The stage is set for the NFC Championship Game rematch between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers.
The two NFC powers will meet, once again, in Santa Clara, as they did in Week 12 when the 49ers bested the Packers 37-8, although this time, both teams will be operating at or near full strength.
Second-seeded Green Bay will be bolstered by the return of safety/linebacker Raven Greene, who was activated Saturday from injured reserve, while top-seeded San Francisco is boosted by the presence of several starters who were sidelined in Week 12, including left tackle Joe Staley, edge rusher Dee Ford, linebacker Kwon Alexander and kicker Robbie Gould.
When the Packers were dominated so thoroughly by the 49ers nearly two months ago, it raised a big question: were the 49ers just a much more complete and talented team or were the Packers just severely out-coached?
I think it’s fair to say that the Packers were both over-matched and out-coached in their first game against the 49ers, but a second game between the two teams should help us understand which issue was bigger.
If the Packers are beaten soundly once again at full strength, and the offense still struggles like it did in Week 12 with a different Matt LaFleur offensive game plan, then we can come to the conclusion that the talent gap was simply too much for them to overcome. Players still have to go out and execute on the field, and talent usually wins.
Conversely, if the Packers go into Levi’s Stadium on Sunday afternoon and emerge with a win, we can conclude that the talent gap wasn’t so significant and that LaFleur and/or defensive coordinator Mike Pettine learned from their coaching mistakes and bridged the gap that was so glaringly apparent in their first meeting with the 49ers.
A trip to the Super Bowl is on the line. Better execution and a better plan will be required for the Packers to win the rematch.