Packers-49ers Playoff Clash Set for Saturday Night

The powerful 49ers have been a thorn in Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s playoff side. They’ll play their divisional-round matchup on Saturday. Here is an early preview.

Author:
Bill Huber
Publish date:
Jan 14, 2024 11:07 PM EST

In this story:

Green Bay Packers

GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers own the Dallas Cowboys. They do not own the San Francisco 49ers.

For the third time under coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers will face the 49ers in the playoffs. Their NFC divisional-round matchup will be played at 7 p.m. Saturday. The game will be televised by Fox.

“Just couldn’t be happier for our guys,” LaFleur said after a 48-32 victory over the Cowboys on Sunday. “Obviously, really excited about the next opportunity going to San Francisco, playing against one of the best teams in the NFL. We’ll have our work cut out for us. I don’t know when we play but assuming it’s going to be on a short week, so we’ll have to rest up.”

The 49ers earned the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with their 12-5 record. They opened the season with five consecutive wins, dropped three straight, then ran off six more wins. They lost at home to Baltimore on Christmas, clinched homefield against Washington on New Year’s Eve and played their backups in a Week 18 loss to the Rams.

The 49ers are full of star players.

Led by MVP candidate Brock Purdy, the 49ers finished third in scoring. They ranked second in total offense, third in rushing offense, fourth in passing offense and first in the red zone.

Purdy was first with a 113.0 passer rating and 9.64 yards per attempt. Unanimous All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey led the NFL with 1,459 rushing yards, 2,023 total yards and 21 total touchdowns. Receiver Brandon Aiyuk and tight end George Kittle topped 1,000 receiving yards, and receiver Deebo Samuel had more than 1,100 total yards.

Defensively, the 49ers ranked third in scoring. They were eighth in total defense, third against the run and 14th against the pass. San Francisco outgained its opponents by 94.5 yards per game, best in the league.

Unanimous All-Pro linebacker Fred Warner led the team with 132 tackles, Nick Bosa had 10.5 sacks and Charvarius Ward had five of the Niners’ league-high 22 interceptions.

“They’re a very talented team,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said after a brilliant performance vs. the Cowboys. “It’s all about how we get back to work this week, get in the film room, see what they’re all about and get back to work. They’re a really good team. Got to get our bodies back and get back to it.”

Along with McCaffrey and Warner, Kittle, left tackle Trent Williams and fullback Kyle Juszczyk were All-Pro selections.

Over the last decade, the Packers are 4-2 against the 49ers in the regular season but 0-4 in the playoffs.

In his debut season as coach in 2019, LaFleur led the Packers to the NFC Championship Game but were crushed 37-20 at Levi’s Stadium. The Packers were run off the field; Raheem Mostert carried 29 times for 220 yards and Jimmy Garoppolo threw only eight passes.

In 2021, the No. 1-seeded Packers were one-and-done with a 13-10 loss at cold and snowy Lambeau Field. The Packers struck first on AJ Dillon’s touchdown run and were on their way to another score when Marcedes Lewis fumbled. Late in the first half, Aaron Rodgers hit Aaron Jones for a gain of 75 but Mason Crosby’s field goal was blocked.

The 49ers tied the game on a blocked punt with 4:41 to go and won on a walk-off field goal.

Colin Kaepernick led the 49ers to a 23-20 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field in the 2013 playoffs and a 45-31 blowout at San Francisco in 2012.

The Packers are 9.5-point underdogs at FanDuel Sportsbook. They were +10000 to win the Super Bowl before this weekend’s games; they’re +3000 after Sunday’s games.

“Shoot, that’s fine,” cornerback Jaire Alexander said. “We love being underdogs. Not me, but we all as a team probably like being underdogs. Keep sleeping.”