Packers Team Meeting After Blowout Loss to 49ers in Week 12 Served as Defensive Turning Point

Kyle Shanahan, Jimmy Garoppolo and the San Francisco 49ers unloaded on Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers in a 37-8 Week 12 win that was over just as quickly as it began. The terrific pass rush duo of Preston Smith and Za'Darius Smith barely laid a finger on Garoppolo, and linebacker Blake Martinez was embarrassed in coverage as Mike Pettine had no answers for Shanahan.

The defense in Green Bay has been on a tear ever since, partially because a players-only meeting called after that game appears to have sorted things out on that front.

Since then, the Packers haven't lost a game, and only one team, Russell Wilson's Seattle Seahawks last week, have put up more than 20 points in a game, while four opponents in a row were held to 15 points or less.

Part of that is the pass rush, part of it the secondary, and part of it is the organization that seemed to be lacking against San Francisco.

Garoppolo and the 49ers were able to target Martinez in coverage, hold the Smiths at bay, and beat down on the Packers in Santa Clara. Sunday will tell if it'll be more of the same as Pettine prepares to face off against the offensive savant that is Shanahan on his turf.