Moss, 49ers revel in victory over Green Bay at Lambeau

GREEN BAY, Wis. - Randy Moss found his way back to familiar turf, celebrating a touchdown at Lambeau Field in his new uniform.

The San Francisco 49ers defense kept Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers out of the end zone for most of the day, then made sure they didn't give the game away.

Showing the same brand of dominant defense that powered them to the NFC Championship Game last season, the 49ers smothered Rodgers and the Green Bay offense, then made one last stand to stop a rally in a 30-22 victory Sunday.

San Francisco linebacker Ahmad Brooks said the outcome could be an "eye opener" for the Packers, and a sign that the 49ers are poised for another big playoff run.

"Maybe we'll see them again in the NFC championship," Brooks said.

Facing a Packers team that lost only once during the 2011 regular season was a tough opening road test, but the 49ers were more than ready.

"We were just tremendously on it today, and that was a big part of our victory," coach Jim Harbaugh said.

Things went so well for San Francisco that when David Akers tried a 63-yard field goal to end the first half, it bounced off the crossbar and went through the uprights to tie an NFL record.

"When you hit the goal post at any part it usually makes that horrific noise and then it usually bounces back," Akers said. "This time it got there. It was a sweet bounce. It was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime type of a deal."

The Packers came into their opener with hopes that a rebuilt defense and improved running game could help get them back to the Super Bowl after coming up short in the playoffs last season.

"They've got a great defense," Rodgers said. "You've got to give them credit. They've got some of the top guys in the league at their position."

Rodgers was the Packers' leading rusher, with new addition Cedric Benson gaining just 18 yards on nine carries.

Green Bay doesn't have long to prepare for its next game, Thursday at home against division rival Chicago.

Asked if he was at least pleased that his team made a comeback, Packers coach Mike McCarthy held his tongue.

"Boy, I'd like to answer that truthfully," McCarthy said. "We're 0-1. We have some work to do. We're up in 96 hours."

Rodgers cautioned against blowing one loss out of proportion.

"It's one game," he said. "This is a team that was in the NFC championship last year. It's a good team. Hopefully we see them down the road in the playoffs."

Rodgers finished 30 of 44 for 303 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, but the 49ers held him in check until late in the game. Jermichael Finley had a 1-yard touchdown for the Packers.

Alex Smith was 20 of 26 for 211 yards and two touchdowns while Frank Gore rushed for 112 yards and a TD.

Moss scored a 14-yard touchdown in the second quarter, a familiar - and painful - sight for Packers fans.

Moss turned his back to the crowd and pointed to the name on his jersey, opting for a more subdued celebration than the now-notorious fake mooning motion he made toward fans at Lambeau during his Minnesota Vikings days.

"He had a lot of juice, he blocked well," Harbaugh said. "He got open and he was a great big target in there."

The replacement officials called a total of 18 penalties, some of them questionable and drawing animated complaints from both sidelines.

"Some of the penalties were definitely a little bizarre," Rodgers said.

The 49ers took a 16-point lead into the fourth quarter, then twice let Rodgers and the Packers cut the lead to 8. But the defense held firm on a potential game-tying drive in the final minutes.