A win against the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday would improve the Green Bay Packers’ chances of making the playoffs, drop a conference rival to below .500, and help them get revenge for a tough playoff loss.
These goals are important to the Packers (8-3) as they prepare for this Week 12 matchup, but they also remember last season’s playoff defeat.
San Francisco eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.
“That’s what you’ve got to sit with all offseason, is going back, watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better,” Packers quarterback Jordan Love said. “What you could have done differently in that game.
Just knowing that’s the team that knocked us out, we’re definitely hungry for this game.”
San Francisco is also focused on this game after their recent loss. The 49ers dropped to 5-5 following a 20-17 loss at home to Seattle, with Geno Smith scoring a touchdown with just 12 seconds left.
Despite being a game behind NFC West leader Arizona, the reigning conference champions are only 1-3 in their division and need to win to stay in the race. After playing the Packers, they’ll face AFC East leader Buffalo.
There’s some good news for the 49ers, as key players are expected to return. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the last two games after the tragic loss of his 1-year-old daughter, practiced on Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle, who missed the Seattle game due to a hamstring injury, is also ready to play.
“Very excited,” Kittle said. “Can’t pass up playing the Packers, so no, I will be out there for sure.”
San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is day-to-day with a right shoulder injury, but coach Kyle Shanahan believes he will play.
Shanahan and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur are long-time competitors, having worked together twice—first as assistants with the Texans in 2008, then as part of a staff in Washington that included Sean McVay, and with the Falcons (2015-2016) where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays.
Shanahan won their most recent matchup in January, but Green Bay has won seven of the last eight regular-season games between the two teams.
The two coaches know each other’s play styles well, which has led to some close games. The past three matchups at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points.
Green Bay will be playing three games in 12 days, starting with this one, and followed by a home game on Thanksgiving and a Week 14 game at Detroit. This busy schedule makes it good for LaFleur that some players have stepped up lately.
Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a career-best 150 yards on just four catches in last week’s 20-19 win over the Chicago Bears. His 60-yard diving catch set up Love’s game-winning 1-yard touchdown run with 2:59 left.
Watson had only eight catches for 83 yards in his previous three games, but LaFleur said he is still a key part of the offense.
“He’s a guy who’s got every measurable known to man in terms of the size, the speed, and it’s not like those were easy plays he was making,” LaFleur said. “He was making tough, contested catches.”
San Francisco will look to put more pressure on Love than the Bears did. Chicago only sacked him once, but the 49ers had four sacks against Seattle, with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd each contributing 1.5 sacks.
Bosa (hip/oblique) didn’t practice on Wednesday, but Shanahan said there’s still an equal chance he plays or sits out.
When it comes to regular-season games at Lambeau Field, the Packers have had the advantage. They’ve won seven of the last eight games against the 49ers at home and hold a 22-11 all-time record against them at Lambeau. Green Bay leads the series 34-28-1.
