A Bad, Bad Start

As we said in a Tweet during the game, it’s hard to believe that we waited six months to see football like this. The Packers were basically out-played for most of the game on Sunday — outplayed by a better team, at least on this day. And you can’t point the finger at the replacement referees, either. The Packers shot themselves in the foot several times and played poorly enough that they would’ve lost without all the penalties.

It seemed that whenever we were able to get to ball to a receiver (WR Greg Jennings, #85 above), they were most often covered immediately during or after the pass. Rare was a pass that caught a receiver in stride. 

This photo tells the succinct story of Green Bay’s rushing attack in the season-opener. 

While A.J. Hawk (#50) seems to have a bead on Frank Gore (#21) on this play, the opposite was the case most of the game for the defense. 

LB Clay Matthews (#52) was able to get in and score two-and-a-half sacks on Alex Smith (#11). 

We need more of this from the defense. Wasn’t it supposed to be improved?

Is anyone else tired of hearing all about TE Jermichael Finley’s potential year after year, while he drops passes? 

One bright spot of the day — WR Randall Cobb (#18). 

It sure looked like a beautiful day at Lambeau Field, 

QB’s Aaron Rodgers (#12) and Alex Smith (#11) went 24th and 1st (respectively) in the 2005 NFL Draft. The top draft choice got the best of the battle today.

In a pre-game promotion with TIDE®, all fans were given colored t-shirts to wear for a pre-game promo. 

It was Alumni Day in Green Bay, and the 1982 Packers team was honored for their 30th anniversary (above and below). 

Always receiving the loudest ovation on Alumni Day is Hall of Fame Packers’ former QB Bart Starr. 

Photos courtesy of the Green Bay Packers.

And now on to the video. Here are the game highlights. 

 • Mike McCarthy’s Post-Game Conference.

• Rodgers: 49ers made good plays, adjustments. 

• Trust Woodson, defense will improve. 

• Matthews: A lot of room for improvement. 

• Randall Cobb saw the field open up. 

• Locker Room Soundbites. 

• Sights & Sounds: Packers-49ers 

Here is an aerial view of the Tide® promotion from a helicopter, as provided by the Packers. Click on the photo to enlarge.

POST-GAME INFO:

• GAME STORY Green Bay Press-Gazette

• GAME STORY Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

• GAME STORY ESPN-Milwaukee

• GAME STORY Associated Press

• GAME STORY San Francisco Chronicle

• OFFICIAL BOX SCORE

• OFFICIAL PLAY-BY-PLAY

• OFFICIAL GAME STATS

*****

PACKERS ON THE FIELD:

• Losing to 49ers no reason for despair

• Packers remain confident after opening loss

• Loss heightens stakes for Bears game

• Packers eager to play on short rest

• Game Notes

• Post-game notes & quotes

• A penalty? Manning isn't admitting to it

• Driver disappointed in loss, not playing time

• 49ers make a statement in Green Bay

• Offseason work only pays off for one

• Cobb makes strong opening statement New!

• Flag day: Replacement refs factor in New!

• Nelson can't reel it in New!

• Rodgers 'disappointed' in two key mistakes New!

• M.D. Jennings sits after Moss TD New!

• Desmond Bishop on the mend New!

• Peter King: Monday Morning QB New!

The Opening Battle

It’s finally here!… the opening weekend of Packers football and the NFL in general. Oh sure, they threw us a bone with that Wednesday night game, but does that make sense to anyone? Really? But now it’s football until the beginning of February, and that is just what we need. The Packers take on the 49ers in the opener, which is a 3:25 p.m. (Green Bay time) start. Plan accordingly! It should be a good game between two teams that very well may be meeting up again in January — hopefully on this same turf in Northeast Wisconsin.

• Mike McCarthy coaches the same system since 1989. 

• Full Inside Lambeau show with DE Jerel Worthy. 

• NFL Films official Game Preview. 

• NFL Network: it’s going to be a fast game. 

• NFL Network: How to attack 49ers’ defense. 

• Final Thoughts on Packers-49ers. 

REGULAR SEASON GAME #1 INFO:

• PACKERS-49ERS DOPE SHEET

• 49ERS OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE

• PACKERS 2012 MEDIA GUIDE

• 49ERS 2012 MEDIA GUIDE

• PACKERS TEAM REPORT

• GAME PREVIEW #1

• GAME PREVIEW #2

• GAME PREVIEW #3

• FIVE KEY MATCH-UPS

• PACKERS 2012 ROSTER

• PACKERS 2012 DEPTH CHART

• 49ERS 2012 ROSTER

• 49ERS 2012 DEPTH CHART

• INJURY REPORT/GB vs. SF

• INJURY REPORT/NFL

• WEEK 1 NFL CAPSULES

• GREEN BAY WEATHER

• LAMBEAU CAM

• NFL TV COVERAGE MAP

  Red areas = Packers-49ers game will be seen

*****

PACKERS ON THE FIELD:

• Packers know they must be physical

• Williams expected to handle return duties

• Packers, Green being 'cautious'

• Packers will rely on young defense

• Rodgers set to play ‘Fearsome Foursome’

• Packers’ Nelson a challenge for 49ers

• For Finley, it’s about time

• Benson looks to tilt field

• Bush readies for bigger role

• Kickoff 2012: Mike McCarthy Q&A NEW!

• Kickoff 2012: Offense seeks encore NEW!

• Kickoff 2012: Defense's Mr. Fix-It? NEW!

• Kickoff 2012: Fearless forecast NEW!

• Packers will rely on young defense NEW!

• September road test begins in Green Bay NEW!

• Packers face tough task in Justin Smith NEW!

• What the 49ers need to do to win in Green Bay NEW!

• Coach Harbaugh’s Notebook NEW!

• One Last Look NEW!

PACKERS OFF THE FIELD:

• Super Bowl shirt donated to Hall of Fame

• Packers travel advisory

AROUND THE NFL:

• Browns scrap plans to honor Modell NEW!

• What To Look For — Kickoff Weekend NEW!

We haven’t seen it yet, but ESPN —The Magazine has voted the Packers the “Team of the Decade.” Look for it on a newsstand near you!

A True Iron Man

Another installment of Packers of the Past awaits you today, with Mike Michalske as the feature. He played in the rough and tumble beginning era of pro football, with his career in Green Bay spanning the years 1929-1935, and 1937. He wore nine uniform numbers over his Packers career, the most by any one player in team history.

• Mike McCarthy: We need to trust our training. 

• Cedric Benson excited to play football for Packers. 

• Randall Cobb focusing on 49ers. 

• Gameday Entertainment: Packers vs. 49ers.

PACKERS ON THE FIELD:

• Green Bay Packers Team Report

• Excitement builds in the building

• Uno mas against Moss

• Packers-49ers Thursday injury report

• Offensive line focused on Justin Smith

• All eyes on Lambeau Sunday

• The Lambeau Leap has its hazards

• 49ers Notebook

• 49ers GM visits his alma mater

• Packers facing juggernaut LBs

PACKERS OFF THE FIELD:

• Packers among teams using iPad playbooks

• Packers to welcome alumni on Sunday

AROUND THE NFL:

• Art Modell dead at 87

• Goodell discusses cutting preseason in half

The 1985 Ray Nitschke

We’re not near our scanner right now to present the next installment of Packers of the Past, so we bringing you this photo of Hall of Famer Ray Nitschke in 1985. Do we really need an excuse to run an image of Mr. Nitschke? Nope.

Starting with the videos, here’s Mike McCarthy: "We're at the starting line" 

• QB Aaron Rodgers to make plays, opportunities.

• WR Greg Jennings' says his contract is not a distraction. 

• Locker Room Soundbites: Gearing up for 49ers 

• This week’s complete Mike McCarthy Show. 

PACKERS ON THE FIELD:

• Packers wise to 49ers' ways

• Packers see opener as tone setting game

• Rodgers acknowledges lack of O-line depth

• Packers ready for Moss and 49ers run game

• 49ers defense a 'huge challenge'

• Packers-49ers Wednesday injury report

• Rodgers gets some revenge

• Benson looks to put fumbles behind him

• Rodgers: Packers 'going to have to consider' Clifton

AROUND THE NFL:

• NFL calls the shots as new season begins

• Fans tell Goodell they want cheaper tix

• NFL pledges $30 million for medical research

The Tobin Rote Years

Before Bart Starr, before Lamar McHan, there was Tobin Rote. His time in Green Bay spanned the years 1950-1956, which turned out to be a less than stellar time period to play football with the Packers. Let’s learn more about him today.

PACKERS ON THE FIELD:

• Packers preparing for home opener

• Point, counterpoint: Must-win game?

• Packers start season atop rankings

• McCarthy taking season one game at a time

• Packers kicking off opener with special events

• Betting on the opening line

• Rodgers on replacement refs

• Rodgers on Greg Jennings

• Jennings wants to stay with Packers

• AP Pro32 comments about Packers

• A soft middle?

PACKERS OFF THE FIELD:

• Packers buy more land south of Lambeau

• Starr: Packers always 'part of my makeup'