An inside take a look at Saturday’s Packers-49ers NFC divisional matchup in Inexperienced Bay, Wis.:
Marquee matchup
49ers WR Deebo Samuel vs. whole Packers protection
Samuel is far more than a receiver who caught 77 passes this season. He additionally has turn into a operating again and has produced eight speeding touchdowns.
So, sure, the Packers’ high cornerbacks — Jaire Alexander (questionable after not taking part in since Week 4), Rasul Douglas (5 interceptions, two TDs in simply 12 video games), Eric Stokes (one INT) and Chandon Sullivan (three INTs) — need to take care of Samuel in go patterns.
However Inexperienced Bay’s high LBs — DeVondre Campbell (146 tackles), Rashan Gary and Preston Smith — additionally should take care of him taking handoffs out of the backfield and attempt to include him.
Cannizzaro’s name
This has potential to be the very best recreation of the weekend, and I anticipate a shootout. Aaron Rodgers will strike, as a result of he at all times does. Jimmy Garoppolo will make some performs, largely to Deebo Samuel, and hold it shut. However Garoppolo is extra vulnerable to creating the massive mistake and he’ll make yet one more than Rodgers.
Packers 31, 49ers 27
4 downs
Giveth and taketh away: The Packers are plus-13 in turnover differential (26 takeaways and solely 13 turnovers) and the 49ers are minus-4 (20 takeaways and 24 turnovers). That might be the distinction within the recreation if regular-season type holds. Of the 49ers’ 24 turnovers this season, 17 got here of their seven losses. And quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been chargeable for 14 of the general turnovers, with 12 picks and two misplaced fumbles. The Packers are 11-0 this season when forcing no less than one turnover.
Catch me if you happen to can: Packers extensive receiver Davante Adams (123 receptions for 1,553 yards and 11 TDs this season) has traditionally dominated the 49ers. He has a mixed 48 catches for 618 yards and 5 TDs in 5 profession video games towards San Francisco. In his one playoff recreation towards the 49ers (the 2019 NFC title recreation), Adams had 9 catches for 138 yards. Within the groups’ assembly earlier this season, Adams caught 12 passes for 132 yards and a TD in a 30-28 Packers victory.
Defending the run: The Packers’ protection ranked eleventh within the league at stopping the run through the common season. That, nonetheless, is perhaps a deceptive statistic contemplating so many groups have fallen behind the Packers and deserted the run whereas in catch-up mode. The 49ers don't have any plans to desert the run. The operating recreation is the core of their offense, led by rookie again Elijah Mitchell, who rushed for 963 yards, a 4.7 yards-per-carry common and 5 TDs. He ran for 96 yards and a TD in final week’s wild-card win over the Cowboys.
Duck, Aaron: If linebacker Nick Bosa, coming off a concussion he suffered final weekend towards Dallas, is totally recovered (he’s anticipated to play), the 49ers’ go rush might be a handful for Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Bosa has 15.5 sacks and 32 quarterback hits this season — exceptional numbers. He's complemented by defensive finish Arik Armstead, who has six sacks and 11 quarterback hits. Disrupting Rodgers is the 49ers’ best path to victory.
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