49ers Suffer Humiliating 28-Point Loss to Packers: What Went Wrong?
GREEN BAY, Wisc. — It was a day the San Francisco 49ers would rather forget. Moments after enduring the franchise’s worst loss to the Green Bay Packers in their 74-game history, head coach Kyle Shanahan faced the media with a grim expression. The 38-10 defeat wasn’t just a bad day at the office—it was a complete unraveling. And Shanahan didn’t hold back when asked to pinpoint the most disappointing part of the game.
“The whole game was (disappointing),” Shanahan admitted. “When you have those penalties, we didn’t stop the run like we did, and we had those three turnovers in the second half. That’s how you get embarrassed.”
Embarrassed. That was the word echoing through the 49ers’ locker room after the crushing loss, which dropped them to 5-6 on the season and extended their losing streak to two games. With a daunting trip to face the surging Buffalo Bills looming on Sunday night, the Niners are running out of time to right the ship.
Historic Loss in Green Bay
Sunday’s defeat wasn’t just another loss—it was a historic one. The 28-point margin marked the largest loss the 49ers have ever suffered against the Packers, surpassing a 27-point blowout from 1960. It was also the team’s worst road loss under Shanahan and their biggest regular-season defeat since a 29-point drubbing by the Los Angeles Rams in 2018.
“This is probably one of the worst ones I’ve been a part of,” linebacker Fred Warner said. “It is embarrassing. You’ve got to take it on the chin, take it like a man, and move on.”
Self-Inflicted Wounds
While injuries to key players like quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive end Nick Bosa, and tackle Trent Williams certainly didn’t help, the 49ers’ biggest issues were self-inflicted. Shanahan pointed to a litany of mistakes, including:
- A run defense that was dominated in the first half, allowing 23 carries for 125 yards and a touchdown.
- A season-high-tying nine penalties for 77 yards, including two consecutive flags for having too many men on the field.
- Three turnovers in the second half, all of which led to Packers touchdowns.
One of the most glaring errors came in the third quarter when a pass from backup quarterback Brandon Allen slipped through the hands of receiver Deebo Samuel. The ball was intercepted by Packers safety Xavier McKinney and returned 48 yards, setting up a Green Bay touchdown that turned a potential three-point deficit into a 17-point hole.
“It’s always something, right?” safety Ji’Ayir Brown said. “Every mistake we have made—we have been coached, we have been taught. We know exactly what to do. We’ve just got to get it done when it’s time.”
Backup Quarterback Struggles
Making his first start since the 2021 season finale, Allen finished 17-of-29 for 199 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He also lost a fumble on one of the sacks he took. Despite the challenges, tight end George Kittle praised Allen’s effort.
“Catch everything thrown to us, don’t have penalties, and don’t turn the ball over,” Kittle said. “And we didn’t really do all those things, and it kind of just put (Allen) at a disadvantage.”
Still, the 49ers are hopeful Purdy will return for Sunday’s game in Buffalo. Shanahan said Purdy’s status remains uncertain, but the team plans to evaluate him early in the week.
Looking Ahead
Despite their struggles, the 49ers remain in the thick of the NFC West race, sitting just one game behind the division leaders. But with the clock ticking and a tough matchup against the Bills on the horizon, the team knows it’s now or never.
“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 gotta go.”
For the 49ers, the path forward is clear: clean up the mistakes, get healthy, and find a way to turn things around before it’s too late. But after Sunday’s debacle, that’s easier said than done.
Originally Written by: Nick Wagoner
