SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Now we know the difference between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers.
A tight end who makes big plays.
A defensive front that stuffs the run and harasses quarterbacks down-after-down without blitzing.
And a young head coach experienced in game-management decisions.
Someday, the Packers might be able to claim all of the above.
Not now, though, and certainly not in Sunday night's 37-8 loss at Levi's Stadium in what was billed as a matchup of the top two teams in the NFC.
If the Packers are still one of the top teams in the NFC -- and the conference standings say they are -- then the gap between them and the top is perhaps wider than we thought coming into Week 12.