SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) – Mike McCarthy’s Green Bay Packers circled this game among the tough challenges of the first quarter of the season, facing the familiar San Francisco 49ers in the unfamiliar confines of new Levi’s Stadium for the first time.
Not to mention during a short week with a long trip out West to face a team that had Green Bay’s number going into the fifth meeting in four seasons.
Aaron Rodgers and Co. were unfazed by it all, even if it took a little while to find a rhythm in a 17-3 victory against struggling Colin Kaepernick and the hapless Niners on Sunday to keep Green Bay unbeaten.
Led by a relentless, swarming defense that put Kaepernick on his back six times, the Packers started 4-0 for the first time since winning their initial 13 games in 2011.
Rodgers passed for 224 yards and a touchdown and ran 17 yards to set up a key second-half score.