Worst Loss to Packers in Franchise History: A Tough Night for the 49ers

Worst Loss to Packers in Franchise History: A Tough Night for the 49ers

Moments after suffering the franchise’s worst loss to the Green Bay Packers in the history of the series — and the third-largest defeat of any kind since he became head coach in 2017 — San Francisco 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan was asked to name the most disappointing part of his team’s performance.

Shanahan couldn’t narrow it down to one area and instead spent approximately the next 40 seconds laying out all ways the Niners failed in Sunday’s 38-10 defeat to the Packers, summing it up best with his opening words.

“The whole game was [disappointing],” Shanahan said. “When you have those penalties, we didn’t stop the run like we did, and we had those three turnovers in the second half. That’s how you get embarrassed.”

Historical Perspective: Worst Loss to Packers in 49ers History

The word of the day in the San Francisco locker room is embarrassed, after a beatdown that left them at 5-6 and on a two-game losing streak heading into a holiday week with a trip to Buffalo to face the surging Bills next Sunday night.

It was their largest margin of defeat in 74 meetings with the Packers, and it eclipsed a 27-point loss in 1960. The 49ers hadn’t lost to Green Bay by more than 20 since a 21-point defeat in 1997.

What’s more, it was the third-biggest margin of defeat for the Niners since Shanahan took over and their biggest regular-season loss since a 29-point defeat to the Los Angeles Rams in 2018. It also was the team’s worst road loss with Shanahan at the helm.

“It is embarrassing. This is probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” said 49ers linebacker Fred Warner. “You’ve got to take it on the chin, take it like a man, and move on.”

Moving on this week could be particularly tough considering all of the issues that beset the Niners.

Defensive Breakdown: Packers Dominate on All Fronts

Even though the team was short on much of its star power, with quarterback Brock Purdy out with a right shoulder injury, defensive end Nick Bosa suffering a left oblique and tackle Trent Williams missing because of an ankle issue, the Niners’ frustration stems from all of the self-inflicted errors they claim could have been avoided.

Defensive Breakdown: Packers Dominate on All Fronts

Among the issues Shanahan mentioned: a run defense that was manhandled in the first half (23 Green Bay carries for 125 yards and a touchdown), a pile of missed tackles and costly penalties (a season-high-tying nine for 77 yards), and a trio of turnovers that turned into Green Bay touchdowns.

Among the penalty parade was a series in which the Niners’ defense drew flags on back-to-back plays for having too many players on the field. Shanahan was vocal in protesting the first of two consecutive penalties, arguing his team didn’t get off the field in time after the Packers made a change, but admitted that the second penalty was a miscommunication.

Offensive Struggles: 49ers Fail to Find Momentum

“It’s always something, right?” San Francisco safety Ji’Ayir Brown said. “Every mistake we have made — we have been coached, we have been taught, we know exactly what to do. We’ve just got to get it done when it’s time.”

Perhaps none of those miscues was bigger than the pass that went through wide receiver Deebo Samuel’s hands in the third quarter. Down by 10 points on third-and-8 with the ball at Green Bay’s 45-yard line, San Francisco quarterback Brandon Allen fired right for Samuel between a pair of defenders.

The ball slid through Samuel’s hands and into the waiting arms of Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney, who returned it 48 yards to the Niners’ 26-yard line. Packers scored three plays and a penalty later, and instead of a potential three-point deficit, San Francisco was suddenly down 17.

When it was all said and done, Niners tight end George Kittle pointed to the three things he believed they needed to do to pull off an upset with Allen under center and Bosa and Williams on the sideline.

“Catch everything thrown to us, don’t have penalties and don’t turn the ball over,” Kittle said. “And we didn’t really do all those things, and it kind of just put [Allen] at a disadvantage.”

Making his first start since the final game of the 2021 season, Allen completed 17 of 29 passing attempts for 199 yards and a touchdown while throwing one interception. He also ran twice for 5 yards but fumbled one of the sacks he took.

Kittle said Allen “played his tail off.” And despite Allen’s long layoff between starts, it was clear he wasn’t near the top of the list of problems on Sunday. Still, the Niners are hopeful Purdy will return next week in Buffalo.