Packers: Five standout performances from Week 9 win vs. 49ers
By Jesse Fry
3. Packers edge players
Stat line: 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery
The box score for the Packers edge rushers isn’t that impressive. Quarterback pressures are not a stat the NFL currently keeps. The Packers’ trio of edge players — Za’Darius Smith, Preston Smith, and Rashan Gary — were in Nick Mullens’ face all night long.
They forced errant passes like the one Raven Greene intercepted, knocked him off his spot and hit him hard when they couldn’t get home.
The 49ers were dealt a big blow before the game even started when Trent Williams was declared out due to Covid protocols. The Packers then went to work, abusing his replacement Justin Skule all game long.
The biggest play came when the Za’Darius filled the stat line all on one shot. Smith blew right past Skule, hit Mullens from the blindside and forced the fumble which he recovered.
What was a positive sign for the Packers was Preston Smith seemed to have finally come to life. Smith was the one to force Mullens into a bad throw for the interception.
It was one game against a backup left tackle so it’s not like it was against a top-flight left tackle or offensive line. However, sometimes that momentum can carry over and give the players the confidence they need to elevate their play.