Playoff football has officially made its way to the Frozen Tundra. With a familiar opponent in the San Francisco 49ers coming to town, here are six things to keep in mind going into that Divisional Round matchup: 

1. A Historic Rivalry 

The Packers and 49ers have a rich playoff history. The franchises will meet in the postseason for the ninth time on Saturday. In the first eight meetings, both teams have won four times. Per the dope sheet, this is the sixth time (1996, 1998, 2012, 2013, 2019) that Green Bay and San Francisco will play each other in the postseason after meeting in the regular season. In four of the five games, the team that won in the regular season also won in the playoffs. 

The last time the 49ers played the Packers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs at Lambeau Field was 1996. Currently, the Packers are on a three-game losing streak to the 49ers in the postseason, with losses coming in 2012, 2013, and 2019 (we don’t have to talk about it). 

It’s worth noting, though, that these are two of the winningest franchises in NFL history when it comes to the playoffs. The Packers have won 36 playoff games, and the 49ers have won 33 playoff games. 

While Aaron Rodgers is 0-3 against the 49ers in his playoff career, the Packers went 5-0 with Rodgers at quarterback against playoff teams this regular season (Bengals, 49ers, Cardinals, Rams, Steelers). Fans can also expect a high-scoring affair, as one or both teams have scored 30-plus points in each of the last five games (regular and postseason) the 49ers and Packers have played. 

2. Snow Place Like Lambeau

The Packers are the only team in the NFL this season to have a perfect 8-0 record at home, putting up some impressive numbers in the process. The Packers put up 245 points at Lambeau Field this season, giving them an average of 30.6 points per game. Defensively, Green Bay has only allowed 134 points this season for an average of 17.1 points per game. 

Interestingly, this is the second straight year the Packers will host a Divisional playoff game on Saturday. Per the dope sheet, the Packers are 10-3 all-time in playoff games played on Saturdays, including a record of 7-1 at home. 

The early forecast for Saturday looks like a high of 22 degrees Fahrenheit with a 50% chance of snow in the morning. By 7:15 p.m. CST for kickoff, however, the temps should dip into the low teens with windchill potentially pushing things into single digits. Per the NFL, the coldest game the 49ers played in this season was 41 degrees against the Seattle Seahawks, and San Francisco lost that game 23-30. That said, the 49ers actually have a better record on the road this season (7-3) than they do at home (4-4).

3. Reinforcements Return

The Packers got a look at their new offensive line against the Lions in Week 18 of the regular season with both left tackle David Bakhtiari and center Josh Myers returning to the lineup for part of the game. 

Now heading into Saturday’s Divisional Round matchup, the Packers could also return wide receiver Randall Cobb, cornerback Jaire Alexander, edge rushers Za’Darius Smith and Whitney Mercilus, and right tackle Billy Turner. It would be a significant boost for a team that’s found ways to win all season despite missing some of its most dominant players. 

On the opposite side of the field, the 49ers are dealing with a few injuries that will be worth monitoring going into the game. Explosive edge rusher Nick Bosa suffered a concussion in the Wild Card Round, so all eyes will be on whether or not he’s able to clear protocol before Saturday’s game. Inside linebacker Fred Warner is dealing with an ankle injury he reaggravated on Sunday, but all reports seem to indicate he’ll be on the field Saturday. There’s also an issue at San Francisco’s quarterback spot, which we’ll talk about next in No. 4. 

4. Grappling with Injuries 

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo has been dealing with a torn ligament in his throwing thumb already this postseason. Against the Cowboys, he also suffered a sprain to his throwing shoulder that noticeably impacted the way he got the ball out on Sunday. 

While it seems unlikely at this point the 49ers would start rookie Trey Lance in a playoff game with only two career starts to his name, he could see some additional action if Garoppolo struggles with those injuries in the cold temps. 

In his last three games, Garoppolo has five interceptions. Against the Cowboys, he threw for only 172 yards with no touchdowns and one pick for a rating of 67.4. On the season, San Francisco is 2-6 when Garoppolo throws at least one interception. The Packers are plus-13 in turnover differential this season, good for third in the NFL, while the 49ers are minus-4, ranking 22nd in the league. 

5. Run (Defense) to Win

We don’t need to rehash Green Bay’s most recent playoff loss to the 49ers, but the Packers do need to remain gap sound when it comes to playing run defense, and Head Coach Matt LaFleur knows it. During his Wednesday press conference, he said, “It’s going to be absolutely imperative that our guys understand gap responsibility and playing disciplined football.” 

The Packers are tied for 29th in the NFL when it comes to run defense this season, allowing 4.7 yards per carry on the ground. They’re also giving up an average of 109.1 yards per game. 49ers running back Elijah Mitchell didn’t play when the teams first met in Week 3 of the regular season, but despite playing in only 11 games on the year, he had 207 rushing attempts for 963 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 4.7 yards per carry. He added another 96 yards and a score last Sunday against the Cowboys, too. 

The ground game was held largely in check in Week 3, with San Francisco running the ball 21 times for only 67 yards but two touchdowns. This 49ers team shines in the red zone, boasting the most efficient red zone offense in the NFL and scoring touchdowns on 36-of-54 trips. Containing a San Francisco rushing attack that also includes Deebo Samuel (10 rushes, 72 yards and one touchdown against Dallas) will go a long way towards winning on Saturday night. 

6. Another Opportunity

Only Rodgers and kicker Mason Crosby remain from Green Bay’s Super Bowl XLV roster. In LaFleur’s third year as head coach of the Packers, he led his team to the Divisional Round for the third straight season. With the Packers only two wins away from the Super Bowl, the team is determined not to let another opportunity slip through their fingers. 

For Cobb, when he takes the field on Saturday, it will be his first postseason game at Lambeau Field since the 2016 season when the Packers hosted the Giants in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs. In that game, he hauled in three touchdowns (including a hail mary) and had five receptions for 116 yards. On the Packers POV podcast this week, Cobb discussed watching the playoffs from his couch the past four seasons and what this next opportunity means to him. 

For Davante Adams, this will be his sixth appearance in the postseason. He’s played in the Divisional Round five times and the NFC Championship Game four times. In his four playoff appearances with LaFleur, Adams has hauled in 35 receptions for 431 yards and four touchdowns. 

This year, the Packers will have a true home field advantage with Lambeau Field back at full capacity. A win on Saturday would bring Green Bay one game closer to the ultimate goal, a chance to bring the 14th title to Titletown.