SANTA CLARA, Calif. _ Remember that 2018 49ers defense? The one that set an NFL record in futility with just seven takeaways?
Aaron Rodgers does, because the star quarterback and the Green Bay Packers played San Francisco on a Monday night last October. They won that game, 33-30, thanks to one of Rodgers' 15 career fourth-quarter comebacks.
That's notable given Rodgers and the Packers are coming to Levi's Stadium for a critical Sunday night game against a defense that's improved dramatically, particularly at forcing turnovers.
The 49ers enter the weekend third in the NFL with 22 takeaways in 10 games, more than three times their total in 16 games last season.
Rodgers, having watched the coach's film of each 49ers game this year, didn't hesitate when asked by reporters in Green Bay this week about the difference in San Francisco's defense.
"Pass rush. It's definitely pass rush," Rodgers said.
"When you can add Dee Ford through free agency or a trade, and then draft Nick Bosa, and you already got two 6-7 guys (DeForest Buckner and Arik Armstead) who are really good players, you would expect the efficiency of the defense and the turnovers to go up and they obviously have."
