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The Packers have been one of the hottest teams in the NFL over the last two months of the season as Jordan Love looks to be developing into an elite NFL Quarterback. The Packers run the ball well with Aaron Jones, but the big question coming into this game is if their defense can match up against an explosive 49ers offense.
The 49ers may be the most complete team in the NFL, and if Brock purdy players well, the Niners will be tough for anybody to beat.
San Francisco was left watching its rivals battle one another last weekend before finally jumping into their postseason playoff run this week . Now, it is crunch time for San Fran. As with the Packers, the 49ers also posted only 18 giveaways – tied for sixth-fewest in the league. Brock Purdy was behind an offensive line which allowed only 6 sacks all season; this same front powered them to an amazing average yards per-play mark of 6.6. Brock Purdy led a passing game that amassed the highest yards per attempt, while Christian McCaffrey led all of the BFL in rushing yards. Additionally, as a team, the Niners finished third in rushing yards and fourth in yards per attempt – an indication of why they became the top seed in the NFC this season.
San Francisco finished third in scoring defense this season by holding opponents to 17.5 points per game and tied for fifth in takeaways and seventh in sacks, allowing only 7 yards per play (5.0) with the fifth-fewest yards per pass attempt (6.4), three of the fewest rushing yards this season (14th) and 14th-best yards per carry (4.1). Only the Ravens and Bengals scored at least 20 points against them at Levi’s Stadium this year – can this group reign supreme again?
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Last weekend, Green Bay faced off against the Dallas Cowboys on the road. They quickly established an early lead and eventually extended it up to 48-16 in the fourth quarter as their offense cut through Dallas’ defense like it was made of butter. Since November’s start, the Packers offense has seen dramatic improvement and finished 12th in scoring (22.5 ppg). Green Bay boasted the third-fewest sacks allowed, ninth-place rushing attack yards per carry average and was among the top five teams that excelled at protecting the ball. Green Bay finished the year eighth overall in yards per play (at an average of 7.2 yards per pass attempt), quietly becoming better week by week, especially if AJ Dillon can return on Saturday; that will only add another element to Green Bay’s offense.
Green Bay’s defense has been plagued with injuries recently, and the Packers lost Kingsley Enagbare with an ACL strain last week. No matter who starts on defence for them this time, Green Bay will look to replicate their impressive showing against Dallas, which featured four sacks and two interceptions, with one even returning for a touchdown. This year’s Packers’ defense allowed 20.6 points per game – the 10th-best in the NFL. Unfortunately, however, their numbers weren’t awe-inspiring: Green Bay allowed the 28th most rushing yards and 23rd most yards per carry, as well as the 20th worst pass defense (9 yards per attempt allowed against them). Opponents gained 5.4 yards per snap against Green Bay (20th). There were not many impact plays either; many of Dallas’s scoring came late or via garbage time, but 32 points were allowed last Sunday against an even tougher 49ers team. Will they manage it this time around?
I look for a young, hot Packer team to give the 49ers all they want in the first half, but the injuries to the Packer’s defence will catch up to them, as will the 49ers overwhelming. The Pack will be back in the future, but the future is now for the 49ers. Take the Niners -9.5. talent.
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