Good morning, everyone. The Green Bay Packers will be taking on the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday evening. These 2 teams have faced off in the playoffs 7 times before, including 4 years in a row from 1995 to 1998. The last time they faced each other with a Super Bowl berth on the line was in the 1997 NFC Championship game, in which the Packers won by a score of 23-10 at Candlestick Park. When these 2 teams met in Week 12 of the 2019 season, the Packers got blown out by a score of 37-8 in a game where nothing went right. Since then, the Packers have won 6 straight games (including last week’s win over Seattle in the Divisional round). Even though the Packers have to go to Santa Clara again, I think that the results will be different this time around. Here are my thoughts on what the Packers need to do on Sunday to advance to Super Bowl LIV.
On offense, the Packers need to play consistent for 60 minutes. A fast start is needed for the Packers, starting on the opening possession. They can’t afford to make any mistakes on offense, whether they be penalties or turnovers, against the 49ers. It all starts with being able to run the football against the defensive front of San Francisco, which is led by Nick Bosa and DeForest Buckner. The offensive linemen and the receivers need to create the running lanes for Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams (plus Tyler Ervin at points) to go through for positive yards. If the Packers can run the ball well enough, it can open up some passing lanes due to the 49ers bringing another person in the box. In the passing game, Aaron Rodgers needs to throw accurate to the receivers (who include Davante Adams, Allen Lazard, Jake Kumerow and Jimmy Graham). In turn, the receivers need to catch every single pass that is thrown by Rodgers while getting separation from the 49ers defensive backs, who include Richard Sherman. If Adams is covered by Sherman for most, if not all, of the game, someone else needs to step up in a big way. I think that Allen Lazard is able to step up and make clutch catches, even with the ankle issue (he is going to be playing). I also would not mind of Jimmy Graham is clutch on third downs, which he was last week against the Seahawks. The running backs should be used in the passing game as well through screen passes and wheel routes. It would be fun to see some trick plays being used to confuse the 49ers defense. All of this can’t be accomplished if the offensive line is not able to keep Aaron Rodgers upright. I think that the O-Line will protect Rodgers much better than in Week 12. If Bryan Bulaga gets hurt, Jared Veldheer is ready to take on the right tackle spot. Hopefully, there are no injuries to anybody on offense (*knocks on wood*). Third downs are extremely important for the Packers in this game. They need to convert every third down throughout the contest. What can help them do this is to have productive plays on the first 2 downs and to commit no penalties at all. When the offense gets in the red zone, they need to score touchdowns instead of settling for field goals. This will put more pressure on the 49ers to answer back with scores of their own. As always, the Packers need to avoid turning over the football. Any fumble recovery or interception by the 49ers can give them momentum and bring the crowd noise to deafening levels. If the offense plays a complete game and executes everything right, I think that the Packers have a good chance of winning on the road.
On defense, the key for the Packers is to stop the rushing attack. The defensive front (which is led by Kenny Clark and the duo of Preston and Za’Darius Smith) needs to get off the blocks and tackle the running backs for minimum yardage. Stopping the run will keep the 49ers from doing what they do best with the passing game. In Week 12, the 49ers got some big yardage plays off of play-action, including a couple of touchdowns. It did not help that Garoppolo had a mostly clean pocket in Week 12, which helped him deliver the passes to his receivers (who include Deebo Samuel and George Kittle). The pass rush needs to get to Garoppolo early and often in this game in order for him to make mistakes. It would be nice to see the Smiths get a few sacks of the quarterback after getting 4 sacks last week (2 each for Za’Darius and Preston Smith). I also would not mind seeing Kenny Clark, Blake Martinez, Jaire Alexander, or other players on defense getting a sack on Sunday. Even if the defense doesn’t get the sack every time, pressuring Garoppolo can force him to make some throws that can be picked off by the D-Backs. The defense can’t afford to drop interceptions, as those drops can bite them later on in the game. Last week, Kevin King gave up a big pass play after dropping an interception. Stuff like that needs to be avoided on Sunday night. The pass catchers need to be covered well on Sunday by the defense. There should not be any wide-open receivers down the middle of the field, which happened in the Week 12 game. The defense needs to stop the 49ers from converting third downs in this game (especially ones longer than 10 yards). What can help the defense accomplish this is to not let the 49ers offense make positive plays on the first 2 downs that go 4 or 5 yards. When the 49ers offense gets in the red zone, the defense needs to force them to settle for field goals. It would be an added bonus if the defense has a successful goal-line stand, whether it be in the first quarter or in crunch time. In addition to interceptions, the Packers need to generate turnovers by forcing a fumble or two, including a strip-sack of the quarterback. Any turnover caused by the Packers defense will give the offense more chances to put points on the scoreboard and increase their chances of winning. I think that the defense will get the job done against the 49ers offense this time around, as long as they play for 60 minutes and are completely healthy (*knocks on wood*).
On Special Teams, the Packers need to be on point in terms of everything. Kickoff and punt returns by the 49ers need to be covered well by Green Bay (assuming that there is not a touchback or fair catch). On the other side, Tyler Ervin needs to make the most of his opportunities on kickoff and punt returns. It would be nice for him to take a kick or punt return all the way for a touchdown on Sunday night. The return unit needs to make the right blocks and not commit any penalties during the returns. If there is not an opportunity for a long return, Ervin needs to be smart with the football by securing a fair catch and not turning it over. Mason Crosby needs to make all of his kicks, which he has done all season long at this point (he has only missed a couple of kicks this year). JK Scott needs to have a great game in terms of punting the football. All of his punts need to flip the field and give the 49ers terrible field position to start their drives. Hunter Bradley’s snaps need to be accurate for every field goal, PAT, or punt attempt. If he his able to do that, then everything should go smoothly with the kicks and punts. The rest of the line needs to keep the 49ers from blocking any kicks during this game. For the Packers, I would not mind seeing a blocked punt or field goal in this game. Any play like that can change momentum instantly for both teams. Hopefully those plays are in Green Bay’s favor. As long as the Packers execute well on Special Teams, they should have a good chance of winning against the 49ers.
A win on Sunday night will clinch the Packers a berth in Super Bowl LIV in Miami. It’s going to be a very tough game for the Packers on the road in Santa Clara, but I believe that they will get the job done on Sunday. Every player has to know their assignments on all sides of the football, and there needs to be mistake-free football for 60 minutes. They have responded to adversity all season long on their way to the NFC Championship game. If they can do that again, they will be going to the Super Bowl for the first time since 2010. Regardless of the outcome, I will be here on Monday morning with my post-game thoughts. Have a great day, everyone. Go Pack Go!
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