Back in Week 3, the 49ers were 2-0 and the Packers were 1-1 coming off an opening day absolute mauling by the Saints 38-0. That game was close, hard-fought, and in the end, squandered by Kyle Shanahan as he left too much time on the clock (0:37 seconds), and the defense allowed Rodgers to throw uncontested down the middle of the field twice for 42 yards and the game winning FG by the highly erratic Mason Crosby.
Say what you will about Jimmy driving the team down for the go-ahead score in the 4th quarter, he had a typical 2 fumble, 1 INT game to go along with the 2 TDs. 25-40, 257 and 4 sacks. Rodgers was an efficient 22-33, 261, 2 TDs, 1 sack.
The run game was kaput with the rookie Trey Sermon providing little. 10-31, 1 TD. Green Bay on the other hand had Aaron Jones run for 82 yards and a score.
For all that, the Niners should have won. With 43 seconds left and a 1st down on the 12, the Niners should have run at least once to bleed some time. Sure, it may change the later plays, but to think that Aaron Rodgers won’t do what he did is a dream that didn’t come true. Ryans not pressuring Rodgers was a major fail. One sack and the game would have been over.
But that was then. This is NOW.
Who is better, and who is worse? Well, I think the edge here goes to the 49ers. Trey Sermon has proven to be a washout, and did nothing back in September. Elijah Mitchell has proven to be a stud at running back and is a vast improvement. Deebo Samuel had yet to be the running threat that he is now. Shanahan has done a better job of calling plays, and making adjustments on both sides of the ball.
Another big factor is that RT Tom Compton has done a bang-up job since replacing Mike McGlinchey. That Shanny runs right is a testament to his faith in Compton. Green Bay’s D line is banged up so the thought there is we can pound them.
Also, I think the defense, namely the pass rush, has improved dramatically over the past month. Also, believe it or not, the defensive backfield has improved markedly as well. Ambry Thomas will hopefully keep Dontae Johnson off the field. He’s battling a bone bruise but should be ready. Nick Bosa thankfully cleared the concussion protocol so he is full steam ahead.
Another factor could be the competition faced. The Packers have had an easy stretch these past 5 games. Wins over the Bears, Ravens, Browns a, and Vikings, and a meaningless loss to the Bears, plus a week off MAY lead to a false sense of security, and a slow start for the Pack.
Meanwhile, the 49ers have been playing for their lives these past 10 weeks (going 8-2) just to reach this spot. And this IS a team with playoff experience. So the moment won’t be too big. The weather shouldn’t be too much of a factor, Green Bay has had a dismal playoff record since way back in 2010 when they won their last Super Bowl, and we have nothing to lose really.
Niners 30, Packers 20.
Forty Niners Forever 
Will this be the last time I play this?
Gotta play keep away and coverage.
ARod unloads quickly and can move.
Force GB to run first.
I like our chances as well.
Don’t put this on Jimmeh.
I really don’t know why but I like the Niners in this one.
Time to grate some cheese, Ninmatches.
8-2 over the last 10 games is no fluke and I like the matchups.
*Niners by 3
I just want Kyle to put on his big man pants all game long and not “Turtle in his Shell” when the moments get 2 big. Fuck the field goals on 4th and 1-2 that’s not gonna get the job done against Aaron Rodgers!
They need 7 points not 3 to win this game!
You know Lafleur will not let what happen again against the Bucs last year when he decided to take the FG late to the chagrin of Rodgers and the Defense couldn’t get a stop and they lost as he never saw the field again.That won’t happen this time, so Kyle better be ready and aggressive!!!
I agree 100%, Kat. It’s time to pull out all the stops. They really have nothing to lose and there is no tomorrow (think Apollo Creed when you read that). Shanahan has to coach to win. If he does that and they still lose, so be it, but at least there won’t be any regrets. They can beat the Packers, they just have to go out and execute. Everyone of their studs is available and that’s a good think.
30-20 S.F.? You are an ambitious man, Chuck. Holy smokes.
The NFL Network replayed the Packer-Niners game from week 3 last night, so I watched it again. The Niners made a lot of mistakes in that game to get themselves in that big hole, but they also did a lot of good stuff and, on both sides of the ball, including fighting back from 17-0, and they stayed with G.B. for the entire game. I never got the sense that G.B. was the superior team. They just played better overall and got off to a fast start. The Niners clearly had a lot of issues at that time that they’ve mostly fixed. They’re much tougher right now and battle tested to boot.
I think it’s pretty clear that the defense is playing much better overall now, and no question their running game is much sharper now. Deebo has a bigger role, Aiyuk has a much bigger role and the OL seems to be playing better. McGlinchey wasn’t very good in that game. Bizarrely, the completely unheralded Compton is getting the job done right now. We’ll see if that continues.
The wild card, of course and as always, is Garoppolo. I think we’ll all be holding our breath every time he drops back. If he makes more than one of his infamous critical errors, I think the Niners will be in trouble. With his injuries and the frigid temps, it’s hard to envision him not doing that. But I do think they can survive one pick, assuming it’s not a pick-six or something catastrophic like that.
The Packers will probably sell out to stuff the run and force Garoppolo to beat them. The 49ers are going to have to find a way to run the ball. And push the pocket all game long on defense.
They can win but they’re going to have to do what they haven’t really done all year and that’s string together 4 good quarters. I’m not predicting shit, I’m just going to hunker down and hope the boys can get it done.
All hands on deck, boys! GO 49ERS!!!
I think we should start out with misdirection play action passes as they will totally sell out on the run. Throw in Deebo sweeps on passing formations to mess with their defense..
Shanahan really fucked that game over. Collinsworth even said it with a minute left.. He said “you assume you are getting the TD. 1st and 10 rom the 12 they should have run once. That would have run the clock down to ~20 seconds and they could have still thrown 3 passes.
I watched it too. Jimmy fumble and Jimmy pick played their part.
I just think they play their game for once all the way through. They did it in 2019 and they can do it again.
Absolutely. They just need to go out and do it. They’re due.
I earlier compared this team to the 1988 team that was struggling at 6-5 out of the playoff chase.
They really came together. Why not us?
i just like the way we’ve been playing the last few games. It’s like the team is on fire especially the D. I think we are good enough to go the distance but we rarely put a 60 minute game together. Mistakes will make or break us.
I don’t know how many people are watching the Montana documentary on Peacock but episode 4 really shows how much Walsh wanted Young to be our starter instead of Montana. I guess i didn’t pay real close attention during that time. I just couldn’t wrap my mind around replacing Montana. Interesting to see it now and realize just how much I didn’t pay attention to and how things really played out. Montana was a true gamer and to me the best QB I ever saw.
Walsh was also the man that wanted Terry Donoghue(sp) so his genius was limited at times.
So after the Packers lost 4 of 5 at the beginning of the season they ran the table, not good IMO, so maybe they are due for a loss. I think the Niners match up very well with the Packers, except at QB and the the weather. Aaron has learned to play with a frozen ball, this game really will come down to how well JG plays.
Looks like Derrick Henry is a go.
As usual, the Niners are getting little respect. 6 point dogs and “experts” far and wide picking the Packers to win. Fuck them.
So IF JG goes down, what do all of you think the Niners chances are of winning with Trey? For me not much, he has 1 winning game, never been in a playoff game this big, and the cold weather. Me I hope JG stays healthy for this game. Let’s hear from all of you.
Kevin- Lance is from snow country it shouldn’t bother him to much. But, pretty sure he would have a hard time with this game. I still think we could win with him if our defense doesn’t let down.
Damn this is the longest damn day ever! Wish our game had been 10:AM our time
California time
CB Ambry Thomas ruled out ( knee) not good to lose your starter against Rodgers..
Good news LT Baikari (SP ruled out as well) which can only help the pass rush!
If they continue to get 10 yards on every play Niners are in trouble
Niners will lose if this becomes a shootout between Jimmy and Aaron
Very poor start. Defense getting pushed around.
5 runs 5 passes marching right down the field for an opening drive TD sucks!!
Need to match that one right now!!
Get it on the 40 and do nothing! Looks like the Packers on O and D came to play
Weak fucking start.
+1 on turnover battle!
might have spoke too soon. Dang, G hit him right in gut for first down, one step and Aiyuk coughs it up.
aha incomplete. 3rd down still.
This is going to be over in a hurry. GB defense looks like it got an advanced copy of Shannahans playbook.
I don’t know about that, Jimmy hit him in stride, nice catch just couldn’t hold on.
Well is that because it is so cold? Hard to keep a hold of the ball?
Nice series by our D
They better stop putting Jimmy in third and long
Be nice if his receivers could hang to ball. Kittle was wide open and didn’t even get his hands on it. Middle, G’s fave spot to work, looks like good zone to work in. running game, not yet.
Well I don’t know what’s going on here it looks like the D is finally starting to get it together now the office just need to get going
spot on Kev. another stop and punt.
Str8byKompton. Gad, twice already.
Not all of this is on Jimmy, two well thrown balls dropped, run game going nowhere. Going to be a long day
Offense looks like dogshit. They better figure out a way to break off some runs.