Aaron Rodgers is no statue, but he provided a decidedly different challenge to what the 49ers faced the previous three games.
After all, the 49ers faced a young, explosive run-pass threat with Arizona rookie quarterback Kyler Murray in Weeks 9 and 11. Between two doses of Murray, the 49ers went up against Seattle quarterback Russell Wilson.
The 49ers’ defensive line teed off against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, dropping Rodgers for five sacks in San Francisco’s 37-8 victory at Levi’s Stadium.
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“His jersey is nice and saggy, too, so you can grab onto it,” said 49ers rookie defensive end Nick Bosa, who had one sack and another nullified by penalty. “It’s just completely different. Sometimes it caught me off guard how he was sitting back there. But it’s back to Lamar Jackson this week, though.”
Jackson is having a phenomenal season in his first full year as the Baltimore Ravens’ starter. He has thrown 24 touchdowns with just five interceptions. His passer rating is 111.4. He has been sacked 20 times in 11 games.
He also leads the NFL’s top-ranked rushing attack with 876 yards and six touchdowns on the ground. And when he is not keeping the ball himself and averaging 7.1 yards per rushing attempt, he is handing off to Mark Ingram and Gus Edwards, who average 5.2 yards apiece.
[RELATED: Why Ravens QB Jackson will be 49ers' toughest test of 2019]
San Francisco 49ers
“We definitely went through dealing with the zone read a few times, and it hasn’t gone great for us, so we’ve learned,” Bosa said. “Hopefully we can correct it and be ready this week.”
In two games against the Cardinals, the 49ers surrendered 177 yards and a touchdown on 31 carries to running back Kenyan Drake, while Murray rushed for 101 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts.
The Seahawks beat the 49ers, 27-24, in overtime on Nov. 11, with Wilson gaining 53 yards rushing on six attempts and throwing for 232 yards.