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Green Bay Packers: Getting to Know the 49ers & Predictions

By Paul Bretl

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 and defensive end Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers look to the official after Tartt strips the ball from wide receiver D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks at the two yard line to prevent a Seattle Seahawks touchdown in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 11: Strong safety Jaquiski Tartt #29 and defensive end Nick Bosa #97 of the San Francisco 49ers look to the official after Tartt strips the ball from wide receiver D.K. Metcalf #14 of the Seattle Seahawks at the two yard line to prevent a Seattle Seahawks touchdown in the second quarter at Levi's Stadium on November 11, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
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Green Bay Packers
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – JANUARY 11: Richard Sherman #25 of the San Francisco 49ers runs out of the tunnel prior to the NFC Divisional Round Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi’s Stadium on January 11, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /

 If there’s a weak spot for the Packers to exploit, what is it?

Justin: This 49ers team is stacked from top to bottom, but if the Packers are going to win this game they’re going to need to force Jimmy Garoppolo to turn the ball over. It’s unfair to call Garoppolo a weak spot, but it is fair to criticize his ball security at times. He’s susceptible to the occasional back-breaking interception and if the Packers could force Garoppolo to make some poor decisions, the 49ers might be forced to play from behind early on. It’s not exactly a major weakness, but it is an area the Packers could look to exploit.

Takeaway: In order for Green Bay to get after Garoppolo, they’ll need to slow the San Francisco run game which produced the second most rushing yards per game in 2019. Not exactly an easy task.

But if they are able to do so, it will allow this stout Packer defensive front to put pressure on Garoppolo just as they have done to so many other opponents. And as Justin mentioned, an interception could follow. This season Garoppolo has an interception rate of 2.7 percent, which was the seventh highest in 2019.

Very few teams have had success against the SF defense but when they did, what was a reason or two?

Justin: Now with a near-fully clean bill of health, it’s nearly impossible to move the ball against this 49ers defense. In the past, injuries to the likes of Kwon Alexander, Ahkello Witherspoon, Jaquicki Tartt, and Dee Ford have made them beatable. But with all four players now back, it seems difficult to pinpoint a weakness.

Perhaps the most susceptible part of the defense comes with the team’s run defense. Certain teams like the Ravens and Saints were able to run well on the 49ers, but it’s certainly no easy task. There is no obvious way to defeat this 49ers defense when healthy. The Packers offense will surely have their work cut out for them come Sunday.

Takeaway: Yes, from top to bottom the 49ers’ defense is relentless and a big key for Green Bay will be having success running the ball. The Niners have the NFL’s second best pass-defense by DVOA and an excellent defensive front as well, and if they know a passing play is coming, it’s hard to envision the Packers finding any success on offense. Green Bay can’t fall behind by more than a score and they must establish the run. Oh, and did I also mention that they need to run the ball?

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