lance’s 1-yard touchdown run — on his first snap in two games, after a four-snap debut in the opener — cut the 49ers’ deficit to 17-7 entering halftime. Lance dashed around the left end, with left tackle Trent Williams pushing rookie cornerback Eric Stokes to the ground to help clear a path. George Kittle, Laken Tomlinson and Alex Mack also threw key blocks.
So, five snaps into Lance’s career, he had a touchdown run and, from the season opener, a touchdown pass. That touchdown run came after backto-back baffling plays, in which Garoppolo lined up in the shotgun from the 1 and threw incompletions, the first being a high throw to Brandon Aiyuk. SERMON’S SHAKY START » Running back Trey Sermon’s first career start opened with a dud, or a thud. But, come the fourth quarter, he scored his first career touchdown, on a 1-yard run after a Packers defensive holding penalty the previous snap (which came on a Lance cameo).
Sermon’s touchdown plunge, up the left side of the line, pulled the 49ers within 24-21 with 7:48 remaining. It sure was better than his initial carry of the night, which went for a 3-yard loss. Inactive in the opener, Sermon had only one carry last Sunday, in which he sustained a concussion on a helmet-to-helmet hit.
Sermon’s slow start this game continued into the second quarter with a dropped pass and then a third-and-1 run for no gain. He came alive with a 16-yard run on the touchdown drive that opened the second half.
Sermon was the third different running back in as many games to start this season. Raheem Mostert sustained a season-ending knee injury in the opener, and Elijah Mitchell did not suit up this game because of a shoulder injury from last game.
Essentially, Sermon was the 49ers’ fifth-string running back, behind Mostert, Mitchell, JaMycal Hasty (ankle; injured reserve) and Jeff Wilson Jr., who is on the physically unable to perform list because of a May meniscus tear.
RODGERS-ADAMS COMBO »
Rodgers and Davante Adams hooked up for the Packers’ first touchdown and 10 completions for 90 yards before a scary hit with 7:41 left floored Adams.
On that deep pass, Adams got leveled by safety Jimmie Ward, who led with his left shoulder but whose helmet collided with Adams’ facemask. Emmanuel Moseley had successfully broken up the pass before impact. Adams missed one snap, and then Rodgers overthrew him on a thirddown shot.
On Adams’ openingdrive touchdown catch, rookie cornerback Deommodore Lenoir got his signals mixed with Josh Norman in coverage. Lenoir was filling in for nickel back K’Waun Williams, who had just left with a calf injury. On the preceding play, Rodgers found Adams for a 17-yard gain to the 1, on a third-and-6 conversion.