NaVorro Bowman entered Week 4 with a four-game winning streak against Aaron Rodgers.
On Sunday, Bowman and the San Francisco 49ers had the successful run snapped with a loss to the Green Bay Packers quarterback. Rodgers threw for 224 yards and added a 12-yard touchdown pass in a 17-3 road victory.
Despite the outcome, Bowman and the 49ers defense held the Packers to their lowest point total of the 2015 season. Green Bay also totaled a season-low seven points in the first half.
"I think we definitely took a step in the right way as a defense," Bowman told reporters after San Francisco fell to 1-3 on the year, "but we would like to get the win."
The 49ers are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. Bowman, who totaled eight tackles in defeat, spoke like a true team captain when asked if desperation was starting to enter the locker room.
"I don't think any desperation is setting in," Bowman said. "We're in this together. We win together. We lose together. And we'll get it right. I have faith that we will get it right. It's a great team. We all put the work in, and we just have to get on the same page on both sides of the ball. I really believe that we will."
San Francisco displayed improved team defense after back-to-back outings that saw the Pittsburgh Steelers and Arizona Cardinals score 43 and 47 points, respectively.
Bowman reiterated his belief that the 49ers would need time to mesh on defense to put together performances like the one demonstrated against Green Bay.
"Like I've been saying, we're young (and), we've got a new coaching staff here, so it was going to take a few games for us," Bowman said. "Facing a quarterback like Aaron, knowing that he's going to come in prepared and ready. I think we had a little bit more focus on that, just trying to make sure all the way up to the game we were on the same page, and I think that showed today."
The 49ers kept the Packers out of the end zone on two of four red-zone possesions. The group sacked Rodgers three times, with two of the drive-killing plays coming from second-year linebacker Aaron Lynch.
"Aaron's a talented outside linebacker," Bowman said. "He's going to continue going up. He's going to continue making splash plays. So it was good to see that."
Bowman added that the unit played with a "chip on our shoulder" after recent struggles. The Bowman-led defense will look to build on Sunday's performance and bring a similar mentality when it goes on the road next week to face the New York Giants, who are on a two-game winning streak after a 24-10 road victory over the Buffalo Bills.
