First Look at San Francisco vs. Green Bay
The NFL regular season has concluded and its second season begins this weekend with the wildcard round. In the NFC, in what is becoming a huge rivalry the San Francisco 49ers travel to Lambeau Field to take on the NFC North Champion Green Bay Packers in one of the two conference wildcard games.
Since the beginning of the 2012 season, this will be the fourth time the two teams have played head to head. San Francisco has won the previous three meetings. Two regular season games and on divisional playoff have all gone against the Packers.
This game will be a chance for Dom Capers the defensive coordinator for Green Bay to redeem himself following last season’s 45-31 loss in the playoffs to the 49ers.
The defense for Green Bay was embarrassed in that game as the read option play thoroughly fooled the players. In that game, the Green Bay defense allowed 579 yards including an impressive 181 yards on the ground by Colin Kaepernick the 49ers quarterback.
The Green Bay defense must look out for Anquan Boldin the 49ers top receiver this season. In this past Sunday’s victory over Arizona, Boldin caught 9 passes for 149 yards. It was similar to the success he had in Week 1 against Green Bay when he had 13 receptions for 208 yards.
Aaron Rodgers will be a big key in this matchup as long as he stays healthy. Rodgers proved again on Sunday after returning from an injury and missing seven games how much he means to the team. His late touchdown toss to Randall Cobb clinched the NFC North against the Chicago Bears. He may have been rusty early, but was nothing by brilliant late in the game.
San Francisco comes in as the hottest team in the NFL. They have won six straight, which is the longest active streak in the league and are 11-2 over their last 13 games. Their 12-4 regular season record and being a wildcard is testament to how tough the NFC and in particular the NFC West is.
Weather is always a factor in January in Green Bay and this Sunday will be no exception. The extended forecast indicates the weather should be very cold with some chance of snow. The 49ers like to grind out wins so they should not be affected by the cold too much. However, Green Bay is much more acclimated to the harsh conditions and if the weather is very inclement, it will favor the Packers.
Injuries could play a factor in this matchup. Green Bay’s Clay Matthews missed Sunday’s game against Chicago and his status is still uncertain. His absence will be felt as the 49ers like to run up the middle. Eddie Lacy, the talented rookie running back played for Green Bay against the Bears, but his ankle noticeably bothered him on occasion.
Both teams will have the week to recover from any nagging injuries, but the NFL season does not wait for anyone. The Packers and 49ers must be ready to go at it again on Sunday with the winner moving on to the divisional playoffs and the loser heading home.
