The San Francisco 49ers entered Sunday with a slim chance of a win over the Green Bay Packers. They should have made some big plays, committed some turnovers and played flawless football.

The violation lasted one drive. By the time the defense settled down, they allowed 17 points. And without a starting quarterback and left tackle, overcoming a three-score deficit would have required every break to go the Niners’ way.

When you allow your opponent to convert six of his first seven third downs, commit nine penalties and turn the ball over three times, the scoreboard looks the way it did every time. Here are the Week 12 winners and losers for the 49ers.

Winners

George Kittel

Kittel continues to amaze. He caught all six of his targets for 82 yards and a touchdown. Kittle made some tough catches that were contested and added 35 yards after the catch. Kittle consistently looked like an All-Pro in a year that might be wasted for the 49ers.

Leonard Floyd

The 49ers needed someone to step up in Nick Bosa’s absence, and Leonard Floyd did not disappoint. He finished Week 12 with a 26.3 percent pressure rate, had four run stops and had two sacks. They were the defense’s only two sacks of the game. It was Floyd’s best game of the season.

Deommodore Lenoir

Lenoir has not disappointed this season, which is why the 49ers rewarded him with a huge extension. Sunday was no different. Lenoir was targeted four times, allowing one reception for six yards and a passer rating of 39.6. He added six tackles and two run stops.

Evan Anderson

The undrafted rookie defensive tackle recorded a team-high four run stops against the Packers despite playing 24 snaps. The 49ers will come out of this season with an interior run-stopping presence they can rely on moving forward. Anderson is a powerful human being who will only get stronger and better as he improves technically.

IDKs

Brandon Allen

I’m grading Allen on a curve. Brock Purdy’s comparison is not Brandon Allen’s. It’s the quarterbacks in the league who make $50 million a season. Allen’s comparisons are the rest of the backups in the NFL.

He collected enough throws to give the offense a chance, but made several costly mistakes to keep the 49ers from competing.

It started on the first drive when Allen didn’t throw the ball to Ricky Pearsall on third down. Allen missed Jauan Jennings on a break-in route that would have put the offense within field goal range. There was another throw to Chris Conley down the field that wasn’t competitive. Allen threw an interception that wasn’t his fault, but ball security was a major issue.

The interception was perhaps Allen’s best throw of the game. He also had an impressive back shoulder for Kittle. He threw for more yards and had a higher completion percentage than the $220 million quarterback on the other sideline.

Allen played as a backup.

Kyle Shanahan

The idea of ​​throwing to get your quarterback comfortable in a challenging road environment makes sense. But if you don’t target your most dangerous targets until the third play, you’re not exactly setting your quarterback up for success.

It’s hard to swallow considering what he’s done for the organization over the years, but it’s time to change No. 1. Shanahan is still reluctant to do so. Not drafting plays for your wide receiver in the first round is egregious. Jordan Mason’s acquittal of the foul is worse.

It doesn’t take an expert to recognize that McCaffrey is a shadow of himself. Still, Shanahan insists on giving CMC the bulk of the workload. Mason’s first carry, just like in Week 11, was the 49ers’ best run all game.

I was at the game watching the receivers, especially Pearsall. He has plenty of speed and is useful as a route runner. He will have to get stronger, which will come with time, but this is the time when you find out what you have in your rookie.

Shanahan does a lot of things right. The trick play jump start and offense on the third possession was a perfect play call. After the first few series, he opened up the passing game and leaned into Allen’s arm with force. From a sequencing perspective, Shanahan even put on shows on the field.

But there are still too many times when Kittle or Jennings are forgotten. The 4th-and-2 pass to McCaffrey – the fourth pass in a row after Mason’s long run – was the most obvious play call of the day. As soon as McCaffrey trotted to the slot, you knew what was going to happen. The Packers certainly did that.

Losers

Deebo Samuel

Deebo’s only catch came on a trick play. He got no reception on his other three targets. Actually that’s not true. One pass was caught in his direction, but it went through his hands and ended any hope of a 49ers comeback. Honestly, Samuel should have gotten credit for a game-changing kick return. Who knows where the game will go in a 17-7 game with the offense getting the ball inside the Packers’ 10-yard line.

But the offense needed Samuel to make an impact. In Shanahan’s mind, he can continue to plan plays for Deebo because he always passes for the offense. That is simply not the case anymore.

Fred Warner

If we grade Allen on a curve, we will continue to do the same for the All-Pro. Warner hasn’t been the same player since the ankle injury he suffered in October. The best linebacker in the NFL since 2019 is a shell of his former self.

There are plays happening that have never happened before. Against the Packers, No. 71 threw Warner to the ground on a running play outside. On the first drive, Warner missed a one-on-1 tackle in the hole – a play he usually makes with his eyes closed.

The defense was pushed around the first few possessions and you could point to their leader as the main culprit. It’s bizarre to see No. 54 on the field. He looks normal.

Warner was responsible for four run stops. He took away Christian Watson’s potential deep pass that led to one of Floyd’s sacks. The flashes are still there, but it’s just that: flashes. He’s one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and it looks like someone took his superpowers away from him.

Worst of all, Warner doesn’t trust his instincts. He does things he’s never done before. Like walking under blocks when there are outdoor runs. He has always had the speed to run over the offensive lineman and make the play. Warner has had more accidents in the past two weeks than in the previous two seasons. I don’t understand.

Warner admitted he had poor technique in the locker room. Whether it’s technique, declining athleticism or some other factor, Warner has found decline and he can’t escape it.

Christian McCaffrey

McCaffrey has no juice. His longest gain late in the game resulted in a fumble. He had 11 carries for 31 yards. He was in the negatives in rushing yards above expectations and rushing EPA. It still doesn’t seem like McCaffrey can change direction the way he might have before the injury. We’ll see the occasional blowout, but there’s nothing to indicate that McCaffrey is worthy of getting the lion’s share of carries.

As he said in the locker room, “I have to get better.”

The run defense

Shanahan told the media: “We were all ashamed.” He also said, “The run defense was really disappointing. We’ve gotten out of the holes too many times. Way too many missed tackles. That was one of the worst halves I’ve been a part of.”

The secondary was excellent in coverage. The front 7 was mediocre against the run. Josh Jacobs had 106 yards. Emanuel Wilson had 41, including a 19-yard run when he ran out with no 49ers defenders in sight.

The defense allowed four rushes of at least ten yards. Green Bay’s ball carriers combined for 16 missed tackles on 42 attempts, with 12 first downs. Of the 169 total rushing yards, 113 came after contact. The 49ers had four players miss at least two tackles. Warner led the way with four. As a team they missed 19. The execution was terrible.