Packers hammer short-handed Niners in title game rematch, 34-17

NFL

Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 305 yards and four touchdowns on Thursday night, as the NFC North leading Packers beat the San Francisco 49ers 34-17 in Santa Clara, California.

The game was a rematch of the NFC Championship Game from January, although it looked very little like the 49ers team that routed the Packers on the way to Super Bowl 54.  San Francisco was missing numerous starters due to injury, including tight end George Kittle, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, running back Raheem Mostert, receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, and defenders Nick Bosa, Dee Ford, and Richard Sherman.

In the victory, Rodgers improved Green Bay to 6-2, hitting first-half touchdown strikes to Davante Adams, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and Marcedes Lewis.  The loss drops San Francisco’s record to 4-5, leaving questions about their ability to reach the postseason in the ultra-competitive NFC West that includes the Cardinals, Rams, and division-leading Seahawks.