The only NFL club to pull off an upset during a Wild Card Weekend that took place on a different schedule was the seventh-seeded Green Bay Packers.
A road trip to witness the top-seeded San Francisco 49ers, who are vying for a position in the NFC Championship, is their prize.
It’s no secret that oddsmakers are skeptical of the Packers’ ability to pull off another upset. However, we all know what can happen in this league on any given Sunday, so it wouldn’t be the first time this team has taken people by surprise (or Saturday).
The Niners are a talented, seasoned team with excellent coaching. There’s a reason they are strong favorites.
But coming into this game, the Packers are riding high after a completely dominant football month. They have already won four straight games—with only one coming down to a seven-point margin or less—and they recently destroyed the second-seeded Dallas Cowboys 48–32 at home.
Let’s cut right through the build-up and get right into the details of this matchup, including the schedule, the most recent odds from DraftKings Sportsbook, and statistical forecasts. This has the makings of an instant classic.
What: NFC Divisional Round | Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers
When: 8:15 p.m. ET on Saturday, January 20.
49ers -9.5 is the spread.
Above or below: 50.5
During this stretch, the Packers have improved on all sides of the ball, but their offense, which is playing at full tilt, has been the main factor in their success.
This run (33 points or more in three of these four wins) is the result of a number of things, including Aaron Jones running amok over everyone (119 rushing yards per game during this winning streak) and the young receiving corps’ quick development. But more than anything, Jordan Love, a 25-year-old signal-caller, has contributed with his surgically accurate play.
This run (33 points or more in three of these four wins) is the result of a number of things, including Aaron Jones running amok over everyone (119 rushing yards per game during this winning streak) and the young receiving corps’ quick development. But more than anything, Jordan Love, a 25-year-old signal-caller, has contributed with his surgically accurate play.
Despite some ups and downs during his debut season as a full-time starter, he is finishing the season on a high note. He has averaged 266 throwing yards on 73.7 percent passing with 2.5 touchdowns throughout this stretch. Only twice has he been sacked, and his last interception came in Week 14.
Niners defensive end Nick Bosa told reporters, “He’s incredibly good at executing the system to a T and going through his reads.
There are definitely ways the Packers can make this work. They have routes to win if they control the football, develop their ground game, and coordinate their aerial attack.
Simply said, we don’t see it happening that way.
Love has had an incredible run thus far, but Brock Purdy is in the discussion for MVP after a great season. Even though Jones has looked impressive, he is not Christian McCaffrey, who led the team in rushing during the regular season with 1,459 yards and 21 touchdowns. Although Green Bay’s young pass-catchers are producing, it’s difficult to discover a.
Throughout the season, San Francisco dropped five games: three of those came during a stretch of injuries, and the other came in Week 18, when they were already guaranteed the top spot and rested a number of regulars. Eight games were lost by Green Bay this season, with losses coming against the New York Giants, Atlanta Falcons, and Las Vegas Raiders.
This is the right of the oddsmakers. The Niners will prevail, most likely by a wide margin.
They will frequently rely on McCaffrey, which should enable him to surpass 150 scrimmage yards. Purdy, who won’t throw an interception but will toss touchdown after touchdown to members of the Samuel-Aiyuk-Kittle triad, will provide them with more than 250 passing yards. Love will also be targeted by the defense, who will sack him several times to end his five-game run without an interception.
