NFC Conference Championship: Packers @ 49ers Sunday, Jan 19th, 5:40PM

[nodakfan17]

That 1998 playoff game really resonates with me as the end of the 90s Packers teams I loved as a kid. Of course, Holmgren bolting for Seattle a few days later and taking the his whole coaching staff and half the front office with him really brought it all to finality.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Always thought that had a major long term effect on the Packers. I think it was the worst thing to happen to Brett Favre. They obviously got the Rhodes hire wrong and while Sherman won a lot of games I think he was responsible for Favre going rogue.

 

Holmgren left to become GM, and they wound up giving that to Sherman a couple years later, around the same time he stepped down/was fired from it in Seattle.

[PeaveyFury]

Raven Greene has been activated from IR, so it's likely that Scott is good to go.

[Eye Black]

It was 5 years ago today that the Brewers officially traded away Yovani Gallardo for a package that included Corey Knebel in return (also Marcos Diplan and Luis Sardinas). I’ll never forget that one because word of the trade leaked the day prior during (or just before) the Packers NFC Championship Game versus the Seahawks. Maybe another Brewers related trade comes out today in order to make it an NFC Championship Sunday tradition? ...and hopefully a better result/ending to the NFC Championship Game this time.

[OldHeidelberg]

Raven Greene has been activated from IR, so it's likely that Scott is good to go.

 

That is double good news, has Greene been able to practice? He was playing pretty well before he got hurt.

[MrTPlush]

JK Scott worries me, active or not. With the amount of dud games and just plain terrible punts in general it seems he can lose focus as is. Whether the flu is still lingering or starting to be in his rear view mirror he probably will be feeling a bit weak and/or crummy.

 

It’s a game where we cannot afford 30 yard shanks and just plain short punts in general like the last SF game. Always nice to be positive, but I am betting we punt inside or own 30 quite a few times today. A couple booming punts can be a large difference maker in those spots while a 30 yard punt can be devastating.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Agreed and I don't know what happened to him. It's very strange. He looked like the next 25-year legendary punter last season and this year he's just been off.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Greene's been practicing for 2-3 weeks. There were rumblings he'd be active last week but they held him out.

[HarveysWBs]

Raven Greene has been activated from IR, so it's likely that Scott is good to go.

 

That is double good news, has Greene been able to practice? He was playing pretty well before he got hurt.

Greene has been practicing for the better part of two weeks. Seems to me to be a big ask to bring him in to likely have to cover Kittle, but we’ll see what the plan is soon. Can he be worse than our other options?

[Fear The Chorizo]

Raven Greene has been activated from IR, so it's likely that Scott is good to go.

 

That is double good news, has Greene been able to practice? He was playing pretty well before he got hurt.

Greene has been practicing for the better part of two weeks. Seems to me to be a big ask to bring him in to likely have to cover Kittle, but we’ll see what the plan is soon. Can he be worse than our other options?

 

Having Greene as a coverage LB/S option either on Kittle or their FB would be drastically better than what they had the first time around in San Fran this year...but they have to neutralize the running game to make that happen with greene on the field. Greene might be able to cover those guys on obvious passing downs, but can he hold up with those same players run blocking him as well, which they are both excellent at doing?

[OldHeidelberg]

Was just reading that the Packers have been playing a lot of 2-4-5 with 3 OLB and Martinez down the stretch so not as much playing time for the Campbell/Greene role. Hard to argue with the results but probably nice to have Greene available if they have to do some in game adjustments to what SF is doing.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Really wish we were the early game. I need to find something to do.

[OldHeidelberg]

Really wish we were the early game. I need to find something to do.

 

Yeah I want to go join some friends at a bar for this one but the game won't be over until after 9 and I have to work in the AM, if we win I will be so jacked up I am sure I will be up until 1 listening to postgame. If it was the early game it would be an easy decision. I thought they alternated the games every year but I think Seattle was the late game and 2 years later Atl was early. They should go back to the noon/3:30 schedule. I think the early game on championship Sunday used to start at 11:30AM, I remember as a kid listening to Oilers/Pittsburgh on the way home from church.

[Fear The Chorizo]

Kiddos swimming lessons, then lunch at BW3's in viking country wearing packers gear, then some ice fishing to burn most of my day before the game...

 

Nice little Sunday...I'd go.to home depot but I don't think ill have enough time!

[OldHeidelberg]

We sure aren't getting much love from the experts, I thought the Rodgers angle would get more people on our bandwagon but the consensus seems to be we are going to get smoked. I heard one handicapper on the radio this morning say that they are better than us in every stat other than red zone efficiency, he expects a fairly easy double digit victory for the Niners. Spread now up to -8, fans are betting Packers but the sharpies are all over SF. I had forgotten but Bulaga was knocked out in the 1st quarter of the first game and Matt Light came in and was awful, that's one area we should be better today.

[nodakfan17]

Always thought that had a major long term effect on the Packers. I think it was the worst thing to happen to Brett Favre. They obviously got the Rhodes hire wrong and while Sherman won a lot of games I think he was responsible for Favre going rogue.

 

Holmgren left to become GM, and they wound up giving that to Sherman a couple years later, around the same time he stepped down/was fired from it in Seattle.

Had Ron Wolf communicated his retirement timeline to the organization, I have a hard time believing that Mike Holmgren wouldn’t have waited the additional two years to become HC/GM of the Packers. I suspect retirement wasn’t on Wolf’s mind at the time of Holmgren’s departure ... otherwise it’s hard to explain Holmgren’s defection.

[nodakfan17]

We sure aren't getting much love from the experts, I thought the Rodgers angle would get more people on our bandwagon but the consensus seems to be we are going to get smoked. I heard one handicapper on the radio this morning say that they are better than us in every stat other than red zone efficiency, he expects a fairly easy double digit victory for the Niners. Spread now up to -8, fans are betting Packers but the sharpies are all over SF. I had forgotten but Bulaga was knocked out in the 1st quarter of the first game and Matt Light came in and was awful, that's one area we should be better today.

I don’t get it either. I just don’t see how they get blown out again. I think the 49ers win, but don’t cover. If I were a gambling man, I’d take the points. My pick: 26-20 Niners, but don’t count out the Packers!

[adambr2]

We sure aren't getting much love from the experts, I thought the Rodgers angle would get more people on our bandwagon but the consensus seems to be we are going to get smoked. I heard one handicapper on the radio this morning say that they are better than us in every stat other than red zone efficiency, he expects a fairly easy double digit victory for the Niners. Spread now up to -8, fans are betting Packers but the sharpies are all over SF. I had forgotten but Bulaga was knocked out in the 1st quarter of the first game and Matt Light came in and was awful, that's one area we should be better today.

 

Alex Light?

[OldHeidelberg]

We sure aren't getting much love from the experts, I thought the Rodgers angle would get more people on our bandwagon but the consensus seems to be we are going to get smoked. I heard one handicapper on the radio this morning say that they are better than us in every stat other than red zone efficiency, he expects a fairly easy double digit victory for the Niners. Spread now up to -8, fans are betting Packers but the sharpies are all over SF. I had forgotten but Bulaga was knocked out in the 1st quarter of the first game and Matt Light came in and was awful, that's one area we should be better today.

 

Alex Light?

 

Yeah, I always call him Matt for some reason.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Blowout wouldn't shock me but I don't get the confidence in it just because it already happened. They're better than a lot of teams and still played a bunch of them really tight. It's not like they were beating everyone 56-10. I think it'll be close. I think we're going to win but obviously betting with my heart there. I know we're justifiably the long shot.

[PeaveyFury]

A lot of the 'experts' were picking us to lose last weekend too, so....

[OldSchoolSnapper]

Pretty sure the Ravens were a near unanimous champ pick.

[Eye Black]

It’s a little tough to see with these green and gold tinted glasses on, but I think it says Packers win, 23-16.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I know it doesn't work this way but if Tennessee wins I feel it's less likely we do.

 

That said, if we play Tennessee, it feels that much more realistic we could be the champs. Absolutely not a gimme but I hate the KC matchup

[HarveysWBs]

I know it doesn't work this way but if Tennessee wins I feel it's less likely we do.

 

That said, if we play Tennessee, it feels that much more realistic we could be the champs. Absolutely not a gimme but I hate the KC matchup

I had the same thought as I watched Tennessee jump out in front; it’s completely irrational, but I know what you’re saying. Hard to imagine two huge upsets on championship Sunday.

 

As far as matchups go, I hate the idea of facing Mahomes. He’s Wilson with younger legs, more weapons, and a better arm. Nightmare.

 

I love the idea of facing Andy Reid, though. It’s also kind of overblown, but I get the feeling that Reid making a dumb decision at a critical moment is more likely than Vrabel. Just my gut, though.