49ers Blog and Q&A

On Sunday, however, it was Smith who coolly handled a complex and creative offense that rolled out a different group of skill players - three receivers one snap, no receivers the next -- from one play to the next.

He threw one touchdown to tight end Vernon Davis and another to the biggest Packer killer of them all, Randy Moss. It was Moss' 16th touchdown reception against Green Bay and the 154th of his career, moving him into second place behind Jerry Rice on the NFL's all-time list.

Smith also had a big achievement. When he flipped a 15-yard pass to Bruce Miller late in the fourth quarter, he moved past Steve Young for the franchise record in consecutive pass attempts - 185 - without an interception. Smith's care of the football last season was noteworthy - he threw only five interceptions in 18 games - but it also led to the derisive description of him as a "game manager."

On Sunday, that care proved to be the difference in the game.

After a 75-yard punt return by Green Bay's Randall Cobb early in the fourth quarter cut San Francisco's lead to eight points, the Packers defense forced a three-and-out series by the 49ers. Rodgers took over with the momentum decidedly in his favor and the crowd suspecting that the winning magic they had witnesses throughout 2011 was about to return.

But on his first drop back, Rodgers was intercepted by inside linebacker NaVorro Bowman. And on the play after that, Frank Gore ran around the left side of the Packers defense and then pinballed into the end zone for a 23-yard run.

Rodgers was bothered throughout the afternoon. For much of the first half, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio turned to a formation he seldom used a year ago, one that incorporated six defensive backs to counter Green Bay's pass-heavy attack.

Most of the time, that sixth defensive back, Perrish Cox, was substituting for perhaps the 49ers' best and most recognized player, linebacker Patrick Willis. "It's difficult," Fangio said of taking a four-time pro-bowl player like Willis out of the game. "But it's either that or you've got to line him up on a receiver sometimes, which he did a couple of times."

Rodgers certainly didn't have a bad game. He threw for 303 yards and finished with a 93.3 passer rating. Smith, however, was the better quarterback in going 20-26 for 211 yards and finishing with a 125.6 rating.

According to the gossip show TMZ, during the offseason Rodgers made a bet with Boyz II Men member Nathan Morris, who is a longtime 49ers fan. If Boyz II Men sang the national anthem at Sunday's game, they agreed, Rodgers would do something humiliating if the Packers lost: He'd wear an Alex Smith 49ers jersey this week.

"I did hear about the bet, (Saturday) someone told me about it," said Smith, who has become good friends with Rodgers. "I'll have to call him and get a picture."

-- Matt Barrows