Packers host 49ers in First Round NFL Playoff Action
The San Francisco 49ers visit the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin to face the Green Bay Packers in a first round wildcard playoff game on Sunday.
The 49ers behind quarterback Colin Kaepernick defeated the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers in a shootout in the first week of the season 34-28.
The line on this game opened with the Packers as a 3-point dog at home, which was the first time during the modern era that Green Bay has been an underdog playing at home during the postseason.
Rodgers has returned after missing a stretch of seven games with a broken collarbone. He led the Packers over the Chicago Bears last week to win the NFC North division and earn a home game to open the playoffs. However, Green Bay is just 2-5 ATS over its past 7 playoff games, played at home.
The fifth seed was secured by the 49ers when they defeated the Arizona Cardinals on a late field goal last weekend. San Francisco is the league’s hottest team riding a winning streak of six games.
The 49ers defeated the Packers 30-22 on their last visit to Lambeau field, but are just 2-8 ATS over their past 10 visits.
Since 2006, the OVER has cashed in all six of the head-to-head games between the two teams. Since 1996, San Francisco is 1-8 SU playing at Lambeau field. However, over their past 14 games on the road, the 49ers have a record of 10-3-1 ATS. As road chalk, the 49ers have a record of 8-1 SU and ATS over their last nine games. With Rodgers at quarterback, Green Bay is 5-1 ATS as an underdog at home. Over their past 7 playoff games, Green Bay is 5-2 ATS.
The 49ers have a record of 10-5-1 ATS and Green Bay 7-8-1 ATS during the regular season.
San Francisco defeated the Arizona Cardinals 23-20 to end their regular season last week. In the game, the 49ers covered as a 3-point road dog, while the OVER cashed out on the 43-point total.
Last week, Green Bay defeated Chicago 33-28 on a last minute touchdown pass from Rodgers to Randall Cobb. Rodgers ended the game with 318 yards passing, but looked rusty in the early going.
Offensively Green Bay is ranked No. 8 in scoring on the season, while San Francisco is ranked No. 3 in scoring defense.
The key for Green Bay will be to find a way to stop the option threat of Kaepernick. The last time the two teams played in the postseason, Kaepernick ran for 181 yards and produced 4 touchdowns.
Green Bay will need to neutralize the talented quarterback and make other players such as Frank Gore the 49ers running back beat them.
Green Bay will be without the services of Clay Matthews their best pass rusher and the catalyst of their entire defense.
Weather will play a factor in this matchup as temperatures are expected to be somewhere between 0 and -5 with a wind chill in excess of -30.
Pick: San Francisco 24-21
