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3 reasons San Francisco 49ers will upset Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers

By Russell S. Baxter

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers runs after catching a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 26: Davante Adams #17 of the Green Bay Packers runs after catching a pass against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter in the game at Levi's Stadium on September 26, 2021 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers will battle the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs for the second time in three years. Can they surprise the NFC North champions?

The Green Bay Packers finished tied for the league’s best record this season. And they are the number-one playoff seed in the NFC for the second straight year. But they figure to have their hands full with a San Francisco 49ers’ team playing its best football of the season.

Back in Week 3 on a Sunday night, the Packers needed some late heroics from Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams and Mason Crosby to win at San Francisco, 30-28. This could be a fascinating game that comes down to the wire. Green Bay was a perfect 8-0 at home this season but Aaron Rodgers is 0-3 in the playoffs against his childhood favorite team.

3 reasons the 49ers upset the Packers

3. QB Jimmy Garoppolo takes care of the football: That’s been easier said than done for the eight-year pro, who threw for 20 scores and gave up the football 15 times during the regular season. Garoppolo threw for only 172 yards last week vs. the Cowboys and served up one interception. The 49ers can’t afford to make too many mistakes Saturday night at Lambeau Field.

2. 49ers’ running game takes center stage: Kyle Shanahan’s club averaged 127.4 yards per game on the ground in 17 regular-season outings this year. And led by Elijah Mitchell, the 49ers rolled up 169 yards rushing in the Sunday afternoon win over the Cowboys. The Packers’ run defense is ranked 11th vs. the run this season (109.1 average) but can still be pushed around at times.

1. San Francisco defense makes Packers’ offense one-dimensional: As good as Rodgers has been these past two seasons, one of the big factors when it comes to his success has been a persistent ground attack. The 1-2 punch of Aaron Jones and AJ. Dillon has made Rodgers even more dangerous and that’s saying something. And the San Francisco defense allowed the seventh-fewest rushing yards in the league this year. And Dallas managed only 77 yards last week in the wild card round.

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This may be a closer game than the Packers would like. Two years ago, the Niners knocked off the Packers twice, albeit both games in San Francisco. And LaFleur’s team has played in its share of nail-biters the last month or so.