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The path forward looks pretty simple to Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Either the Packers beat the 49ers in San Francisco on Sunday night, or they’ll likely have to do it at some point in January.
This week’s showdown at Levi’s Stadium features the top two seeds in the NFC entering Week 12. The winner will emerge as the favorite to earn home-field advantage throughout the conference playoffs.
“This is an important one for us,” Rodgers said at his locker Wednesday. “The way I look at it, we have to beat them once at their place at some point. It’d be nice to do it now. They are a good football team.”
The 49ers are 9-1 and leading the NFC West. The Packers are 8-2 and leading the NFC North. Together, the two teams have a winning percentage of .850.
Sunday night’s matchup will feature only the sixth game featuring two teams with two or fewer losses at this point in the season since 2007. The last two winners of such games – the Denver Broncos in 2015 and the Seahawks Seahawks in 2013 – went on to win the Super Bowl.
The significance of the game isn’t lost on Rodgers, who knows that if the Packers lose Sunday night, any rematch in the playoffs would likely be back in San Francisco.
“We’re all aware of where we’re at in the seeding going into Week 12 and what’s in front of us and the opportunities,” Rodgers said. “There’s still a lot of football to be played and a lot can happen. You’re in denial if you don’t think about the implications of a ‘dub’ or an ‘L’ this week and how that affects stuff down the line. The way we look at it, we’re going to have to win there one time. It’d be nice to get it done this week.”
The Packers and 49ers are two of five teams in the NFC with eight or more wins. While the Packers are in a strong position to qualify for the postseason, either as the NFC North champion or wild card, Rodgers believes the strength of the conference only amplifies the importance of coming together and getting on a roll to end the regular season.
“It feels like one of those years where you just have to get in,” Rodgers said. “Any of those teams that are in position right now could make a move and get hot. That’s what it’s all about. Getting hot at the right time and being healthy.”
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