The San Francisco 49ers are preparing to host the Green Bay Packers this Saturday night in an NFC Divisional playoff showdown. This will be the latest chapter in a storied postseason rivalry between these two titans of the NFC.
Key Details on the Matchup
The game will kick off at 5:15pm PT on Saturday, January 21st at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California [1]. Ticket prices on the secondary market have skyrocketed, with the cheapest seats going for over $400 [2].
This will be the 10th playoff meeting between the 49ers and Packers, an NFL record for most postseason matchups between two teams [3]. Green Bay holds a 5-4 edge historically, including a dramatic last-second win in the 2013 wild card round on a field goal by Mason Crosby [4].
| 49ers vs. Packers Playoff History | |
|-|-|
| Season | Winner | Final Score |
| 1995 | Packers | Packers 27, 49ers 17 |
| 1997 | Packers | Packers 23, 49ers 10 |
| 1998 | 49ers | 49ers 30, Packers 27 |
| 2001 | Packers | Packers 25, 49ers 15 |
| 2002 | Packers | Packers 25, 49ers 15 |
| 2013 | 49ers | 49ers 23, Packers 20 |
| 2013 | 49ers | 49ers 23, Packers 20 |
| 2019 | 49ers | 49ers 37, Packers 20 |
| 2019 | 49ers | 49ers 37, Packers 20 |
| 2022 | 49ers | 49ers 13, Packers 10 |
The 49ers come into this game red hot, having won 11 straight games including last week’s 41-23 demolishing of the Seattle Seahawks. Quarterback Brock Purdy has continued his astonishing run since taking over due to injuries, showing veteran poise paired with playmaking ability [5].
The Packers present a different challenge without Aaron Rodgers, sidelined last week by a calf injury. Instead, Jordan Love will make just his second career playoff start at the helm. Love struggled mightily early on against the Lions before settling down, and the Packers will need him to limit mistakes against the opportunistic 49ers defense [6].
What Happened Last Time These Teams Met
Just over a month ago on November 24th, the 49ers hosted Green Bay on Sunday Night Football and escaped with a 30-28 win. The Packers led most of the way thanks to a dominant rushing attack, but Purdy — making his first career start — rallied the 49ers in the final minute. Robbie Gould knocked through a game-winning field goal as time expired, setting off jubilant scenes at Levi’s [7].
That game took place in monsoon-like conditions, greatly impacting both teams’ ability to throw the ball. This Saturday’s forecast calls for dry conditions, which should benefit the Packers’ passing attack if Love can get into a rhythm. The 49ers did sack Love three times in that last matchup and picked him off once as well.
Season Recap for Both Teams
The 49ers have been dealing with quarterback injuries since early in the year, losing starter Trey Lance in Week 2 followed by backup Jimmy Garappolo going down in Week 13. Despite using three different starting QBs, the consistency provided by head coach Kyle Shanahan’s offense and a fearsome defense powered the Niners to a 13-4 record and the 2 seed in the NFC.
After losing Davante Adams in the offseason, not much was expected from a young, Rodgers-led Packers team in 2022. But thanks to the emergence of rookies like Christian Watson paired with Rodgers’ usual excellence, Green Bay secured another NFC North title. At 8-9 they were the worst team to make the playoffs this season, but stunned the rival Vikings on the road last week.
What to Watch For
All eyes will be on Jordan Love and whether he can rise to the monumental challenge facing him. The 49ers defense has shut down far more experienced quarterbacks, with Nick Bosa and Samson Ebukam leading a ferocious pass rush. But if Love can connect on some deep shots to Watson, the Packers could control the game much like they did last time.
For San Francisco, it will be imperative that Purdy continues to play beyond his years. As brilliant as he’s been, this is just his fifth career start against one of the league’s most battle-tested playoff teams. Getting the run game going with Christian McCaffrey and using play action to move the chains will help neutralize the Packers’ pass rush duo of Rashan Gary and Preston Smith.
This game is too close to call given all the unknowns around Love and Purdy. One thing is for certain — with the history between these franchises and a trip to the NFC Championship on the line, this matchup is guaranteed to add another unforgettable chapter to 49ers-Packers postseason lore.
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