Packers vs. 49ers Score Updates: Xavier McKinney, Josh Jacobs Strike Again

The Green Bay Packers are heavy favorites for their game against the rival San Francisco 49ers on Sunday at Lambeau Field. Follow along for updates.

Lambeau Field for Packers-49ers / Bill Huber/Packers On SI

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers (7-3) are hosting the San Francisco 49ers (5-5) on a gloomy November Sunday at Lambeau Field.

Follow along all day for updates.

Third Quarter

Packers 24, 49ers 10 (0:41 remaining)

The Packers went three-and-out on a pretty horrific possession. Jordan Love was almost intercepted on first down – Christian Watson prevented Ji’Ayir Brown from a game-changing pick – and Chris Brooks was flagged for tripping on second down.

Packers 24, 49ers 10 (2:12 remaining)

Regardless of the quarterback – Brock Purdy or Brandon Allen, me or you – there’s no stopping tight end George Kittle. He beat Xavier McKinney for 21 yards on a back-shoulder pass, but the Packers yielded only a 48-yard field goal because tight end Eric Saubert dropped a pass on third down.

INJURY UPDATES: Packers RB Josh Jacobs (cramping) is questionable and Packers WR Rome Doubs (concussion) is out.

Packers 24, 49ers 7 (4:28 remaining)

After Xavier McKinney’s interception, the Packers faced a third-and-2. Jordan Love went deep to Romeo Doubs, who almost made a sensational catch but hit the turf hard and couldn’t make the play. Renardo Green was flagged for pass interference, Doubs had to be helped off the field by the trainers and the Packers had first-and-goal at the 1. With Kadeem Telfort lined up at tight end, Josh Jacobs plowed into the end zone for his second 1-yard touchdown of the game.

Packers 17, 49ers 7 (5:49 remaining)

The 49ers were on the move with a 31-yard completion to George Kittle. On third-and-7, Brandon Allen’s fastball was just a bit behind Deebo Samuel. The ball went through his hands and was intercepted by, who else, Xavier McKinney. His 48-yard return set up the offense at San Francisco’s 26.

McKinney has seven interceptions. The Packers had seven all of last season.

Packers 17, 49ers 7 (10:47 remaining)

What looked like a blowout – which would have come in handy with the Packers playing again on Thursday – might wind up going the distance. The Packers went three-and-out. On second down, Jordan Love threw behind Romeo Doubs; the ball went off Doubs’ hands and was almost intercepted. On third down, Love was sacked.

Packers 17, 49ers 7 (10:47 remaining)

The 49ers started the second half in impression fashion, with Christian McCaffrey gaining 11 yards on two runs and Jordan Mason bursting around the left side for 16 as Brenton Cox and Colby Wooden were pinned inside. However, Devonte Wyatt had a quarterback hit on first down and Javon Bullard almost had an interception on second down. On fourth-and-2, Brandon Allen threw a pass in the flat but Xavier McKinney was there for the big breakup.

On the second-half kickoff, Deebo Samuel broke a couple tackles and returned it all the way to Green Bay’s 8. Tight end Eric Saubert was flagged for holding on what looked like a clean pancake block against Zayne Anderson.

Halftime

Packers 17, 49ers 7

In the quarterback battle, Brandon Allen is outplaying Love by pure numbers. Love is 8-of-15 for 93 yards and one touchdown, good for a 94.6 rating. Allen, starting for the first time since the final game of the 2021 season, is 10-of-13 for 94 yards, good for a rating of 122.0.

Love’s numbers – and Green Bay’s lead – would have been much different had Christian Watson not dropped what should have been a 49-yard touchdown with about 30 seconds left in the first half.

In the big running back battle, Josh Jacobs has 91 yards on 19 carries while Christian McCaffrey has 4 yards on three attempts.

Second Quarter

Packers 17, 49ers 7 (0:06 remaining)

There will be some intrigue to start the second half. After Josh Jacobs gained 21 yards on two carries to get ball past midfield, Jordan Love’s superb deep pass to Christian Watson went through his hands at the 10-yard line. Two more Love bombs fell incomplete and the Packers punted for the first time.

Packers 17, 49ers 7 (1:02 remaining)

Finally, the 49ers got something going. With zero first downs before the drive, Brandon Allen hit Kyle Juszczyk for 14 to start the drive and Christian McCaffrey for 9 on third-and-7. After the McCaffrey conversion, a double-reverse screen to Deebo Samuel gained 21 – 25 yards after the catch and a missed tackle by Keisean Nixon. The Niners overcame two false-start penalties and converted three times on third down, including on Allen’s 3-yard touchdown pass to George Kittle. It was Allen’s first touchdown pass since the final game of the 2021 season.

Packers 17, 49ers 0 (6:33 remaining)

On third-and-11, Jordan Love had plenty of time and ripped one to Romeo Doubs, who was streaking across the middle on a deep crossing route. A 29-yard gain – 20 on the throw, 9 after the catch – moved the ball past midfield. Moments later, on third-and-4, it was Love and Doubs again. Doubs motioned left, then ran a post to the right. Love ripped another bullet for a gain of 10. After Josh Jacobs was stuffed on back-to-back runs it was Love to, you guessed it, Doubs, who shook Renardo Green at the line, caught a pass 4 yards downfield and exploded forward for 11 more for a gain of 15 to the 13. Finally, on first-and-goal at the 1, Josh Jacobs ran over safety Malik Mustapha.

Some stats:

197-21 in yards

104-1 in rushing

13-0 in first downs

33-6 in plays

Packers 10, 49ers 0 (13:29 remaining)

Two series, two three-and-outs for Green Bay’s defense against Brandon Allen. After a first-down holding penalty, Quay Walker made a nice open-field tackle on Christian McCaffrey on first-and-20 and dropped an interception on second-and-15.

First Quarter

Packers 10, 49ers 0 (0:11 remaining)

Green Bay tacked on a field goal as Brandon McManus’ 51-yard field goal curved inside the right upright. It was the team’s first 50-yard field-goal attempt of the season. Emanuel Wilson had runs of 9 and 19 yards to get the Packers into scoring position. On third-and-9, defensive end Sam Okuayinonu rushed untouched from Jordan Love’s right, and Love wound up throwing it away; Tucker Kraft was open.

The Packers have 87 rushing yards against a top-10 rush defense.

At the end of the first quarter, the Packers lead 126-8 in yards.

Packers 7, 49ers 0 (4:55 remaining)

The Packers’ first possession against backup quarterback Brandon Allen couldn’t have gone any better. On third-and-5, linebacker Quay Walker blitzed up the middle, blasted through a couple blockers and got to Allen. Allen stepped up and was stripped by Rashan Gary. Allen recovered and the Niners punted.

Packers 7, 49ers 0 (7:35 remaining)

Love to Kraft to start things off!#SFvsGB pic.twitter.com/29GZwc7mau

— Green Bay Packers (@packers) November 24, 2024

The Packers rolled right down the field for the opening touchdown. Not even a red-zone penalty (holding by Elgton Jenkins) could get in their way. Josh Jacobs had runs of 18 and 10 early in the drive. On third-and-4, Jayden Reed motioned hard to the right and was open near the sideline for 7. On first-and-20, Reed lined up in the backfield, ran a wheel route and caught a pass for 13. On the next play, Jordan Love flipped a screen to Tucker Kraft, who broke Leonard Floyd’s tackle attempt and scored an 11-yard touchdown.

Key Matchup: Josh Jacobs vs. Fred Warner

Anchored by linebacker Fred Warner, the 49ers’ defense ranks eighth in rushing yards allowed per game (105.0) and ninth in rushing yards allowed per carry (4.25).

That unit will be challenged by Packers running back Josh Jacobs, who ranks fifth with 838 rushing yards and fourth in yards after contact per carry (3.64). He’s rushed for more than 75 yards in five of the last six games.

“I think he truly trusts the system and he's very physical,” 49ers defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen said. “You see the jump cuts, but he doesn't just jump cut to just go wherever. I always feel like he's just going to the right place because if you're watching it, he's just bouncing, no he's going a gap at a time because he's jump cutting to get to it.

“He's got such tight cuts that he'll get vertical. Everything's about getting vertical and he is very, very powerful. He's got great contact balance. I just have a lot of respect for the way that he runs because that really fits their scheme. Stretching you out, cut it up, he can cut it back. He can bounce it out when they're just running these direct runs with double teams. He's doing it the right way and I have a lot of respect for him – really for the last few years. He's a really good back.”

To get Jacobs rolling, they’ll have to handle Warner. Along with 78 tackles, he’s tied for the NFL lead with four forced fumbles. He’s added two interception, six passes defensed and three tackles for losses.

“They’re just really sound, they’re really physical,” Packers coach Matt LaFleur said. “They’ve got elite players on every level. I think, I just, like I showed the team today, Fred Warner is an animal, and I think it all starts with him and just his relentless attack of the football. It’s very rare that you see somebody that can punch and tackle and take the ball away like at a rate he does.”

Red Zone Troubles

A season-long problem for the Packers has been their offense in the red zone. They enter Sunday’s game ranked 27th with a touchdown rate of 48.7 percent. In goal-to-go, they are 24th at 64.7 percent.

Will this be the week to get going? The 49ers, who will be playing without their best defensive end, best defensive tackle, best cornerback, best safety and second-best linebacker, are 23rd in the red zone (62.5 percent touchdowns) and 16th in goal-to-go (73.7 percent).

“I definitely think it’s something that fixable,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “You look at last year, I think we were a lot better in the red zone. Whether that’s just the plays we’re drawing up, whether we were just finding better options vs. what the defense was doing or just coming down to making those plays that we might not be making right now, but I’m not concerned about it.

“I think it’s something that we will fix going forward, but it definitely hasn’t been up to the standard we’re trying to have it at.”

With Love last year, Green Bay was 19th in the red zone (51.6 percent) but first in goal-to-go (95.0 percent).

With Aaron Rodgers in 2022, Green Bay was 24th in the red zone (51.9 percent) and last in goal-to-go (50.0 percent).

Today at Lambeau Field, the #Packers will host the beat-up 49ers.

Here are three reasons why the Packers will win: ⬇️https://t.co/v92LwzBJBF

And three reasons why they will lose: ⬇️https://t.co/de3ehnELPU

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) November 24, 2024

Explosive Packers

Entering Sunday, the Packers on offense rank second with 48 plays of 20-plus yards. Broken down, they are fifth with 37 completions and fourth with 11 runs.

On the other hand, the 49ers on defense rank third with just 28 plays allowed of 20-plus yards, with 24 passes and four runs.

“I think it’s something that we focus on throughout the week,” quarterback Jordan Love said. “That’s a key part of our identity on offense is to go out there and get those explosive plays, whether it’s in the run game or pass game.

“I think it’s just a credit to the playmakers we’ve got. I think we’ve got a lot of guys who are really good when they get the ball in their hands, that can make people miss. And they kind of, they go hunt those big plays. I think it’s all about the guys we have in this locker room.”

Packers-49ers Injuries and Inactives

The Packers will line up without Jaire Alexander (knee) and Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring). That’s two big blows to their defense.

By comparison, the Packers are a picture of health. Quarterback Brock Purdy, defensive end Nick Bosa and left tackle Trent Williams are out.

If you count their punter, the 49ers will line up without nine starters. Of the starting defense in San Francisco’s playoff victory over Green Bay last year, just two players will be in the lineup on Sunday.

One 49ers Weapon Will Play

49ers tight end George Kittle is back in the lineup after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury.

He ranks eighth at the position with 43 receptions, second with 560 yards and first with seven touchdowns. When targeted, he’s rewarded his quarterback with a 135.1 passer rating, second-best.

“He does a lot” for the 49ers, Packers defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley said. “He’s a great blocker, they can hand him the ball, he’s a great wideout down the field. We drafted him when I was there. Plays with a ton of energy, practices with that energy. He just brings that juice to that team -- the effort, the enthusiasm, the intensity.

“He plays the game the right way and I have a ton of respect for him and he’s a great person, so he raises up their offense, so if he says he’s going to play, I’m sure he’ll play.”

Packers Are Big Favorites

After the 49ers ruled out Brock Purdy on Friday, the Packers moved to 5.5-point favorites. That was the spread on Sunday morning, as well, but it’s moved to 6.5 at DraftKings, FanDuel and other sportsbooks.

According to The Action Network’s Evan Abrams:

- The Packers were 1.5-point favorites to start the week, when Purdy was expected to start. That would have marked just the second time in his career that the 49ers would have been underdogs; the other was the 2022 NFC Championship Game at Philadelphia. He had been a favorite in 31 consecutive starts.

- Packers quarterback Jordan Love is 4-7 against the spread as a favorite.

- Of Love’s 11 interceptions, nine have come in the first half.

- Without Purdy, Brandon Allen will start. Under coach Kyle Shanahan, the 49ers are 0-4 with less than 150 passing games on the road or at a neutral site.

Latest Green Bay Packers News 

Three #Packers stories that I hope you'll find interesting:

Tucker Kraft and George Kittle ⬇️https://t.co/4bsVDAdt3r

Jordan Love's "no-flinch" pass ⬇️https://t.co/D5UD6LLlw7

Christian Watson will "get what I deserve" ⬇️https://t.co/PAsZ1AStL1

— Bill Huber (@BillHuberNFL) November 24, 2024

Eight starters out for 49ers | Preview, playoffs, prediction | Three reasons why Packers will lose | Three reasons why Packers will win | Jeff Hafley misses the point | Christian Watson’s mature comment | Jordan Love vs. Aaron Rodgers through 25 starts | Saturday’s transactions | Surprising shift in Packers-Niners betting | Jordan Love’s no-flinch throw | An enormous final injury report | NFC North power rankings | Five keys to the game | Tucker Kraft chasing mentor George Kittle | What’s up with Jaire Alexander? | The Packers have a huge advantage | Packers-49ers game preview | Packers must focus on best playmakers | Jordan Love on impact of playoff loss to 49ers |Latest playoff probabilities | Signs of trouble on defense | Packers-Niners: TV, trends, notes | Packers-49ers matchups