The San Francisco 49ers experienced their most lopsided loss against the Green Bay Packers in franchise history on Sunday, a crushing 38-10 defeat at Lambeau Field. For head coach Kyle Shanahan, the frustration was overwhelming. It wasn’t one area of failure; it was everything.
“The whole game was [disappointing],” Shanahan said, summing up a disastrous evening where missed tackles, penalties, and turnovers led to an embarrassing outcome.
A Record Loss in Lambeau
The Packers’ 38-10 drubbing handed the 49ers their largest margin of defeat in the 74-game series history between the two teams. It surpassed a 27-point loss from 1960.
Shanahan’s tenure hasn’t seen many regular-season defeats as severe as this one. Sunday marked the Niners’ biggest road loss under his leadership and their worst regular-season defeat since 2018. The embarrassment stings even more as the team tumbles to 5-6, now riding a two-game losing streak into their next matchup against the red-hot Buffalo Bills.
“This is probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” linebacker Fred Warner admitted. “It is embarrassing. You’ve got to take it on the chin, take it like a man, and move on.”
Self-Inflicted Wounds
The 49ers were without several star players, including quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive end Nick Bosa, and tackle Trent Williams. But injuries weren’t the only problem.
Green Bay shredded San Francisco’s run defense for 125 yards in the first half alone. Sloppy penalties added fuel to the fire—nine infractions for 77 yards, including back-to-back calls for too many men on the field. Miscommunication and errors like these left the Niners searching for answers.
Among the most costly mistakes was a third-quarter interception. With San Francisco down 10 points and driving, Brandon Allen’s pass to Deebo Samuel slipped through Samuel’s hands, landing in Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney’s arms. McKinney returned the ball 48 yards, setting up a Packers touchdown that pushed the lead to 17.
“Every mistake we’ve made—we’ve been coached, we’ve been taught, we know exactly what to do,” safety Ji’Ayir Brown said. “We’ve just got to get it done when it’s time.”
Allen’s Struggles Expose Team’s Weaknesses
Brandon Allen stepped in as starting quarterback, making his first start since 2021. While he showed flashes of competence, finishing with 199 yards, a touchdown, and an interception, Allen was far from the team’s biggest issue.
Tight end George Kittle summarized the formula for success succinctly:
- Catch everything thrown your way.
- Avoid penalties.
- Don’t turn the ball over.
“[Allen] played his tail off,” Kittle said. “And we didn’t really do all those things, and it kind of just put [Allen] at a disadvantage.”
Allen’s one interception wasn’t the only turnover. A second-half fumble on a sack further widened the gap as the Packers capitalized on every mistake.
Packers Capitalize on Chaos
While the 49ers unraveled, the Packers thrived. Running backs AJ Dillon and Aaron Jones combined for a relentless ground attack, while Jordan Love managed the game efficiently, tossing two touchdowns. The Packers’ defense was opportunistic, forcing three turnovers that led to points.
For Green Bay, the victory reinforced their playoff hopes. For San Francisco, it amplified a glaring sense of urgency.
| Key Stats | 49ers | Packers |
|---|---|---|
| Rushing Yards | 92 | 157 |
| Penalties (Yards) | 9 (77) | 3 (25) |
| Turnovers | 3 | 0 |
What’s Next for San Francisco?
Despite sitting under .500, the 49ers remain in contention in the NFC West, where the division race is muddled. But time is running out to fix their glaring issues.
Shanahan expressed cautious optimism about Brock Purdy’s potential return next week. The starting quarterback traveled with the team to Green Bay, but his status remains uncertain. With a daunting matchup against the Bills on the horizon, San Francisco’s margin for error is vanishing.
“We all share a bad feeling right now,” guard Dominick Puni said. “We’ve got to get back to next week. A big game against the Bills on Sunday night. We’ve got to go.”
