The day we have all been waiting for is here. Round 2 of the
playoffs where only the NFLs Elite 8 get to play. Last year after the Packers had a 15-1 season
and a first round bye, the Giants came to Green Bay and spoiled the party. A
year later the Packers get to go down to San Francisco and spoil things for the
49ers.
Beating the 49ers in San Francisco is a tall task. If only the
Packers had beaten San Francisco in Week 1 when they came to Green Bay, or if
there were not replacement refs in Seattle, or if the Packers had just won in
Week 17 at the Metrodome, this could have been a home game. As it turns out it
was good to play last week and the Packers are a good road team so no more
looking back, we are here. The 49ers were the better team when the season
started and proved that but who is the better team now?
Coaching: Both Mike McCarthy and Jim Harbaugh are 49
years old. Jim is just 1-1 while Mike is 6-3 in the playoffs (including a Super
Bowl Win)... ADVANTAGE PACKERS
Special Teams: Both teams are solid on Kick and punt
coverage and have good Punters. The 49ers return game is slightly better. Both
kickers, Mason Crosby and David Akers, have been terrible. This might be a game
where both teams go for it on 4th downs and maybe we will see a
fake...ADVANTAGE 49ERS
Secondary: The Packers are young and getting better
and having the veteran Charles Woodson back is huge but the 49ers secondary has
some GREAT players...ADVANTAGE 49ers
Linebackers: The Packers have Clay Matthews and a lot
of other good linebackers like A.J. Hawk but the 49ers have Patrick Willis,
NaVorro Bowman and much more...ADVANTAGE 49ers
Defensive Line: The Packers are good but the 49ers are
very strong. The biggest key to this game is that the Packers OL is able to
keep San Francisco DL from taking over the game...ADVANTAGE 49ers
Offensive Line: The Packers now have the best five guys
out there and playing well and have a bit of a running game. They must play
well and protect Aaron Rodgers if the Packers are to win this game. Still, the
49ers have more talent at this position as well...ADVANTAGE 49ers
It is often said that games are won and lost in the trenches yet
the Packers beat the Vikings in Round 1 of the playoffs even though the Vikings
are also stronger on both sides of the line. It's a 5-1 advantage for the 49ers
so far but stay with me here to find out why the Packers do have a chance.
Wide Receivers: Now only do the Packers have four
OUTSTANDING ones but the 49ers have lost guys to injury and have the old Randy
Moss starting for them...HUGE ADVANTAGE Packers (worth 2 points)
Running Backs: I love DuJuan Harris but with Frank Gore
and more...ADVANTAGE 49ers
Quarterbacks: Aaron Rodgers vs. Colin Kaepernick (the
very best vs. the very inexperienced) In addition to that Aaron Rodgers is
playing the team that he grew up rooting for AND the team that passed him up in
the draft. Colin Kaepernick grew up in Wisconsin and was a big Packer fan but
this is bigger for Aaron now because the game is in California, a bit of a
homecoming for Rodgers...This is a TREMENDOUS ADVANTAGE for the Packers (worth
3 points)
My rankings finish in a tie 6-6: This game could end in a tie, maybe like
28-28 or something and go into overtime, maybe two overtimes. I hear the field
is not in good shape, which team benefits from that? I don't know who knows? It
is the NFL, where anything can happen. I'd rather see the Packers play in a
dome!
The 49ers (11-4-1) had a tie with the Rams (7-8-1) this season and
then when they played them again they lost. This was a bit shocking because
most people agree that San Francisco had a much better team than St.
Louis. Did the Packers (now 12-5) lose to any inferior teams? It would
seem like they did but NO, they did not. The Packers lost to last year’s
champion New York Giants (9-7) and the other four are all playoff teams.
When I look at that and add in the fact that the Packer players
overall have more games of playoff experience, it gives the Packers the very
slightest edge.
I hope to see the Packers try the kick return throw back play that
was did not work against the Bears.
I hope to see the fake Field Goal that worked so beautifully in
the earlier game against the Bears.
I hope to NOT see the Packers need to try an on-side kick but it
is good to know they are good at it in case they need to use it.
I hope all Packer fans really enjoy this game and appreciate some
long time Packers who have been great for years but might not be Packers next
season because of money. This is a business after all, we need to accept that
and say Thank you to this "Core Four" who could me playing their last
games as Packers:
Greg Jennings...Charles Woodson...A.J. Hawk... Donald Driver.
My final thought: IF (and it is a big if) the Packer
Offensive Line can play well enough and the Packers don't commit any turnovers
in this game (or at least win the turnover battle) I think Aaron Rodgers will
lead the Packers to a victory we will all remember for a long time: Packers 35 49ers 28 (that's right, no Field Goals) Like I
always say: "The Journey is the Reward" and this Journey has been so
much fun that I can't stand the idea of seeing it all end!
