The Green Bay Packers' wild-card victory over the Dallas Cowboys in the NFC Divisional Round sets up the continuation of the team’s historic face-offs against the San Francisco 49ers, who are favored to win at home.
The Packers and Niners’ game at Levi’s Stadium next Saturday will mark the 10th playoff matchup between the two teams, surpassing the previous NFL record of nine meetings held by the Dallas Cowboys and Los Angeles Rams.
With a history spanning over seven decades, matches between the Packers and 49ers have provided memorable moments in the NFL postseason. Their most recent encounter took place during the 2021 season when the 49ers defeated the Packers 37-20 in the NFC Championship Game.
Now, the Packers strive to end their current losing streak against the Niners, while the San Francisco team aims to continue its winning streak and advance to the NFC Championship for the third consecutive year.
The match will be the third time the Packers face the 49ers under coach Matt LaFleur, who remarked that he is excited about the prospect of winning.
“Just couldn’t be happier for our guys,” the coach said after the Cowboys win on Sunday. “Obviously, really excited about the next opportunity going to San Francisco playing against one of the best teams in the NFL. We’ll have our work cut out for us. I don’t know when we play but assuming it’s going to be on a short week, so we’ll have to rest up.”
A turning point
San Francisco leads the all-time playoff against the Packers, winning five of nine playoffs, including the last two meetings at Levi's Stadium. The Packers' offense must improve for a chance to unseat the defending NFC champion Niners, making this matchup a crucial turning point.
Quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers' offense will look to find success against the stingy 49ers' defense. “They are a very talented team. So, it’s all about how we get back to work this week,” said Love in a post-Cowboys match.
“Get in the film room and see what they’re all about. We will get back to work. They are a really good team. We’ve got to get our bodies back and get to it.”
Love appears to be on the rise, as he has shown continuous improvement throughout his fourth NFL season as a starter. Ending the regular season with impressive stats, he recorded 32 touchdown passes, 11 interceptions, and a passer rating of 96.0.
Love excels at distributing the ball among various targets, including Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, and Dontayvion Wicks. In the recent game against the Cowboys, he showcased his skills by completing 16 of 21 passes for 272 yards and three touchdowns, leaving the Dallas defense struggling.
Meanwhile, Brock Purdy and San Francisco's offense aim to continue their impressive form and make the best use of any opportunities they encounter during the game. The team will be well-rested and in better shape after sitting most of their starters in Week 18.
The Packers and 49ers are scheduled to play following the Houston Texans' matchup against either the Baltimore Ravens or the Kansas City Chiefs in the afternoon game. The winners of Monday's wild-card games will then proceed to play on Sunday.
The game's outcome will not only determine which team moves on to the NFC Championship but also set the tone for the rest of the NFL playoffs.