The Great San Francisco Tyre Fire

Green Bay Packers 34

San Francisco 49ers 17

The Golden Gate City was obstructed from view once again on Thursday night, not by the bay's famous fog, but by the tyre fire that ignited at Levi's Stadium. Large enough to travel the 40 odd miles from stadium to bridge, the thick black smog crept through the streets and highways, chocking all the joy and hope it could find in local homes and establishments along the way. Crime scene investigators have noted that an apple pie smothered in cheese was suspiciously found near the combustion site and has been isolated for finger prints and DNA testing. Environmental scientists were also on the scene and have suggested the smoke may not clear by years end, a worrying sign for all San Franciscans with an interest in local professional exercise.

Green Bay looks good. Offense? Good. Defense? Good. Special Teams? Sure, why not. Aaron Rodgers is back to his cocky, hard to look away from like a crash on the highway that probably has a fatality involved but you just have to slow down and check it out anyway level cringeyness off the field, and striking, MVP caliber play on the field. We can only pray that the handle bar moustache and the rehearsed jokes that come along with it are thoroughly behind us.

San Francisco were playing from behind before the game started. Down their starting quarterback, all recognisable wide receivers, the best tight end in the league, three of their starting running backs and starting left tackle, the script was written from the kick off, run the ball and hope the defense gets you some points along the way. Unfortunately for the 49ers, negotiations with the Packers went south in pre-production and they were ad-libbing from minute one henceforth.

This game was a case study in 'Not All Statistics Are Created Equal'. Davante Adams caught 10 passes for 173 yards and 1 touchdown, while Richie James caught 9 balls for 184 yards and a score. Adams shared a psychic level mind meld with Aaron Rodgers, using every inch of the field available to contort his person while catching anything thrown his way. James, on the other hand, feels like a plus athlete, who benefited from slopping defense and garbage time. At the end of the day though, agents aren't looking for the honeyed words used in game recaps to negotiate contracts for their clients, stats get you paid, even if they are procured at the local tip.

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- This game probably should not have been played, with the 49ers missing so many players it seemed unfair to throw them at the feet of a healthy Packers team, but the ratings gods must be appeased at all costs.

- If Jordan Love can't get a pass thrown in this game, let alone a snap, it's safe to say he's not seeing the field this year bar a Rodgers injury or all-time temper tantrum.

- This game felt like it had 50 - 3 potential if Green Bay kept their foot on the peddle. If point differential was a key tie-breaker in playoff spots I'm sure there would be more egregious blow outs, which we would all love to see. Can the Cowboys lose by a hundred? Let's find out!