Highlighting the top matchups to watch when the Packers host the 49ers in the divisional round.
The Green Bay Packers will begin their long road to the Super Bowl on Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers. This intriguing matchup is a rematch of the 2019 NFC Championship Game. The Packers hope to get revenge for that pathetic showing, while the 49ers look to avenge a last-second defeat in Week 3.
Green Bay claimed the NFC’s top seed during the regular season, which allowed them to bypass last week’s wild-card round. Coming off a game that nearly slipped away from San Francisco, they will now have to face a fresh and motivated Aaron Rodgers.
Rodgers had a virtuoso performance in the first meeting when he led his team into a field goal range with 37 seconds left on the clock and no timeouts. Mason Crosby delivered the game-winner from 51 yards to lift his team to a miraculous comeback win.
That game was much different than the 2019 NFC Championship, which saw the 49ers’ offense completely trample the Packers’ run defense. With fresh legs and key players hoping to return, Green Bay hopes to avoid a similar downfall.
There will be plenty to watch out for on Saturday between these two very talented teams but let’s look at four key matchups that will help decide the outcome.
Five things to watch and a prediction for the Packers’ NFC playoff game against the 49ers.
A trip to the NFC Championship Game will be on the line when the Green Bay Packers (13-4) host the San Francisco 49ers (11-7) in the NFC Divisional Round on Saturday night at Lambeau Field.
Can the top-seeded Packers eliminate the underdog 49ers and advance to the NFC title for the third straight season? Or will the 49ers once again end a promising season for Aaron Rodgers and the Packers short of the Super Bowl?
Saturday night’s Divisional Round playoff matchup between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers is expected to be highly competitive despite the difference in the win column. After all, at this point in the NFL season, the margin for error is razor thin.
After beginning the season with 3-5 record, San Francisco rattled off seven wins in their final nine games. The red-hot 49ers also enter this game with a chip on their shoulder after losing in Week 3 to Green Bay by way of a Mason Crosby field goal as time expired.
In other words, throw the records out. Besides, football is truly a game of inches, and most of the time the end result comes down to situational awareness; in other words: X-factors. The dictionary definition of X-factor? A variable in a given situation that could have the most significant impact on the outcome.
It’s hard to predict exactly how this game will play out. We’ve seen some crazy things happen over the years in the NFL Playoffs. But what we can do is attempt to predict how it might be influenced by certain players. With that said, here are two players who could be X-factors for the Packers in the Divisional Round against the 49ers:
Offensive X-factor: Allen Lazard
It’s easy to overlook Allen Lazard’s value to the Packers’ offense for two reasons: 1.) He has the privilege of catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, and 2.) Davante Adams draws the majority of the attention from opposing defenses. But Lazard isn’t just an ancillary piece anymore. The former undrafted free agent is an important factor in how Green Bay wants to run their offense.
Not only is Lazard a stalwart as a blocker in the run game, but Rodgers trusts him in big moments. As a run blocker, Lazard has no issues against smaller defensive backs because of his large frame (6-5, 230). He’s a tenacious bully who shows great effort on every play. Lazard has been critical to the Packers’ offense down the stretch this season, and it’s hard to argue that he hasn’t been Green Bay’s second-best receiver behind Adams. He’s been on fire over his last five games, having caught 21 passes for 290 yards and five touchdowns.
Lazard’s role becomes even more important against San Francisco with Marquez Valdes-Scantling being listed as doubtful to play due to a back injury. While the Packers are expected to have Randall Cobb back (groin), it remains to be seen how much he’ll actually play. Of course, Adams is more than capable of holding his own, but even he can’t do everything alone.
Green Bay will need someone besides Davante to step up in the passing game. For a quarterback, it’s all about trusting that your receiver will be in the right place at the right time. It’s clear that Rodgers and Lazard have built a connection, especially over the second half of the season.
Defensive X-factor: De’Vondre Campbell
(AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps)
The 49ers run game has been on fire lately, and rookie running back Elijah Mitchell is a major reason why. When these two teams met back in Week 3, Mitchell did not play due to a shoulder injury. In the 12 games he’s appeared in this season, Mitchell has compiled 1,059 rushing yards and seven total touchdowns. Against the Cowboys in the Wildcard round, he posted 96 rushing yards.
But it doesn’t stop there. Did I mention receiver Deebo Samuel’s versatility in the run game? It’s going to be hard for the Packers defense to completely shut down Samuel. He was an All-Pro this season for a reason. Plus, Samuel only lined up in the backfield twice when these two teams faced off in Week 3. Since then, San Fran has regularly deployed him as a running back out of the backfield. He’s averaging 6.4 yards per carry this season and has scored nine rushing touchdowns. Last week against Dallas, he rushed for 72 yards and a score on 10 carries.
All-Pro linebacker De’Vondre Campbell will be the ultimate X-factor when it comes to minimizing San Francisco’s rushing attack. Deebo is one of the toughest players in the NFL to get on the ground on first contact. He’s essentially a running back who plays receiver. Luckily for Green Bay, Campbell is one of the best in the NFL at tackling. Basically, if Campbell gets his hands on a ball carrier, it’s almost a guarantee that he’s going to bring them down. He missed only four tackles and had the lowest missed tackle percentage (2.9) among all qualified linebackers in 2021, per Pro Football Focus.
As the Packers’ leading tackler this season (146), Campbell thrives off his ability to read and react. He’s been the ultimate eraser on the second level, limiting big plays and keeping yards after catch to a minimum. If Green Bay’s defense is to hold Mitchell and Samuel in check, they’re going to need a stellar game from their All-Pro linebacker.
Answering some big questions to help preview the Packers’ playoff showdown with the 49ers.
The Green Bay Packers (13-4) will welcome the surging San Francisco 49ers (11-7) to Lambeau Field for the NFC Divisional Round on Saturday night. The Packers cruised to the No. 1 seed in the NFC and earned a first-round bye in the playoffs, and now Matt LaFleur’s team gets to host the 49ers, who have won eight of their last 10 games. The winner will go to the NFC title game.
To help preview the showdown, Packers Wire managing editor Zach Kruse and Niners Wire managing editor Kyle Madson provided answers to 10 big questions.
Breaking down everything you need to know from the Packers’ final injury report before playing the 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.
The Green Bay Packers listed offensive tackle David Bakhtiari and cornerback Jaire Alexander as questionable and receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling as doubtful for Sunday night’s playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.
Here’s an in-depth breakdown of the Packers’ final injury report of the divisional round:
Keke’s departure remains a bit of a mystery. He was a healthy scratch during the Packers’ Week 16 win over the Cleveland Browns and didn’t play while dealing with COVID-19 and an illness over the final two weeks. His last action for the Packers was in Week 15 against the Baltimore Ravens.
Coach Matt LaFleur declined to get into specifics or the reasoning behind his release when asked on Thursday, calling it a “tough decision.” He was confident Keke would get another opportunity in the NFL, and his prediction was proved correct soon after.
Keke, a fifth-round pick in 2019, produced 2.5 sacks and a career-high 24 total pressures over 12 games and 393 defensive snaps in 2021.
An ascending young player, Keke provided a disruptive interior pass-rusher who was developing into a starting-caliber defensive end.
Keke is from Texas and went to school at Texas A&M.
Because the transaction was made during the playoffs, Keke won’t officially join the Texans until after the Super Bowl.
The Packers’ veteran slot WR is officially back. Cobb is expected to play Saturday night against the 49ers.
Veteran slot receiver Randall Cobb is back for the Green Bay Packers. The team activated Cobb from injured reserve on Thursday, clearing the way for him to return and play on Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Divisional Round.
Cobb missed the last five games of the regular season with a core muscle injury. He suffered the injury on Nov. 28 against the Los Angeles Rams, had surgery during the bye week and ultimately went on injured reserve.
The Packers designated Cobb for return on Dec. 30. His three-week practice window ended on Thursday, necessitating his activation to the 53-man roster.
Coach Matt LaFleur said on Wednesday that the Packers are “anticipating” Cobb to play against the 49ers. His return to the roster all but guarantees it.
Acquired via trade with the Houston Texans before training camp, Cobb caught 28 passes for 375 yards and five touchdowns in his first 12 games of the 2021 season.
If nothing else, Cobb provides a reliable presence at slot receiver and a versatile weapon for LaFleur to use in the passing game. Against the Rams, Cobb lined up in the backfield and caught a touchdown pass.
Cobb’s return could be even more important considering Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) is doubtful to play against the 49ers. Cobb and Allen Lazard will be the secondary targets behind Davante Adams.
The Packers still have time to make decisions on Za’Darius Smith, Whitney Mercilus and Ty Summers, who have all been designated for return from injured reserve. If ready to play against the 49ers, they would be activated on Friday.
The waiting game will continue for several key players, including David Bakhtiari and Jaire Alexander.
The availability of several key players for the Green Bay Packers to start the postseason will remain in doubt – at least publicly – until Friday for some and Saturday for others.
Coach Matt LaFleur provided only surface-level updates on Thursday.
The Packers will get back receiver Randall Cobb, who is expected to be activated from injured reserve on Thursday, and right tackle Billy Turner, who has practiced all week and is “good to go,” per LaFleur.
But the rest? It’s still unclear.
Left tackle David Bakhtiari and cornerback Jaire Alexander will be listed as questionable to play, receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will be doubtful to play, and outside linebackers Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus will only play if they are activated from injured reserve on Friday.
The wait continues.
Bakhtiari (knee) didn’t practice on Friday. Alexander is still trying to determine if his shoulder is in good enough shape to play the cornerback position. Valdes-Scantling aggravated a previous back injury and didn’t practice Wednesday or Thursday. Smith (back) and Mercilus (biceps) are both attempting to come back from significant injuries.
It’s possible the Packers could get a big boost from the return of the injured difference-makers on Saturday night against the San Francisco 49ers. LaFleur and the team have maintained a “day by day” approach for many of the players, including Bakhtiari and Alexander.
More information will be known Friday. The status of others won’t be known until inactives are announced 90 minutes before kickoff on Saturday night.
Will the 49ers attempt to single cover Packers WR Davante Adams on Saturday?
Davante Adams might be poised for another big game against the San Francisco 49ers. Green Bay’s All-Pro wide receiver finished with 12 receptions for 132 yards and a touchdown in the first meeting earlier this season. Adams could have a similar impact if the 49ers implement similar coverages to what they did against the Dallas Cowboys in the divisional round.
Former Cowboys quarterback and broadcaster Troy Aikman was flabbergasted with how his former team handled San Francisco’s approach to wide receiver CeeDee Lamb. According to the Hall of Fame quarterback and broadcaster, Lamb should have been a much larger part of the game plan due to the amount of single coverage he faced.
Here were Aikman’s full comments made on Dallas sports radio station 96.7 The Ticket.
Adams might be the most double-covered wide receiver in the NFL. Sometimes, even that isn’t enough, as we saw the Baltimore Ravens triple cover Adams during the regular season. However, even with overwhelming attention from opposing defenses, his connection with Aaron Rodgers led to a record-setting year in which he set the franchise record for receiving yards and receptions.
Dominating is nothing new for Adams, who has been doing it for years. But it’s worth noting that he has been especially dominant against the 49ers. Read more about the damage he’s done against the San Francisco franchise here.
The 49ers could approach the Packers differently than the Cowboys. Outside of Lamb, they also had to worry about Amari Cooper, a legitimate number one receiver in his own right. Green Bay doesn’t have another No. 1 receiver on the roster, but they haven’t had a problem getting Adams the ball all season.
In 2021, the San Francisco defense allowed the sixth-fewest passing yards in the league, but they were unsuccessful at stopping Adams in Week 3 with a lot of single coverage. It will be interesting to see if they change their approach on Saturday when it is win or go home. If single coverage it is, Adams will have a field day.
The Packers finished below the Los Angeles Chargers for the final spot in the rankings, which used a number of relevant special teams statistics to rank the 32 teams by performance.
Maurice Drayton’s group finished worst in the NFL in punt coverage and kickoff starting point. The special teams did have two takeaways, which ranked fifth in the NFL, the only time the Packers finished in the top five of a special teams category.
The rest was mostly a disaster. Green Bay was 21st in punt return average, 30th in kick return average, 31st in field goal percentage, 25th in touchback percentage, 26th in kickoff coverage, 19th in net punting. 28th in punts inside the 20-yard line, 23rd in total field goals made and tied for last in points scored.
The Packers also had two giveaways and a blocked field goal.
A few games stood out from the rest: Mason Crosby missed three field goals in Cincinnati and two more field goals in Kansas City, and a near total collapse of the special teams almost cost the Packers a win against the Bears at Lambeau Field.
The group did improve slightly over the final few games, but it wasn’t nearly enough to keep the Packers out of the last-place spot.
The Packers haven’t finished above 16th in Gosselin’s rankings just once (2017) since 2012.
In 2018, the Packers failed to make the playoffs with the worst special teams in the NFL. In 2014, the failures of the last-place special teams helped keep the Packers out of the Super Bowl.
