49ers vs. Packers: NFL playoffs Q&A with Lombardi Ave.

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5 key reasons why 49ers can upset Packers in NFL playoff bout at Lambeau by James LeBreton

Matchup San Francisco 49ers 1-0 Green Bay Packers 0-0 8:15 p.m. ET Fox Packers -6

The 49ers visit the Packers for the NFL playoffs divisional round, so Niner Noise joined forces with Lombardi Ave. to preview this rivalry matchup.

San Francisco 49ers fans must be thinking they’re living in the 1990s.

First, there was the longtime rivalry win over the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round, the first time those two squads squared off in the NFL playoffs since January of 1995. Up next, the Niners take to the road again for a highly anticipated divisional-round showdown with quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers, owners of the NFC’s No. 1 seed and beneficiaries of the first-round playoff bye.

Aside from Rodgers, it sure feels like a complete running of those great San Francisco teams of the 1990s and their playoff bouts versus Green Bay and Dallas.

Rodgers is 0-3 against the 49ers in the postseason, but the Packers do hold the bragging rights after knocking the Niners off way back in Week 3 at Levi’s Stadium earlier this season.

With the game taking place at Lambeau Field, will Green Bay make it 2-0 against San Francisco?

To give a better rundown and to look at the perspective from the other side of the gridiron, Niner Noise teamed up with our FanSided sister site, Lombardi Ave., and site expert Freddie Boston to see what’s on tap for this NFC divisional-round showdown.

49ers vs. Packers: Niner Noise goes behind enemy lines with Lombardi Ave.

NN: There was no shortage of smoke about Aaron Rodgers wanting out from Green Bay after this season, but a lot of that seems to have died down. If you had to bet, is Rodgers unquestionably back with the Packers next season?

LA: There definitely seems to have been a shift towards Aaron Rodgers potentially staying in Green Bay, something that looked to be completely off the table last summer. Still, we’re set for a fascinating offseason as all three scenarios are very much in play. Rodgers hasn’t even committed to playing in 2022 and could retire. If Rodgers does play, my guess is he remains in Green Bay, but I don’t say that with much certainty.

NN: The Packers steamrolled through the season after that anomaly against the Saints way back in Week 1. But if you had to address some key roster weaknesses, what would you look to upgrade and why?

LA: Far and away the Packers’ biggest weakness is special teams. They rank No. 30 in kick returns and No. 21 in punt returns. They still have no clear choice to return kicks and punts. Even the ever-reliable [kicker] Mason Crosby has struggled, converting just 73.5% of his field-goal attempts. Green Bay’s run defense is also a concern. The unit has improved since the 2019 NFC Championship loss to San Francisco, but work still needs to be done. The Packers rank No. 11 in run defense but have faced just 395 rushing attempts, in part because they are usually ahead. They are allowing 4.7 yards per carry, third-most in the NFL.

NN: With the 49ers visiting the Packers in the divisional round, what would be some of your concerns about how the Niners can manage an upset despite being underdogs?

LA: It comes down to the 49ers’ run game. This would scare me most if I were [Packers head coach] Matt LaFleur. If San Francisco keeps the game close and commits to the run, Green Bay’s defense could have real problems. The way to beat this dominant Packers team is to run the ball well and keep Rodgers off the field, while also winning with defense. Sounds like the 49ers to me.

NN: If you were head coach Kyle Shanahan, how would you go about attacking Green Bay’s defense?

LA: Run and run and run until the Packers prove they can stop it. He took this approach in the NFC title game two years ago and it worked beautifully. This is how the 49ers win this game. If it becomes a battle of the QBs, there’s only one winner.

Read More: Niners should be happy facing Packers in divisional round

NN: Aside from the obvious studs, Rodgers and wide receiver Davante Adams, what other offensive weapons should San Francisco fans be worried about during the game?

LA: The Packers could have three starting offensive linemen back for this game. All-Pro left tackle David Bakhtiari and impressive rookie center Josh Myers came back in Week 18 in a limited role. Right tackle Billy Turner could also be back. He was having an excellent season before getting hurt. Another player to watch is running back A.J. Dillon. The Packers have leaned on him in cold-weather games at home and to great effect. He’s built for January football. Dillon averages 4.3 yards per carry and wears defenses down. This could be a big Dillon game.

NN: The Packers win because… the 49ers win because…

LA: The Packers win if they can contain the 49ers’ ground game and win the turnover battle. Rodgers has only thrown one interception at Lambeau Field this season. When the Packers are ahead at home, it’s hard for opposing teams to come back to win. On the flip side, if the 49ers make a fast start like they did versus the Cowboys, it’s game on. San Francisco has the rushing attack and defense to leave Lambeau Field with a win.

Green Bay is certainly thinking about what happened in the NFC Championship two seasons ago when running back Raheem Mostert ran wild to the tune of 220 yards and four touchdowns, helping the Niners steamroll the Packers 37-20 in a game where the final score makes it seem closer than it actually was.

Of course, Rodgers will want to finally get that elusive playoff win against his boyhood team, and this year might be the best context for him to do it.

That’ll be a storyline to watch when both teams kick off at Lambeau Field on Saturday, Jan. 22 at 8:15 p.m. ET.

Meanwhile, be sure to follow Freddie Boston on Twitter — @FreddieBoston — and go follow Lombardi Ave. on Twitter, too — @LombardiAve.

Green Bay Packers get pass-rushers Za’Darius Smith, Whitney Mercilus back vs. San Francisco 49ers

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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Add Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus to the list of players the Green Bay Packers will have back for Saturday night’s NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers.

The veteran pass-rushers were activated off injured reserve on Friday, clearing them to return from lengthy absences. That came a day after the Packers did the same for receiver Randall Cobb.

Smith has not played since the regular season opener, when he aggravated a back injury that limited him throughout training camp. He played 18 snaps in that game and then underwent surgery. Mercilus tore the bicep in his left arm on Nov. 14 against the Seahawks.

Neither is expected to start and both likely will be on limited snap counts because of their lengthy absences.

Smith was expected to be one of the key players in new defensive coordinator Joe Barry’s system this season. He was coming off back-to-back seasons with double-digit sacks, and his 26-sack total from the last two seasons combined ranked third in the NFL, behind only Aaron Donald and T.J. Watt. But the second-team All-Pro in 2020 missed most of training camp because of back issues, and after playing 18 snaps in the season opener, he underwent surgery and has not played since.

Mercilus, who was signed on Oct. 21 just days after he was released by the Texans, was once thought to be lost for the season in his fourth game with the Packers, but he made a surprising return to practice last week.

Their addition, even in limited roles, means the Packers have four proven veteran pass-rushers, including Rashan Gary and Preston Smith. The Packers released defensive tackle Jack Heflin and cornerback Isaac Yiadom, who both have been the team all season, to make room for Smith and Mercilus.

There are still questions about whether left tackle David Bakhtiari and cornerback Jaire Alexander will be available on Saturday. Both were listed as questionable on the injury report.

Bakhtiari missed more than a year with a torn ACL but returned for the regular-season finale at Detroit. He played the first 27 snaps of that game, and it was believed to be a precursor to him playing full-time when the playoffs started.

But Bakhtiari practiced only one day this week – the second of three practices – and was listed as questionable. Alexander hasn’t played since his Week 4 shoulder injury. Both he and Bakhtiari are already on the 53-man roster, so no additional move needed to be made in order for them to play.

49ers’ Nick Bosa clears concussion protocols, set to play vs. Packers in Divisional Round

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San Francisco 49ers pass rusher Nick Bosa has cleared concussion protocols, paving the way for his availability against the Green Bay Packers in Saturday’s Divisional Round playoff game. Bosa has no injury designation ahead of the Packers game, according to a team release.

Bosa missed most of the second half of the 49ers’ playoff win over the Dallas Cowboys last week due to a concussion. He was injured in a collision with teammate D.J. Jones on a pass rush early in the third quarter, and drew a holding call for one of Dallas’ 14 penalties on the day.

Bosa’s presence, as the 49ers’ top defender, will be crucial for defensive coordinator Demeco Ryans’ efforts to pressure star Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers. According to Next Gen Stats, the gap between Rodgers’ passer rating when not pressured (122.6) and when pressured (53.9) is the largest in the NFL. A big day from Bosa could exploit that variance, as his 32 QB hits on the season ranked him tied for second in the league.

Over the second half of the season, Bosa has primarily lined up on the left edge, which would pit him against Packers right tackle Billy Turner for most of Saturday’s game (8:15 p.m. ET, FOX). Turner was Green Bay’s starter at RT through Week 14, but hasn’t played since due to a knee injury and a subsequent placement on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Turner, however, was a full participant in practice this week.

Bosa rebounded from a season-ending ACL tear in 2020 to earn Pro Bowl honors in 2021, amassing a career-high 15.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and 21 tackles for loss. The former No. 2 overall draft pick ranks as the No. 5 edge rusher in the NFL, per Pro Football Focus.

Is Jimmy Garoppolo playing vs. Packers? 49ers QB dealing with thumb, should injuries for playoff game

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Jimmy GQ might as well be Jimmy WebMD.

Jimmy Garoppolo is no stranger to injuries. The 49ers QB has missed both major and minor time with a bevy of injuries throughout his career, putting San Francisco behind the 8-ball at times.

This weekend is no different: Garoppolo is dealing with injuries in his throwing arm that may cost him his ability to play. That couldn’t come at a worse time, with the Niners traveling to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers in the NFC divisional round.

Garoppolo’s 2021 season has been marred by nagging injuries once again, and while the QB is getting the nod to start, he’s working through some pretty serious injuries to make it work.

Here’s the latest:

Is Jimmy Garoppolo injured?

The 49ers quarterback suffered a sprained shoulder in San Francisco’s wild-card matchup with the Cowboys. While Garoppolo finished out the game, it put his status for Sunday’s showdown with the Packers in doubt.

On Jan. 18, Garoppolo said he was feeling good, though he was limited in practice.

“Yeah, we’ll feel it out throughout the week…feeling good right now,” #49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo (shoulder, thumb) on his confidence level in playing Saturday night in Green Bay.

Says shoulder and thumb are bothering him about equally right now. — Nick Wagoner (@nwagoner) January 19, 2022

It was unclear exactly when Garoppolo hurt his shoulder during the game, but it looks as though he was trying to avoid landing on his injured thumb in the second quarter, jamming up his throwing arm instead.

Here’s the most clear view of the play on which Jimmy Garoppolo hurt his shoulder.

Randy Gregory beat Daniel Brunskill clean and Micah Parsons pushed Trent Williams back, leading Garoppolo to be hit from both sides at once.

He tries to protect his thumb by landing on shoulder pic.twitter.com/Zm4SedFakX — David Lombardi (@LombardiHimself) January 19, 2022

Garoppolo would say that the injury affected every throw he made, leading to his bad second half vs. Dallas.

The shoulder isn’t the only thing that’s hampered the 49ers quarterback: He entered the game with an injured thumb in his throwing hand. Garoppolo is dealing with both torn ligaments and a bone chip in his thumb, an injury that sidelined him just a single game to close out the regular season.

In the week leading up to the Dallas showdown, Garoppolo was listed as limited before eventually being a full participant in practice.

Jimmy Garoppolo injury history

Garoppolo has dealt with a number of injuries throughout his career. Of a possible 65 games he could have played since being named starter, Garoppolo has started 40 games.

Here’s the complete rundown of injuries he’s dealt with:

2016: Starting in place of a suspended Tom Brady, Garoppolo injures his shoulder in Week 2. He would miss the next two games and revert back to QB2 when Brady returns in Week 5.

2018: In Week 3, Garoppolo tears his ACL in his left knee, ending his season.

2020: In a Week 2 game vs. the Jets, Garoppolo suffers a right, high-ankle sprain. He would miss just two games.

2020: In Week 7, Garoppolo would re-aggravate his ankle injury and would be shut down indefinitely, and would not return for the remainder of the season.

2021: Garoppolo suffers a left calf strain in Week 4, but missing a single game.

2021: In Week 16 vs. the Titans, Garoppolo fractures his thumb. It’s later revealed that Garoppolo has torn tendons in his thumb, as well as a bone chip.

2022: Garoppolo sustains a shoulder sprain to his throwing shoulder in the wild-card matchup vs. the Cowboys.

5 key to a Packers victory over the 49ers

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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Lon Horwedel)

GREEN BAY, Wis (WFRV) – Playoffs. We’ve reached that time of year where it’s go big or go home.

In past years, the 49ers have proven to be a problem for the Packers in the postseason. However, here are five keys that if the Packers hone in on, the Green and Gold should be victorious and move on to the NFC Championship game.