We all know the history of Matt laFleur and Kyle Shanahan. Both were coaches under Kyle’s dad, the stoic stick-too-far-up-the-ass Mike Shanahan. Mike of course was the offensive engineer behind the last 49ers Super Bowl victory way back in 1994. Kyle, Matt, and Sean McVay are all part of the brat pack of NFL coaches. They are also the best of friends. The run similar offenses and all have their ideal version of quarterback that they trust.
Kyle of course was somewhat thrilled to get Jimmy G, but we all saw how Shanahan turtled up in the playoffs a couple years ago when Jimmy started throwing interceptions. And LaFleur was working around the proclivities of Aaron Rodgers and his bucking Matt’s system at every turn.
Now of course, Kyle has Brock and LaFleur has Love. Both work within the system driven into the offense by them. Both process things fast and get the ball out quick to avoid the rush. And both improvise well when shot breaks down. Sure, it took the Packers a little while to get shit right this year, but they come into the playoffs as the hot young upstarts, while most of our team has been here before.
As we all know good and Goddamn well, this matters little in the scheme of things. 1995 was the experienced 49ers against the upstart Packers. 1996 was the rematch. Both games were in sloggy rainy conditions, both games the 49ers turned the ball over a shit-ton, the 49ers lost both games, and both games were attended by me and my buddy Dave.
Ugly shit. And here we are 28 years later. Packers vs Niners. Rain in the forecast. Upstart Packers. Experienced 49ers.
The blueprint for road teams in the playoffs is to try and survive the initial onslaught of emotion from the home team hitting the field among the screaming fans and the adrenaline rush that is playoff football at home. Which means for the Niners of course is to get off to a fast start and try to limit Green Bay’s options.
I mean, we run their offense. We should be USED to this style of play seeing as we run a very similar offense. That doesn’t mean we can STOP it, though. Both schemes are built on pre-snap motion, misdirection, and getting favorable matchups. Both rely on quick-hitting runs to set up the passing game. And GB has a pair of speedy wide receivers in Reed and Wicks to go along with Doubs and Watson, one-year guys. Young and fast.
But (here’s my big but), we have a much better defense than Green Bay. They are not very good against the run. And if we can establish that early, Purdy should have a very good day. I’m glad to hear Dre Greenlaw appears to be ready. We NEED our fastest LBs out there, and we NEED AA to stop the run. GB has been fairly successful running lately, but I think we can stop them given we are as healthy as we have been for most of the season.
I may have said something like 33-20 Niners, and while it may end up a little less high scoring than that, I still think we win by 10, but it is all about the turnovers.
Saturday, Jan. 20
(4) Houston Texans vs. (1) Baltimore Ravens 4:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
(7) Green Bay Packers vs. (1) San Francisco 49ers, 8:15 p.m. ET, Fox
Sunday, Jan. 21
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. (3) Detroit Lions, 3 p.m. ET, NBC
(3) Kansas City Chiefs vs. (2) Buffalo Bills, 6:30 p.m. ET, CBS
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
From the last thread:
12th Man says:
January 19, 2024 at 1:34 pm (Edit)
Picks: Niners, Lions, Texans and Bill’s all straight up, no spread.
Reply
I have Niners, Balt, Deetroit, KC.
Mainly because Buffalo got wasted on defense last game. Houston isn’t gonna roll through Balt’s defense like they did Cleveland’s.
https://www.battleredblog.com/2024/1/17/24042439/texans-vs-ravens-injury-report-divisional-round-edition-nfl
Ravens had one week bye and a mediocre defense. They need DT and LB help for draft in April.
Oops Texans have mediocre d and 2024 draft to help a bad front seven run defense
I was gonna say “huh?”
I think I read somewhere that ravens have second best run O in NFL. Could be a painful game to watch
Mainly because of Jackson. Isn’t he their leading rusher?
Had to look it up.
Lamar Jackson – 821
Gus Edwards – 810
Keaton Mitchell – 396
Hou is gonna have to try and keep him contained in the pocket and collapse everything into him. Easier said than done.
Houston has it’s work cut out for it.
Think also their RB1 got IR’d earlier in season
I would love to see the Texans take it but I don’t think they will. The Ravens #1 D will put a hurt on them. I almost want to take the Bucs but I think the Detroit fans are gonna be a factor unless the Bucs can get a decent lead right off the bat. I think the Bills will choke. The sloppy weather is what concerns me about our game we can’t afford to be sloppy too.
Niners, KC, Ravens, Lions.
Speaking of hurt here is more of this Mano a Mano shit
https://www.si.com/fannation/bleav/nfl/former-raven-stroud-will-struggle-to-be-comfortable-and-get-in-rhythm-against-baltimore-
All gloves are off these journos after si staffers got mass laid off.
I don’t feel like (Stroud) is going to be comfortable back there, and I don’t feel like he is going to be able to get in rhythm back there,” said Wilcox. “I feel like he is going to be running for his life at some point in this game, and to me, that is what it is all about.
Yeah baby. These must be two LB’s talking to each other in code words. Recently a defensive coordinator got fined or fired from a pregame meeting inciting his D and putting a bounty on some of the O’s on the other side .
NFL Network is showing the 2021 divisional game against the Packers.
Jimmy had a fairly terrible game and Jordan Willis’ blocked punt saved the night.
2 drives for FGs were enough.
Crazy game in the cold.
And they showed the OWENS! OWENS! OWNS! game from 1998.
New thread is up.