Behind Enemy Lines: 5 Questions for a Packers Insider

The 49ers will play the Packers this Saturday at Levi's Stadium. To learn more about the 49ers' opponent, I asked Packers Insider Bill Huber five questions about the team he covers.

ME: What are the Packers biggest strengths?

HUBER: "It's Jordan Love and the passing game. And I can't believe I'm saying that because at midseason, Love was last in the NFL in completion percentage and Green Bay was 2-5 and you were thinking, 'Man, they're going to have to go draft another quarterback.' And here we are, in the last 10 games, Brock Purdy is No. 1 in passer rating and Jordan Love is No. 2. He's incredibly sharp, he's on time, he's throwing with anticipation, with accuracy. And there are guys open all the time. And it's all set up by Aaron Jones. He came back from a knee injury four weeks ago, and the Packers had had zero 100 yard rushing games through Week 15. They've gotten four in a row with him."

ME: What are the Packers' biggest weaknesses?

HUBER: "It's the run defense. If you're a Packers fan looking at Christian McCaffrey against Green Bay's run defense, you're thinking, 'Oh bleep.' It has been bad throughout the Matt LaFleur era. Green Bay is 23rd in yards allowed per carry. During the past three games, they've played pretty good run defense, but Tony Pollard is not Christian McCaffrey. If you have to stop Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brandon Aiyuk, there are a lot fewer resources dedicated to McCaffrey. That's the real conundrum here."

ME: What does Matt LaFleur bring to the Packers?

HUBER: "It's the scheme. When LaFleur took over, he called it "our offense," meaning the amalgam of what he wanted to do and what Aaron Rodgers likes. And that was the way to go. If you have an MVP quarterback, you probably want to go with what he wants to some extent, but this is LaFleur's offense. He has a quarterback who knows what he's doing with it. And it's the x's and o's. They shredded the Cowboys on Sunday. There were guys open all over the field. Romeo Doubs hadn't had a 100-yard game in his career -- he had 100 by halftime because he was wide open all the time. And look, it's Kyle Shanahan's offense. You've seen it over there. There are just guys open all the time."

ME: How good is Jordan Love?

HUBER: "I do think he's really good. He is the real deal. I talked to a league scout before the Cowboys game, and he predicted Love will win at least one MVP and one Super Bowl. And that guy doesn't work here. For the first half of the season, he wasn't quite sure. He's totally in rhythm now. He's their guy for the next decade at least."

ME: Who will win this game?

HUBER: "You'd have to be a fool to pick against the 49ers. Even LaFleur called the 49ers the class of the NFC. They have the week of rest. You'd be a fool to bet against them. Love gives them a chance, but there's just too much experienced firepower over there for Green Bay to win this one."