Predict the score: Packers vs 49ers

[mmmdk]

Another big game for Packers at Lambeau and a must win vs 49ers. Defensive battle yet again? I think so.

Packers 20 49ers 16

[Cheesehead Craig]

I'll give them an extra TD 27-17

[Smidgeon]

Some stats: Each stat field is the numeric quantity followed by the league rank in parenthesis.

Yards:
Niners Pass D - 248.3 (29) - vs. Packers Pass O - 247 (11) = Advantage Packers
Niners Run D - 87.7 (3) - vs. Packers Run O - 119.2 (12) = Advantage Niners
Niners Pass O - 175.6 (24) - vs. Packers Pass D - 189.2 (6) = Advantage Packers
Niners Run O - 102.3 (22) - vs. Packers Run D - 93.1 (4) = Advantage Packers
Verdict: Packers 3:1

TDs:
Niners Pass D - 9 (6) - vs. Packers Pass O - 17 (5) = No Advantage
Niners Run D - 8 (16) - vs. Packers Run O - 8 (13) = No Advantage
Niners Pass O - 11 (20) - vs. Packers Pass D - 17 (29) = Advantage Niners
Niners Run O - 7 (15) - vs. Packers Run D - 3 (3) = Advantage Packers
Verdict: Even 1:1

Guesstimate: It appears the Packers will be able to move basically at will against the Niners, but scoring will be pretty close. Expect a lot of one sided offense with no blowout. That being said, it will probably be a blowout because I didn't predict one...

[Fritz]

This game inspires no confidence in me.

I read some articles in the SF Chronicle about the Niners, and it appears that they play good special teams, particularly in coverage, that they like to run the ball, and that they are good at stopping the run but have a less than average defensive backfield.

This could be a recipe for disaster. MM thinks he sees an advantage over the defensive secondary, so he game plans by throwing, throwing, throwing because their run defense is stout and he wants to exploit SF's secondary.

But his oline sucks and stubborn guy that he seems to be he'll still call for longer passing plays because by golly, he should be able to. It should work.

But it won't and the Packer offense stalls. In the meantime, the Packer D stops the run but SF keeps pounding and pounding, and the time of possession turns greatly in the Niners' favor. By the 4th quarter, the D is gassed, the special teams has put the D on its heels most of the day, the offense is going nowwhere so MM calls for more, more, more shots downfield. Nothing works, Rodgers gets sacked 23 times, and the dream of a playoff spot lasts only the six days after the Dallas game and then Poof! - is gone.

[ThunderDan]

This game inspires no confidence in me.

I read some articles in the SF Chronicle about the Niners, and it appears that they play good special teams, particularly in coverage, that they like to run the ball, and that they are good at stopping the run but have a less than average defensive backfield.

This could be a recipe for disaster. MM thinks he sees an advantage over the defensive secondary, so he game plans by throwing, throwing, throwing because their run defense is stout and he wants to exploit SF's secondary.

But his oline sucks and stubborn guy that he seems to be he'll still call for longer passing plays because by golly, he should be able to. It should work.

But it won't and the Packer offense stalls. In the meantime, the Packer D stops the run but SF keeps pounding and pounding, and the time of possession turns greatly in the Niners' favor. By the 4th quarter, the D is gassed, the special teams has put the D on its heels most of the day, the offense is going nowwhere so MM calls for more, more, more shots downfield. Nothing works, Rodgers gets sacked 23 times, and the dream of a playoff spot lasts only the six days after the Dallas game and then Poof! - is gone.

That's inspiring! You should be a motivational speaker! :P

I'm guessing 20-10 GB.

[Fritz]

This game inspires no confidence in me.

I read some articles in the SF Chronicle about the Niners, and it appears that they play good special teams, particularly in coverage, that they like to run the ball, and that they are good at stopping the run but have a less than average defensive backfield.

This could be a recipe for disaster. MM thinks he sees an advantage over the defensive secondary, so he game plans by throwing, throwing, throwing because their run defense is stout and he wants to exploit SF's secondary.

But his oline sucks and stubborn guy that he seems to be he'll still call for longer passing plays because by golly, he should be able to. It should work.

But it won't and the Packer offense stalls. In the meantime, the Packer D stops the run but SF keeps pounding and pounding, and the time of possession turns greatly in the Niners' favor. By the 4th quarter, the D is gassed, the special teams has put the D on its heels most of the day, the offense is going nowwhere so MM calls for more, more, more shots downfield. Nothing works, Rodgers gets sacked 23 times, and the dream of a playoff spot lasts only the six days after the Dallas game and then Poof! - is gone.

That's inspiring! You should be a motivational speaker! :P

I'm guessing 20-10 GB.

In San Francisco.

[Smidgeon]

What I think is funny is that SF is "known" for it's running and stopping the run this year. Problem is that the only place SF is superior than GB in the run game is in the run defense, and that just barely. SF is ranked 3rd by yards with 87.7 and GB 4th with 93.1. SF is ranked 1st in yards per rush at 3.3 and GB 3rd at 3.5. On offense, they're tied at yards per attempt at 4.4. Every other major category GB has a superior running defense and offense. They average more yards per game, more rushing TDs per game, and giving up fewer TDs per game. So I guess you could go flip the switch and say that GB is better at SF's game of running and stopping the run than SF is. Plus the passing game is better...

[get louder at lambeau]

I'm gonna go against the grain a little, and call a GB blowout. They should be confident after beating Dallas, and should be relatively healthy.

GB- 31
SF- 14

[Smidgeon]

I'm gonna go against the grain a little, and call a GB blowout. They should be confident after beating Dallas, and should be relatively healthy.

GB- 31
SF- 14

Care to give me an over/under about how many of those points are scored in garbage time?

[get louder at lambeau]

I'm gonna go against the grain a little, and call a GB blowout. They should be confident after beating Dallas, and should be relatively healthy.

GB- 31
SF- 14

Care to give me an over/under about how many of those points are scored in garbage time?

I'll say each team scores one late TD.

[bobblehead]

This game inspires no confidence in me.

I read some articles in the SF Chronicle about the Niners, and it appears that they play good special teams, particularly in coverage, that they like to run the ball, and that they are good at stopping the run but have a less than average defensive backfield.

This could be a recipe for disaster. MM thinks he sees an advantage over the defensive secondary, so he game plans by throwing, throwing, throwing because their run defense is stout and he wants to exploit SF's secondary.

But his oline sucks and stubborn guy that he seems to be he'll still call for longer passing plays because by golly, he should be able to. It should work.

But it won't and the Packer offense stalls. In the meantime, the Packer D stops the run but SF keeps pounding and pounding, and the time of possession turns greatly in the Niners' favor. By the 4th quarter, the D is gassed, the special teams has put the D on its heels most of the day, the offense is going nowwhere so MM calls for more, more, more shots downfield. Nothing works, Rodgers gets sacked 23 times, and the dream of a playoff spot lasts only the six days after the Dallas game and then Poof! - is gone.

Sad thing is that I read the rankings in the post directly above yours and thought all of this exactly...in my older age I'm learning to read a few more posts before I make my own post that would have sounded eerily like yours.

[hoosier]

This game inspires no confidence in me.

I read some articles in the SF Chronicle about the Niners, and it appears that they play good special teams, particularly in coverage, that they like to run the ball, and that they are good at stopping the run but have a less than average defensive backfield.

This could be a recipe for disaster. MM thinks he sees an advantage over the defensive secondary, so he game plans by throwing, throwing, throwing because their run defense is stout and he wants to exploit SF's secondary.

But his oline sucks and stubborn guy that he seems to be he'll still call for longer passing plays because by golly, he should be able to. It should work.

But it won't and the Packer offense stalls. In the meantime, the Packer D stops the run but SF keeps pounding and pounding, and the time of possession turns greatly in the Niners' favor. By the 4th quarter, the D is gassed, the special teams has put the D on its heels most of the day, the offense is going nowwhere so MM calls for more, more, more shots downfield. Nothing works, Rodgers gets sacked 23 times, and the dream of a playoff spot lasts only the six days after the Dallas game and then Poof! - is gone.

[hoosier]

Just had to do that after Bobblehead's post.

I too have a bad feeling about this one. I think the Pack could match up fairly well with SF but if SF plays well defensively or if McCarthy comes in with another goofy game plan a la Tampa Bay it could get pretty ugly. I worry most of all about an emotional letdown after Dallas. The Packers were fired up and pissed off, and it showed especially on defense. But it is hard to keep that anger going week after week. Hopefully they can keep it up and stay on fire for the rest of the season. But I sort of expect them to revert to their early season/Tampa Bay form.

[Smidgeon]

I sort of expect them to revert to their early season/Tampa Bay form.

And if they do revert, that will be placed squarely on M3's shoulders. It is his job as the HC to have his team ready to play. That's the HC's job across all teams. If he doesn't, it's one more thing that people will be justifiably allowed to complain about.

[Sparkey]

Green Bay 24
San Francisco 13