Santa Clara, California – The Green Bay Packers are gearing up for another classic NFC playoff matchup as they face the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday. The Packers, who are the youngest team to win a playoff game since the 1970 NFL/AFL merger, secured a decisive victory against the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round with a score of 48-32. This win marked the Packers’ 37th postseason victory, tying them with the New England Patriots for the most in league history.
The Packers’ upcoming game against the 49ers will be their 10th playoff showdown, making it the highest number of playoff matchups between two franchises in NFL history. However, the 49ers hold the advantage in their postseason series, with a 5-4 lead over the Packers, including four consecutive wins against former Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
This season, the Packers have a fresh face leading their offense in Jordan Love, the team’s 2020 first-round pick and first-year starter. Love has been instrumental in the Packers’ success, throwing the second-most passing touchdowns in the NFL regular season and helping the team secure seven wins in their last nine games. His exceptional performance includes 21 touchdowns and only one interception during that span.
When the Packers have the ball, Love’s ability to handle pressure has been noteworthy. He has thrown eight touchdowns and no interceptions while under duress, with an impressive 8.6 yards per pass attempt. The 49ers, known for their strong pass rush, will need to find ways to disrupt Love’s rhythm to limit his effectiveness.
Furthermore, Love has excelled on third downs, throwing 11 touchdowns and no interceptions in the Packers’ last nine games. This could spell trouble for the 49ers, as they ranked 24th in third-down conversion rate allowed this season. The Packers’ running game, led by running back Aaron Jones, also poses a threat. Jones ran for a playoff career-high of 118 yards and three touchdowns in the win against the Cowboys, making him a key player to watch in the upcoming game.
On the other side of the ball, the Packers’ defense will face a formidable challenge from the 49ers’ offense. Led by quarterback Brock Purdy, the 49ers boast an offensive powerhouse with multiple players surpassing 1,000 scrimmage yards. Purdy himself threw for over 4,000 yards this season, while players like Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, and George Kittle have made significant contributions.
The Packers’ defense will need to find ways to contain McCaffrey, who led the league in rushing yards this season. The Packers’ run defense has been less than stellar, allowing opponents to accumulate over 140 rushing yards in eight games, tying them for the most such games allowed in the NFL.
Additionally, the Packers’ zone-heavy defense has struggled defending passes over the middle, an area where the 49ers excel. Purdy and his receivers have exploited this weakness, with Purdy averaging 9.8 yards per pass attempt in that area, the best in the league.
Ultimately, this game is expected to be a closely contested battle. Love has proven himself as a capable leader for the Packers, but the 49ers’ well-rounded offense could pose a challenge. Both teams will need to bring their A-game to secure a spot in the conference championship game.
In terms of watching the game, it will take place on Saturday, Jan. 20, at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California. The game will be broadcast on Fox, and viewers can stream it on fubo. The 49ers are currently favored to win, with a spread of -9.5 and an over/under of 50.5.