49ers Dominate Packers in Big Sunday Night Football Win
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Jimmy Garoppolo threw two long touchdown passes and the San Francisco defense harassed Aaron Rodgers all night, leading the 49ers to a 37-8 victory over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
Garoppolo connected on a 42-yard touchdown strike to Deebo Samuel in the second quarter and a 61-yarder to George Kittle in the third to get San Francisco (10-1) off to a resounding start to a grueling three-game stretch.
Following the game against the first-place Packers (8-3), the Niners will travel to Baltimore (8-2) and New Orleans (9-2) the next two weeks in a stretch that will go a long way to determining whether San Francisco will be able to hold off Seattle (9-2) in a tight NFC West race.
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers shakes hands with Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers after their game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after Raheem Mostert #31 ran in for a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers looks to pass during the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after a first down during the first half of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Running back Jamaal Williams #30 of the Green Bay Packers is stopped by free safety Jimmie Ward #20 and defensive tackle D.J. Jones #93 of the San Francisco 49ers during the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Free safety Jimmie Ward #20 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers stopped the Green Bay Packers on 3rd down during to force a punt during the first quarter of the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Tight end George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball after making a catch as strong safety Adrian Amos #31 of the Green Bay Packers chases during the first half of the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is sacked by defensive end Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers during the 1st half of the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Defensive end Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after making a tackle during the first half of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts as running back Tevin Coleman #26 scores on a 2 yard run during the first quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Wide receiver Deebo Samuel #19 of the San Francisco 49ers carries the ball to the endzone for a touchdown after making a catch during the first half of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Aaron Rodgers #12 of the Green Bay Packers is sacked by Arik Armstead #91 of the San Francisco 49ers in the third quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Middle linebacker Fred Warner #54 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts after the 49ers stopped the Green Bay Packers on 4th down during the first quarter of the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers reacts during their game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: A San Francisco 49ers fan cheers during the game at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders of the San Francisco 49ers is upended by strong safety Adrian Amos #31 of the Green Bay Packers after making a catch during the first quarter of the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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Levi's Stadium pregame fireworks before the 49ers-Packers game Sunday, Nov 24, 2019.
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: Cornerback Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers takes the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 24: The San Francisco 49ers take the field during player introductions prior to the game against the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
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49ers coach Kyle Shanahan poses with his family before his team's Sunday night showdown against the Green Bay Packers. (Nov. 24, 2019)
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SANTA CLARA, CA - NOVEMBER 24: Fans cheer as the San Francisco 49ers warm up before facing the Green Bay Packers at Levi's Stadium on November 24, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Brandon Magnus/Getty Images)
Rodgers lost a fumble on the opening drive one of the five sacks he took and failed to convert a single third down on 13 tries before getting pulled late in the fourth quarter. He finished 20 for 33 for 104 yards and Green Bay averaged an anemic 1.7 yards per pass play when he was in the game.
After allowing 78 points the past three weeks in two games against Arizona's Kyler Murray and one against Seattle's Russell Wilson, the Niners' defense was back to its dominant form.
San Francisco allowed 198 yards on 70 plays, didn't allow a single completion longer than 15 yards and got a key stop against Aaron Jones on a fourth-and-1 run in the first half when the outcome was still in doubt.
Garoppolo then put it away with the two long touchdowns, part of a day when he went 14 for 20 for 253 yards and most importantly committed no turnovers.
He was helped by the return of Kittle, who had six catches for 129 yards in his first game back after missing the past two contests with injuries to his knee and ankle.
