The 49ers dominated the Green Bay Packers in a 34-6 victory in their first showing of 2008 at Candlestick Park.
The 49ers scored on a 67-yard punt return for a touchddown by Allen Rossum with 3:15 to go in the game to complement the three touchdowns and two field goals that the 49ers had already put together against last year's NFC Championship contenders.
The defense stopped a two-minute drive by quarterback Matt Flynn at the end of the game with a forced fumble by Dennis Haley and a recovery by Larry Grant to finish out strong.
Each of the 49ers three quarterbacks led their unit to at least one scoring opportunity.
J.T. O'Sullivan played the entire first half, starting out slow by throwing an interception to Charles Woodson. Woodson could have probably taken it to the house, but he fumbled the ball at the 7-yardline. The defense responded well to the adverse situation, getting a Ray McDonald sack and then solid coverage from the secondary to force the Packers to settle for a 31-yard field goal and a 3-0 lead with 1:53 to go in the first quarter.
But O'Sullivan responded well to his error, engineering a 15-play, 87-yard scoring drive to take a 7-3 49ers edge. O'Sullivan was 3 of 3 on the drive for 52 yards including an explosive pass play to Jason Hill for 27 yards on a 3rd and 8 play. Following an O'Sullivan scramble, the quarterback delivered a perfectly aimed ball to Josh Morgan, who made an over the shoulder catch at the 3-yardline. With 4:15 to go in the second quarter , DeShaun Foster scored on a 1-yard touchdown run on 4th and goal. Foster looked to have been stopped at the line of scrimmage but he reached his arm out to get the ball over the goal line.
The 49ers extended to a 14-3 lead with 58 seconds to go in the second quarter, using just three plays and 37 seconds to get on the board with a 59-yard touchdown bomb from O'Sullivan to Morgan.
The 49ers upped their 14-3 halftime edge to 17-3 with a 49-yard field goal by Joe Nedney with 8:24 to go in the third quarter. Nedney finished off a 10-play, 49 yard scoring drive that was commanded by Alex Smith. Smith was 4 of 7 for 43 yards on his first drive of the night, completing his longest ball on a 27-yard throw to Morgan.
On the following kickoff the Packers enjoyed a 56-yard return that quickly led to a 49-yard field goal by Mason Crosby, their last score of the night.
Later in the quarter, a fumbled snap was recovered by 49ers defensive lineman Ronald Fields at the Green Bay 16-yardline, and led to another quick score by Smith and his second-string unit. Smith picked up a first down on a 4th and 2 after he got a pass interference call on a fade throw to Cameron Colvin. Fullback Moran Norris scored on a 1-yard touchdown run to capitalize on the Packers turnover on the next play and go up 24-6.
Quarterback Shaun Hill came in at the start of the 4th quarter and led his team on a 10-play, 49-yard scoring drive that was finished off by a Ricky Schmitt 30-yard field goal. The highlight play came from Jason Hill, who escaped a tackle in the backfield on an end around, and then dodged a trio of Packers defender for a 14-yard gain into field goal territory.
Rossum had the final score of the night to give the 49ers their first win of '08.
You can also get more game details by visiting the 49ers/Packers Action story.
Cornerback Tarell Brown was a scratch in tonight's game after hurting his hip in Thursday's practice. Brown joined the following players who were ruled out of the game earlier this week: Lewis Baker (thigh), Arnaz Battle (hamstring), Ashley Lelie (calf) and Michael Robinson (knee).
G David Baas was also out with a pectoral injury that has kept him on the PUP list since camp began.
The Packers have a few players who weren't in action tonight including starting linebacker AJ Hawk and defensive lineman Ryan Pickett.
