GREEN BAY, Wis. — With a chance to gloat, Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers took the high road Sunday.

He threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns but saw no need to remind the 49ers that they passed on him with the No. 1 pick in the 2005 draft.

No hard feelings, Rodgers said.

"It's fun to play against a team that you idolized growing up, and watched every Sunday after church," said Rodgers, a native of Chico and a former Cal star. "You've got to give those guys credit. I think in the second half, they fought a little harder."

Rodgers threw for 274 yards before halftime — the best first half of his career. The Packers played more conservatively in the second half.

Rodgers finished with a passer rating of over 100.0 for the 14th time in 26 career starts. It was also his seventh career 300-yard game.

Smith, who befriended Rodgers during the draft process, said losing to the Packers bothered him but seeing Rodgers play well did not.

"I'm happy for him. He's been through a lot of adversity,'' Smith said, referring to Rodgers' long wait behind Brett Favre. "Those are big shoes to fill, and he stepped up."

  • 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree plays beyond his years, but he is not immune to a rookie mistake. After hauling in a 38-yard pass for his first career touchdown catch, Crabtree was so excited he left the milestone ball in the end zone.

    Luckily for him, Jason


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    Hill retrieved the souvenir ball and brought it to Crabtree on the sideline.

    "Jason Hill is my man,'' Crabtree said.

    Crabtree finished with four catches for 77 yards. His touchdown grab came with 7:28 to play in the third quarter, when he outmaneuvered cornerback Al Harris to make a tumbling catch in the end zone.

    "It's Lambeau Field. It's just indescribable, and once I see it on tape I will feel that much better,'' Crabtree said. "It was just a go route."

  • Smith's otherwise strong second half included a costly turnover. Stuck at the 49ers' 2-yard line to start a drive, Smith was under pressure as he tried to hit tight end Vernon Davis on a quick throw. But the only one who saw the pass coming was Packers safety Nick Collins, who made the interception.

    "Alex Smith was looking down the receiver and I had a nice jump on the ball,'' Collins said. "I was able to get over there and make the pick."

    Collins' interception gave the Packers the ball at the 11-yard line. Ryan Grant capped the short drive with a 1-yard touchdown and a 30-10 lead.

  • The 49ers played most of the game without left guard David Baas, who sustained an ankle injury with 1:38 left in the first quarter.

    Tony Wragge gave up an early sack to Cullen Jenkins but played well the rest of the way.

  • Reggie Smith made a surprise appearance as the 49ers' punt returner and fared no better than his predecessors. Smith had three returns for 7 yards. Receiver Brandon Jones, who had returned punts in recent weeks, was a healthy scratch.

  • Linebacker Takeo Spikes (hamstring) was on the game-day inactive list. Matt Wilhelm started in his place.

  • The 49ers' postgame injury report included Baas (ankle), Reggie Smith (groin), running back Michael Robinson (stinger), safety Mark Roman (rib contusion), receiver Arnaz Battle (right leg strain), defensive back Marcus Hudson (back spasm), cornerback Tarell Brown (left knee contusion) and tight end Delanie Walker (left forearm).

  • Lambeau Field, the NFL's longest-tenured stadium, sold out for the 283rd consecutive time. The crowd booed when the video screen showed highlights of Brett Favre throwing a touchdown pass for the Vikings.

  • The Packers are 12-4 against the 49ers in Green Bay. San Francisco has not won here since 1990.