Week 12 Highs and Lows – San Francisco 49ers

The Pack is BACK!! Green Bay comes out of the bye week healthy with their biggest test yet. A rivalry as sweet as the Packers vs 49ers deserves the primetime spotlight. Many memorable games between these teams. My childhood scarred by the Terrell Owens contested touchdown near expiration despite the blatant fumble earlier in the drive by Jerry Rice. Not bitter. Move on to the lasting draft connection between Aaron Rodgers & Alex Smith in the who did Mike McCarthy love more contest. Lastly, the brutal playoff losses to the read option run game mastered by Colin Kaepernick. Now the Kyle Shanahan teacher versus, his disciple, super genius Matt LaFleur.

This new San Francisco team has an intimidating defense featuring guys like Richard Sherman, Dee Ford and Nick Bosa. Luckily for Green Bay, that 49ers are banged up at the moment with Dee Ford (DE) and Joe Staley (LT) ruled out. The nucleus of San Fran’s offense carries a questionable tag going into Sunday with George Kittle, Deebo Samuel and Emmanuel Sanders all up in the air to play. The NFL injury report isn’t a true predictive measure in the severity of injuries. Countless players carry a questionable tag up to kickoff and have league leading performances with no notable struggles or limitations.

Green Bay’s defense has to capitalize on the opportunities to give the Pack a road win. Jimmy Garoppolo can’t help but try and present gifts to defenses giving up 10 interceptions. He only survived two games without throwing an interception. He is not quite Jay Cutler reckless although he will lay a couple gamechangers out there to take advantage of. Mike Pettine’s defense will have to put pressure on Joe Staley’s backup, hopefully forcing early and errant throws from Jimmy G.

High Expectations

Aaron Rodgers & Davante Adams

The California kid gets to go home and showcase his talent on prime time. Including playoffs, Aaron is 4-4 against San Fran in his career while winning only one of three attempts in California. Rodgers is coming off the Panthers victory where he failed to throw a touchdown. Not a cause for alarm although were going to need the offense sharp to beat an experienced defense. Rodgers was given the extra week to prepare and he has shown in his career to be successful with a bye at his back coming out 7-3 in the first week back. Six of those games after a bye have been on the road with Rodgers splitting evenly 3-3.

The tough matchup highlights a 49ers defense allowing the leagues 2nd best defense against QB performances. Anyone can throw numbers up and make them sound juicy but the 49ers heralded defense went up against future XFL candidates Jameis Winston, Andy Dalton, Mason Rudolph, Case Keenum and Kyle Allen. They faced a few explosive young QBS in Jared Goff, Baker Mayfield and the eventual superstar Kyler Murray. The only notable quarterback was Russell Wilson and that is their one loss.

Rodgers and Davante will have to be the driving force behind this offense. Green Bay can attack the mismatches by moving 17 around to avoid legendary coverman Richard Sherman. Davante Adams has only one career game vs SF(2018) in which he racked up 10 catches for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. Adams had the week to get healthy.

Rodgers – 240 yards 2 TDS

Adams – 115 yards 2 TDs

Low Expectations

Jamaal Williams/Jimmy Graham

Anyone of these guys could break a big play but the overall expectation is they struggle to get things going Sunday Night. I hope I am wrong on this matter and they enjoy a fruitful day of high stepping touchdowns. San Francisco’s defense I keep yapping about has the 4th best defense against RBs and the #1 defense against TE. Aaron Jones evasive ability is likely to stack a couple big gains and avoid a fantasy dud performance.

Outlook

I think Green Bay struggles for a long stretch to start this game but luckily for the green and gold, the defense keeps the game close enough for Rodgers to settle in late. San Francisco will look to run the ball on the Packers defense with Tevin Coleman featuring regardless of Matt Breida’s absence.

Prediction Green Bay wins a 23-17 thriller under the lights

Go Pack Go!