GREEN BAY, Wis. — Randy Moss found his way back to familiar turf, celebrating a touchdown at Lambeau Field in his new uniform.
The San Francisco defense kept Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers out of the end zone for most of the day — then made sure the 49ers 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 the Rodgers-led Packers offense, then made one last stand to stop a late rally in a 30-22 victory on Sunday.
San Francisco 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, but the 49ers were more than ready.
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 definitely a once-in-a-lifetime type of a deal.”
The Packers went into their opener with hopes that a rebuilt defense and improved running game could help them get 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.”
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