Neither team has what personnel people would brand a strong offensive line, but on this day the Packers' front allowed two sacks while the 49ers were overrun for nine. That's the most recorded by the Green Bay defense in 33 years. Five of those sacks came in the final 13 minutes, when the 49ers collapsed. They had the ball five times and gained merely two first downs. The fourth quarter . . .
Football is like that sometimes.
I really believe that. But as the game wore on, the Packers' front four and blitzing safety LeRoy Butler gained control of the line of scrimmage and that was it. Shurmur changed up this time, playing less zone coverage than he has in recent 49ers' games. His secondary, benefiting from the removal of veteran Mike Prior from the dime as well as nickel packages, jumped some of Young's timing routes and made him look to second and third receivers. His lousy protection made that impossible.