GameDay: Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers

All the relevant news and notes Green Bay Packers fans need heading into tonight's game against the San Francisco 49ers

GREEN BAY PACKERS (12-5) VS. SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (11-4-1) (FOX)

WHEN: 8:00 p.m. est January 12th
WHERE: Candelstick Park
TV: Joe Buck (play-by-play) and Troy Aikman (analyst) with Pam Oliver and Erin Andrews on the sideline for FOX.
RADIO: Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play) & Larry McCarren (analyst) for AM-620 and Packer Radio Network
INTERNET: Cheesehead TV Gameday Live Blog

The Packers and 49ers opened the year on Kickoff Weekend and will meet for the sixth time in the postseason. Green Bay has won four of the previous five meetings in the playoffs – most recently in 2001 – yet San Francisco defeated the Packers in Week 1 by a 30-22 score at Lambeau Field.

Green Bay defeated the division-rival Minnesota Vikings 24-10 in a Wild Card matchup last weekend behind AARON RODGERS’ 274 yards and 104.9 passer rating. Rodgers, who hails from Chico, California, will make his first ever start in San Francisco. He enters the game with the highest postseason passer rating (105.4) in league history, including 16 touchdown passes and only four interceptions.

“We’re a little thankful that we get the chance to play San Francisco again,” says Packers fullback JOHN KUHN, who scored two touchdowns (one rushing, one receiving) in the Wild Card win. “They really whooped up on us the first game of the season. We’re looking forward to going out there and playing a better game.”

San Francisco will host a Divisional round game for the second consecutive year. The 49ers led the NFL with nine players selected to the Pro Bowl: linebacker NA VORRO BOWMAN, safety DASHON GOLDSON, running back FRANK GORE, guard MIKE IUPATI, linebacker ALDON SMITH, defensive tackle JUSTIN SMITH, tackle JOE STALEY, safety DONTE WHITNER & linebacker PATRICK WILLIS.

“We lost the NFC Championship Game at home last year,” says Whitner. “We want to take that next step this year and that’s our goal. We want to win the first playoff game, win the second and then go to the Super Bowl. We feel like we’re a top team in the NFL.”

PACKERS:

Have won 13 NFL championships, most all-time. Team’s .638 postseason winning pct. (30-17) is best in NFL history. Club has 30 playoff wins, 3rd most in NFL annals. Team’s 28th playoff appearance, 3rd most in NFL history. Won division for 20th time in team history.

Packers had 3 players selected to Pro Bowl: LB CLAY MATTHEWS (4th), QB AARON RODGERS (3rd) & C JEFF SATURDAY (6th)

QB Rodgers led NFL (108.0) in passer rating for 2nd season in row. Has 100+ rating in 4 consecutive seasons & joined HOFer STEVE YOUNG (1991-94) as only QBs to accomplish feat. Has 105.4 postseason rating, highest in NFL history. His 1.58 INT pct. (4 INTs, 253 att.) is 3rd lowest in NFL postseason annals. In career, incl. playoffs, Packers are 29-2 (.935) when Rodgers starts & has 115+ rating. Hails from Chico, CA & makes 1st career start at SF. In 3 starts vs. SF, has 109.4 rating.

RB DU JUAN HARRIS had 100 scrimmage yards & TD in WC. FB JOHN KUHN had rush & rec. TD last week, 2nd career postseason game with rush & rec. TD.

RB RYAN GRANT holds franchise single-game playoff records with 201 rush yards & 3 rush TDs (Div., 1/12/08 vs. Sea.)

WR-PR-KR RANDALL COBB is 1st player in NFL history with 900+ KR (964) & 900+ rec. (954) yards in same season. Led team with career-high 80 catches & 954 yards. Had 75-yard PR-TD in Week 1.

WR JAMES JONES led NFL with career-high 14 rec. TDs, tied for 4th most in season in team history. Had TD in last meeting.

WR GREG JENNINGS has 5 rec. TDs in postseason career, tied for 2nd most in team history.

Since 2011 (incl. playoffs), WR JORDY NELSON is 2nd among NFL WRs with 22 rec. TDs. Jones is tied for 3rd among WRs with 21 TDs during that span.

TE JERMICHAEL FINLEY had 61 catches, most in season by TE in team history. Had TD in Week 1

LB Matthews had team-best 13 sacks & has 10+ sacks in 3 of 4 career seasons. Had 2 sacks, FF & FR in WC. In 7 career postseason games, has 6.5 sacks, 3 FFs & 3 FRs. Had 2.5 sacks in Week 1.

CB CASEY HAYWARD led NFL rookies with 6 INTs, tied for 5th most by rookie in team history. Had team-high 21 PD.

S MORGAN BURNETT led team with 122 tackles.

LB A.J. HAWK ranked 2nd (120).

CB TRAMON WILLIAMS has 15 INTs, tied for 2nd most in NFL since 2010 (incl. playoffs).

Since joining GB in 2006 (incl. playoffs), CB CHARLES WOODSON has 38 INTs (3rd in NFL) & 9 INT-TDs (1st in NFL). Had 1.5 sacks & FF in last meeting.

CB SAM SHIELDS had INT last week & has INT in 4 of past 6.

From the Dope Sheet:

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK’S OPPONENT:

  • Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers:
  • All-time regular season: 30-26-1
  • All-time postseason: 4-1
  • All-time, in San Francisco: 11-16-1 (includes three postseason meetings)
  • Streaks: The Packers have won 13 of the last 15 (including playoffs).
  • Last meeting, postseason: Jan. 13, 2002, at Lambeau Field; Packers won, 25-15

THE PACKERS-49ERS SERIES

  • Originally dating back to 1950, the series featured two games per season from 1953-66 with the teams trading dominant stretches.
  • San Francisco won 13 times in a span of 15 games between 1950-58, while the Packers won 10 of 11 games between 1959-64.
  • In more recent times, the series has been noted for its postseason clashes, including several defining moments in Packers history. Green Bay’s 27-17 triumph in the 1995 NFC Divisional playoff was considered the breakthrough victory that established the Packers as an elite team for the next several years. The Packers also won the next two postseason meetings, a 35-14 home victory in the 1996 NFC Divisional playoff en route to the Super Bowl XXXI title, and a 23-10 win at San Francisco in the 1997 NFC Championship game.
  • The two teams met in the playoffs for a fourth straight season in 1998, with the 49ers winning 30-27 on QB Steve Young’s last-second TD pass to WR Terrell Owens, marking one of San Francisco’s two wins in these teams’ last 15 contests.

PACKERS TO FACE 49ERS IN NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME

  • Green Bay will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers in an NFC Divisional playoff contest this Saturday night at Candlestick Park, the third straight season that the Packers have advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs.
  • The Packers are the lone NFC team to advance to the divisional round each of the past three postseasons (2010-12). The last time Green Bay accomplished that feat was when the team did so in five straight seasons (1993-97).
  • Green Bay beat division-rival Minnesota, 24-10, at Lambeau Field on Saturday night in an NFC Wild Card contest. The 10 points allowed were the fewest given up by the Packers in a playoff game since they allowed 10 at San Francisco on Jan. 11, 1998.
  • The Packers improved to 30-17 all-time in the posteason with the win, a .638 winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in league history (min. five games).
  • Saturday night will feature a matchup of two of the winningest teams in postseason history. Green Bay ranks No. 3 in league history with 30 wins, while San Francisco ranks No. 4 with 26 playoff victories.
  • This will mark the sixth time the Packers and 49ers have squared off in the postseason. That is tied for the second most for Green Bay against one opponent behind only the Packers’ seven playoff meetings with the N.Y. Giants.
  • The Packers have won four of the five previous meetings against the 49ers in the playoffs, including two of three at Candlestick Park. Including playoffs, Green Bay has won 13 of its last 15 games against the 49ers.
  • The clubs last met in the postseason in an NFC Wild Card contest in the 2001 season (Jan. 13, 2002) at Lambeau Field, a 25-15 Green Bay win. Prior to that, the teams met in four consecutive postseasons (1 995-98).
  • The playoff meeting in the 2001 season was the last time the teams played where each had 11-plus wins. In that contest, both teams entered the game with 12-4 records.
  • This will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season, with Green Bay having hosted San Francisco in the season opener, a 30-22 49ers win. This will be the third time in the history of the series (1996, 1998) that the teams have met in the regular season and the postseason.
  • The Packers have won three consecutive playoff games on the road, their longest road winning streak in franchise postseason history. Green Bay has a 3-1 road record (.750) in the playoffs under Mike McCarthy.
  • Since the start of the 2010 postseason, Green Bay has won 14 of its last 19 road contests, a .737 winning percentage that ranks No. 2 in the NFL over that span behind only New England (12-4, .750).
  • Since 2011, Green Bay ranks No. 3 in the NFL with a scoring average of 31.0 points per game. San Francisco is No. 1 in the league over that span in scoring defense at 15.7 points per game.

Official Injury Report:

Jarrett Boykin WR Ankle Did Not Participate In Practice Out
Randall Cobb WR Illness Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jermichael Finley TE Hamstring Full Participation in Practice Probable
Alex Green RB Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Clay Matthews LB Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jerron McMillian S -- Did Not Participate In Practice --
Dezman Moses LB Hamstring Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jordy Nelson WR Ankle Full Participation in Practice Probable
James Starks RB Knee Full Participation in Practice Probable
Jerel Worthy DE Knee Out (Definitely Will Not Play) Out

 

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Comments (14)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
Crefan's picture

January 12, 2013 at 07:56 am

Looks like were stuck with Joe Suck and Troy "Joe you make my butt"Aikman.

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randlekolb's picture

January 12, 2013 at 11:10 am

I just call them Mr. and Mrs. Aikman

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packsmack25's picture

January 12, 2013 at 08:10 am

The Packers usually play well when they are on the call.

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VApackerfan's picture

January 12, 2013 at 10:45 pm

Actually they don't

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JJB's picture

January 12, 2013 at 09:38 am

Packers should be 5 and 0 vs the 49ers in the playoffs. The refs screwed us on the 49ers last drive. It was a easy fumble call by Rice. Today is payback. Go Pack Go

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gbfan's picture

January 12, 2013 at 10:11 am

Packers bout to kill 49ers
less go packers lets go

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hayward4president's picture

January 12, 2013 at 11:07 am

Keep ballin Sam Shields....go pack go!

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denniseckersley's picture

January 12, 2013 at 12:16 pm

JERRY RICE FUMBLED

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Mojo's picture

January 12, 2013 at 12:21 pm

Don't know who will win it all this year, but I can't remember a better final eight teams remaining in the playoffs. All were either the best or among the best in their conference throughout the year.

To me, the biggest concern is containing Kaepernick from running. I can envision wide open spaces where he will take off. It's up to the LB's and secondary to make sure that doesn't happen. Otherwise, I really like GB's chances in this game. We still are "Nobody's underdog!"

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 12, 2013 at 02:00 pm

My biggest concern as well MOJO.

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 12, 2013 at 10:45 pm

Our biggest fear was realized. Bye Dom!

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FITZCORE 1252'S EVO's picture

January 12, 2013 at 01:59 pm

:-) finally, gameday is upon us my brothers. This pleases me.

GBP 4 LIFE

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hayward4president's picture

January 12, 2013 at 02:04 pm

Pleases me as well. A breakup/moving situation has kept my mind off this game all week, but now im moved ans its GAMEDAY! The term LET'S FN GO UP IN HERE doesn't even cover my excitement. Let's enjoy this feeling fellow packers the playoffs only happen a few weeks a year and our guys are in it. Show em AR.....show em.

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Niner4Life's picture

January 12, 2013 at 04:52 pm

Colin, It's time to shine and grind the cheese heads DOWN!!! Goooooo 49ers.

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