With Rodgers, Adams and Jones, the Packers expect to be a dangerous out for the 49ers
In Week 12 against the San Francisco 49ers, the Green Bay Packers had their worst offensive showing of the season, posting 198 net yards and only eight points.
Since then, the Packers have won six in a row and are averaging 24.3 points a game. On paper, the 49ers defense stacks up well but the Packers offense still could give the team trouble.
“We know it’ll be different,” 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said at Monday’s news conference. “That’s definitely not the team we’re going to see this week.”
The mastermind of the Packers offense is first-year head coach Matt Lafleur. Shanahan and Lafluer go back to their days with the Washington Redskins and Atlanta Falcons, where they were assistant coaches on the same staff. Matt’s younger brother Mike serves as the passing game coordinator for the 49ers.
The Packers offense ranks 15th in points (23.5) and 18th in total yards (345.5). The Packers offense revolves around quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who passed for 4,002 yards, 26 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions in the regular season. In the Divisional playoff game against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, Rodgers threw for 243 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Against the 49ers this season, Rodgers was held to 104 yards passing and only 3.2 yards per attempt — both season lows.
His favorite target is wide receiver Davante Adams, who went to Fresno State. In the Seahawks game, the Palo Alto native caught eight passes for 160 yards and two touchdowns. In the Week 12 game, the 49ers limited Adams to seven catches for only 43 yards.
The other weapon Green Bay will utilize is running back Aaron Jones, who is also having a career year. He rushed for 1,084 yards and 16 touchdowns in the regular season. Jones has six games this year with multiple touchdowns, which ranks first in the NFL.
Limiting those three players should be the 49ers’ focus this week. In that Week 12 game, the 49ers were missing pass rusher Dee Ford and linebacker Kwon Alexander.
Ford’s ability to unlock the 49ers’ full potential as a pass rush is evident. In his first full game back since Nov. 17, the 49ers registered six sacks against the Minnesota Vikings, which was the most since they got seven against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8. The third-most sacks the defensive unit had in a game was against the Packers with five.
Having Alexander back against the Packers will also be helpful. Alexander’s ability as a coverage linebacker was missed. But despite having Alexander and Ford out most of the second half of the season, the team finished eighth in points allowed (19.4), second in yards (218.8) and first in passing yards allowed (112.6).
Getting pressure on Rodgers and containing Adams and Jones will be key for San Francisco to advance to Miami.