Ground vs. Air: NFC Divisional Matchup SF @ GB

In this week’s NFC divisional game featuring the Green Bay Packers hosting the San Francisco 49ers, many questions will be answered for next year’s season. Will the Packers be able to keep Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams? Will Jimmy G still be QB1 in San Fran? Or will they start Trey Lance, who they chose with the 3rd overall pick in 2021? Yeah, third overall. This game holds tremendous weight for the players as well the organizations in Green Bay and San Francisco.

The Niners got here after winning a thriller in Dallas, showing their ability to bully a front 7 on the ground with weapons Elijah Mitchell and Deebo Samuel, a first team all-pro this year. Not only could they win the ground game, but this set up several substantial gains on play-action that took Dallas for surprise. 

However, last week was last week, this week is in Lambeau where the home team is 8-0 this year. Will the Niners come out with a similar plan as that against Dallas? Or will they try to hit Aiyuk and Kittle in the passing game more often? I predict we see a heavy mix of both, but since the Niners game is ground and pound, if it ain’t broke don’t fix it, you have two studs in the backfield, a great O-line, and the best blocking tight end in football, do what you do. 

The biggest question coming into this game is how healthy are the Niners best two defensive players who sustained injuries last week in Dallas. Fred Warner and Nick Bosa are two elite defenders who, if they can’t go, make it even easier for a guy who is perhaps the MVP of the entire league. As of their official status, Warner is set to play, a lower body injury can become hard to play through, especially in the frigid air in Wisconsin, so definitely something to keep an eye on there. Bosa is seemingly a game-time decision as of now. However, it is looking pretty clear he will not miss this game! 

On the other side of the ball, Aaron Rodgers, the perennial MVP of the 2021 season, has everything you want in a QB to lead your team into a deep playoff run, as every Green Bay fan expects this year. Not only his intangibles, but the weapons he has around him, including AJ Dillon, Davante Adams, Aaron Jones, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, are all outstanding pieces that Aaron has at his disposal. With all this being said, I believe the Niners put up a good fight with the home team in green and gold, but I think the Packers win this game 30-14.