Frank Gore rushed for 112 yards and a touchdown, Alex Smith threw for a pair of scores and San Francisco's defense bottled up Aaron Rodgers and the host Packers for most of the game to win a matchup of expected NFC powers.
San Francisco kicker David Akers ended the first half with a 63-yard field goal that bounced off the crossbar and through to match the NFL record held by Tom Dempsey, Jason Elam and Sebastian Janikowski, giving the 49ers a 16-7 lead.
Smith was efficient, completing 20 of 26 passes for 211 yards. He made it 10-0 with a 14-yard touchdown pass to Randy Moss in the second quarter and added a 4-yard scoring toss to tight end Vernon Davis to make it 23-7 in the third quarter. Moss' catch moved him into second place on the NFL's all-time touchdown reception list with 154.
The Packers pulled within 23-15 with 11:35 left, as Randall Cobb broke a 75-yard punt return for a score and Rodgers hit Jordy Nelson for the two-point conversion. A flag was thrown for an apparent block in the back during Cobb's return, but officials picked it up and the touchdown stood.
Green Bay forced a punt to get the ball back with a chance to tie, but NaVorro Bowman picked off a Rodgers pass on first down. Gore broke a 23-yard touchdown run on the next play.
Rodgers answered with a quick scoring drive and a 10-yard touchdown pass to James Jones, and the Packers moved across midfield on their final drive, needing a touchdown and two-point conversion to tie. But Rodgers was sacked on second down, and Green Bay turned it over on downs.
Rodgers finished 30-for-44 for 303 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. The Packers managed just 45 rushing yards on 14 attempts.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Smith has gone 185 pass attempts without an interception, breaking Steve Young's franchise record of 184. … The 49ers have not committed a turnover in their last 26 quarters in the regular season, dating to Nov. 24, 2011. … Smith has won 15 of his past 18 starts, and the 49ers are 11-0 when he has a rating of 100 or better. … The 49ers snapped a nine-game losing streak against the Packers. Green Bay leads the all-time series 30-26-1. … After recording a rating of 100 or higher in the first 12 games last season, Rodgers has failed to break that mark in four of his last five games, including last season's playoff loss to the New York Giants.