The San Francisco 49ers are set to play their first playoff game this season, hosting the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Playoffs on Saturday, January 20, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Bay Area-based franchise is one of the best teams in the league at the moment, clinching the best record in the entire NFC with a 12-5 slate. They also boast two NFL MVP candidates, quarterback Brock Purdy and running back Christian McCaffrey, who are having stellar campaigns for San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the Green Bay Packers are coming off a huge upset win against the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round last Sunday, January 14.
Quarterback Jordan Love has led the charge for the Wisconsin-based team, and they are getting better each game after finishing the regular season with a 9-8 record, good for second place in the NFC North.
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3 Problems San Francisco 49ers Might Face vs. Green Bay Packers
1. The Packers are peaking at the right time.
The Packers are hitting their stride at the perfect moment, having won their last four games with a noticeable performance improvement.
A compelling testament to their improvement came in the form of a commanding victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
Green Bay asserted dominance over "America's Team," securing a resounding 48-32 win that astonished fans and pundits.
2. Packers' running game
The San Francisco 49ers boast one of the best defenses in the NFL, although they are not entirely dominant on that side of the ball.
They ranked eighth in total defense, third in rushing yards allowed with 89.7, and seventh in sacks with 48.0. However, one area where they were in the middle of the pack was in passing defense, ranking 14th and allowing 214.2 yards per game.
On the other hand, Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been averaging 271.1 passing yards in his last ten games.
The key for the Packers could lie in their ability to run the ball. If they can establish a strong running game, they might have the potential to upset the 49ers.
Meanwhile, if the Packers struggle to run the ball, securing a victory against San Francisco's elite air defense could be challenging.
3. The Packers have nothing to lose.
In their initial Wild Card playoff game, the prevailing sentiment was that the Packers would likely succumb to the Cowboys, a team that harbored Super Bowl aspirations before their defeat.
The Packers being a resurgent team with a quarterback performing at a high level and playing with a nothing-to-lose attitude makes them exceptionally dangerous for the 49ers, a team that has not played in nearly two weeks.
The Packers are undoubtedly approaching the upcoming game with confidence and a stronger mindset.
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