Packers eager for primetime showdown win 49ers

Green Bay would become NFC’s top seed with win
By: 
Morgan Rode
Sports Editor

GREEN BAY — The Green Bay Packers used their bye week to rest up and recover from some injuries sustained in the first 10 weeks of the NFL season.

When the players returned to Green Bay to begin preparation for week 12, they set their sights on what arguably is the team’s biggest game of the season so far, a Sunday night battle with the San Francisco 49ers.

The game could prove big when it comes time to seed teams for the postseason.

San Francisco currently holds the NFC’s top seed with a 9-1 record. Green Bay is one of three NFC teams (including New Orleans and Seattle) that are 8-2 and hot on the tracks of the 49ers. Minnesota, which is on its bye week, sits at 8-3.

The Packers are still in control of their destiny when it comes to trying to lock up the top seed in the NFC, as a win this week would give Green Bay the tiebreaker over San Francisco.

A loss would not only greatly diminish the Pack’s chances at the No. 1 seed, but would push them to the same record as the Vikings and possibly down a few seeds should the Saints and Seahawks both win.

“What are there, three or four teams with eight wins in the NFC right now? It’s tight at the top up there right now,” said Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga. “I can’t really remember a time where it’s been like this before. Every game matters. Wins are going to be important.”

While it’d be easy to start looking ahead with a playoff berth likely upcoming, the Packers are trying to take the same approach that’s helped them to an 8-2 start.

“I think our guys have done a great job all season long of just attacking it one game at a time. And not only one game at a time, but one day at a time, and that was the message,” said coach Matt LaFleur at his Monday press conference. “(San Francisco is) 9-1, so you can’t look any further than that right there. Again, you’re going to look at what we need to clean up on our end and then just how we’re going to go about attacking the Niners.”

Trying to expose San Francisco’s weaknesses won’t be an easy task, considering it is one of the most well-rounded teams in the league.

Defensively, San Fran is in the top five in total yards (253) and points allowed (15.5) per game.

“They’re obviously very stout up front. They’ve had a number of sacks (39), which is obviously helping their overall yardage, but their back end as well,” said Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the 49ers’ defense.

“There’s not any holes in this defense. It’s solid from the front seven to the back end as well. They’re playing really well together. It’s going to be a really good test for us.”

While the Packers’ offense has done enough to help the team rack up its eight wins, it’s been too inconsistent for LaFleur’s liking. Getting more steady play from the wide receivers and tight ends to balance with the work the running game has put in so far is among the issues the team will try and sort through over the rest of the regular season.

Offensively, the 49ers rank in the top five in total yards (386.6) and points (29.5) per game.

“They’ve just been playing well as an offense, as a team,” said Packers safety Adrian Amos. “They take shots when they have to but they have a lot of skill players that they can get the ball in their hands and let them go. We just got to do a great job of being sound with a lot of the misdirection things — just having our eyes in the right place.”

Green Bay’s defense has done a solid job of pressuring opposing quarterbacks and creating turnovers, but is still allowing far too many big plays.

San Francisco ranks in the bottom half of the league in terms of 20-plus yard plays (36) and 40-plus yard plays (3) in the passing game, but has nine rushing plays of over 20-plus yards, which is tied for sixth in the league.

Limiting the big plays and holding the 49ers to field goals instead of touchdowns could be the difference on Sunday, which could be a preview of a postseason game.

“We’re all aware of where we’re at in the seeding going into week 12 and what’s in front of us and the opportunities. There’s still a lot of football to be played and a lot can happen,” said Rodgers.

“I think you’re just in denial if you don’t think about the implications with a (win) or an L this week and how that affects stuff down the line. The way we look at it, we’re going to have to win there (against the 49ers in California) one time the rest of the year. It’d be nice to get it done this week.”

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