The 7-3 Packers blocked a last-second field goal to extend their win streak to 11 straight against the Bears last Sunday. Now, they’ll carry that momentum into a home game versus another rival as the 5-5 San Francisco 49ers come to Lambeau this weekend. Here are six things to keep in mind going into Sunday’s contest. 

1. Three-Game Gauntlet

When the Packers take the field on Sunday, they’ll be entering a three-game stretch that spans only a short 12 days. After the 49ers, it’s a quick turnaround to play Thursday Night Football at home on Thanksgiving night versus the Dolphins. And then they play Thursday Night Football the following week in Detroit for their second division game against the Lions. 

The weirdness of the schedule doesn’t stop there, though. After Sunday’s game against San Francisco, the Packers will play four straight primetime games, starting with two on Thursday Night Football, then Sunday Night Football against the Seahawks in Seattle, and back to Lambeau Field for Monday Night Football versus the Saints. 

We talk about “mini-byes” being built into the season, and having a mini-bye after this three-game stretch is going to be a nice opportunity for Green Bay to rest a bit before heading to Seattle for the last push of the regular season. Every game is going to matter at this point, too, as almost every team down the stretch is vying for a spot in the playoffs. If the season were to end today, the 49ers, Seahawks, and Dolphins are all on the outside looking in. A Packers win on Sunday would drop the 49ers down to only a 17% chance of making the postseason. It would also raise Green Bay’s playoff odds to 90%. Just win, baby. 

2. The Best of the Best

When the Packers and 49ers face off on Sunday, it’ll be yet another chapter in a rivalry that’s continued to grow, and a rivalry known for its continued dominance. Per the dope sheet, Green Bay (63-30) and San Francisco (59-34) have the top regular-season win totals and winning percentages in the NFC since 2019. 

Against the 49ers, the Packers are 34-28-1 all-time during the regular season with a 22-11 record at home and a 12-5 record specifically at Lambeau Field. Unfortunately, that record drops to 4-6 in the postseason (we don’t need to talk about January). 

Head Coach Matt LaFleur boasts a 63-30 (.677) record in his sixth NFL season, while good friend Kyle Shanahan is 69-56 (.552) in his eighth season as head coach of the 49ers. LaFleur is 3-4 in the postseason while Shanahan holds an 8-4 record. Head-to-head, LaFleur is 2-1 in the regular season against Shanahan but has never beaten him in the playoffs (0-3). 

For what it’s worth, the Packers and 49ers have played each other 10 times in the playoffs, which is the most matchups between any two teams in NFL playoff history, per the dope sheet. This rivalry has been brewing for decades, and it remains one of the best in the NFL that isn’t a true division rivalry. 

3. Offensive Juggernauts 

The Packers and 49ers are both top five teams when it comes to offensive production this season. San Francisco is second in the league averaging 398.9 yards per game, and Green Bay isn’t far behind in fourth averaging 388.2 yards per contest. Where the teams differ is how they’re putting up that yardage. 

The 49ers are fourth in the league in passing yards, averaging 251.1 yards per game through the air (Green Bay is ninth). Meanwhile, the Packers are fourth in the league in rushing yards per game, averaging 149.9 yards on the ground each matchup (San Francisco is seventh). 

So both units are getting it done on offense, and both offenses are actually tied for eighth in the NFL averaging 25.0 points per game. Interestingly, for as well as both offenses move the ball, both teams struggle in the red zone. The 49ers rank 26th in the league in red zone offense, scoring a touchdown 48.8% of the time. The Packers are 27th, scoring a touchdown 48.7% of the time. Eerie, right? 

Where the two teams differ significantly is on third down. The Packers are 22nd in the league on third downs, converting only 36.6% of attempts. The 49ers climb all the way to fourth in this category, converting 45.4% of attempts. Both teams are in the top-10 in average time per drive, and the top five in net yards per drive. Green Bay just needs to work on sustaining some of those drives on third down. 

4. Jauan In a Million 

When we think of the 49ers and their arsenal of weapons, very rarely do we include receiver Jauan Jennings in that conversation. But he actually leads the team in yards with 588 and has four touchdowns this season, the most of anyone on the team not named George Kittle. San Francisco has dealt with a number of injuries this year, losing Brandon Aiyuk for the season and both Deebo Samuel and Kittle for periods of time. Even quarterback Brock Purdy is considered day-to-day with right shoulder soreness. Jennings has remained a consistent presence on offense, despite only starting four games this year. He leads the team in both first downs (30) and yards per game (73.5). 

Kittle missed last week’s game versus Seattle but is expected to be back in the lineup for Sunday against the Packers. It would be a significant addition for the 49ers since he’s second on the team in receiving yards with 560 and leads the team with seven touchdowns. Kittle is the first overall tight end out of 75 eligible players per Pro Football Focus with an elite grade of 90.0. And, perhaps almost more impressively, Jennings is the fifth ranked wide receiver out of 128 players with a grade of 86.9. 

San Francisco will also have Christian McCaffrey back in the lineup after his extended absence earlier this year with achilles injuries in both legs. McCaffrey has a modest (for him) 118 yards on 32 attempts in his two games back, averaging 3.7 yards per carry and 59 yards per game. Jordan Mason filled in exceptionally in McCaffrey’s absence, rushing for 703 yards and three scores while averaging 5.1 yards per attempt in his 10 games this season. 

This isn’t even including Deebo Samuel who’s a problem anytime he’s on the field. The Packers defense will have its hands full on Sunday containing San Francisco’s bevy of big-play threats, even if some of the playmakers are a little banged up. 

5. Passing on the Rush

The Packers have struggled to generate a ton of pressure against opposing quarterbacks at various points of the season. Last week, the Packers registered three sacks against Caleb Williams who plays behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL and was sacked a whopping nine times the week prior. Williams was largely able to evade pressure for most of the day and finished with 70 rushing yards off of scrambles and designed runs, despite being the league’s most sacked quarterback. 

Left tackle Trent Williams is banged up, but he remains one of the best tackles in the league and has done well keeping Purdy upright all season. Another pleasant surprise for the 49ers offensive line has been rookie right guard Dominick Puni, who PFF grades as the eighth best guard out of 77 candidates. Puni has yet to allow a sack or quarterback hurry all season and has only been called for one penalty. Purdy has taken 20 sacks in 10 games this season, averaging two per game. Rashan Gary leads the Packers with 3.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits this season. Brenton Cox registered his first NFL sack last week against Chicago, so he should see more playing time too behind Lukas Van Ness (one sack) and JJ Enagbare (1.5 sacks). 

Behind Green Bay’s offensive line, Jordan Love has only been sacked eight times this season. Malik Willis has taken five sacks this year, meaning the Packers have only given up 13 sacks in 10 contests. Despite Green Bay’s low sack totals on defense (25 all year), the 49ers are only one sack better with 26 this season. Seven of those come from Nick Bosa, who may be out this week with an oblique injury. San Francisco’s defensive front looks entirely different without Bosa in the lineup, as the unit struggled to generate pressure in his absence and gave up the go-ahead touchdown to Geno Smith and the Seahawks once Bosa exited the game. While both pass rushes have struggled this season, it may be another week before either unit is able to right the ship. 

6. Slim Picking

After seven games with multiple turnovers on defense this season, the Packers are entering a stretch with two turnover-free games on the defensive side of the ball. Safety Xavier McKinney holds the team lead (and is second in the NFL) with six interceptions, but only three other players have picks this season (Jaire Alexander, Eric Wilson, Evan Williams). Alexander’s last pick came against the Titans all the way back in Week 3, and while he missed the Lions game with injury and most of the Chicago game, his absence is felt by the entire secondary. It’s a unit with only 10 picks after an incredibly hot turnover streak to start the season. 

The 49ers are in a different situation. Both Deommodore Lenoir and Fred Warner have two interceptions this year, tied for the team lead, but then seven other players have an interception on the year, bringing the team total to 11. 

Love is still tied for the league lead with 11 picks this year with Smith and Patrick Mahomes, while Purdy isn’t too far behind with eight interceptions. Still, both quarterbacks have done a better job protecting the football in recent weeks (outside of the red zone pick for Love in Chicago, we know), so this one could come down to which defense is able to capitalize on any mistakes.