NFC Championship Game preview: 5 keys to watch

On Sunday night, the Green Bay Packers meet the San Francisco 49ers at Levi’s Stadium for the NFC Championship Game. Winner goes to Super Bowl LIV in Miami. Loser goes home, wondering forever what could have been.

Here are five keys to watch for in the NFC Championship Game.

5. Aaron Jones controlling the contest

If the Packers are going to pull off the upset in Santa Clara, it’ll start with being able to run the ball. We’ll talk below about Aaron Rodgers being able to stay upright, but in many ways, that begins with Jones finding some lanes and keeping Matt LaFleur’s club ahead of the sticks. Jones doesn’t need to rush for 150 yards, but he does need to be effective, especially in early downs.

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4. Sticking to the scripts

Both Kyle Shanahan and LaFleur are excellent offensive coaches. They also share the trait of putting together excellent opening scripts, helping their teams to get off right in the first quarter. Keep an eye on whether both get touchdowns on their first possessions, or if one of the defenses steps up. This is the time when both offenses should be moving the ball with relative ease. Alarm bells if that isn’t the case.

3. Green Bay’s line against San Francisco’s front

The Packers need to deal with one of the best defensive fronts in the league. San Francisco has elite pass-rushers in Arik Armstead, Nick Bosa, DeForest Buckner and Dee Ford, bringing pressure from the inside and on the edge. If Green Bay can deal with the rush, specifically top-tier tackles David Bakhtiari and Bryan Bulaga, the Packers will stand a real chance to advance. For the Packers, this game will be all about keeping Rodgers clean and allowing him to scan the field and make plays.

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2. Kittle’s health in jeopardy?

49ers All-Pro tight end George Kittle didn’t practice on Wednesday as he deals with an ankle injury. While it’s likely he plays, do we see him struggling to get open or block with the same aggression? Kittle is the best player on the 49ers, and so him being compromised in any way would be significant.

1. Sherman vs. Adams

This could be the matchup to watch on Sunday. Should the 49ers put Richard Sherman on Davante Adams, can Adams get open or is he shut down? If it’s the latter, Rodgers will need to find other targets with less talent such as Jimmy Graham, Geronimo Allison and Marques Valdez-Scantling. If Sherman is on Adams and he can win the battle, Green Bay gets a huge boost.