The San Francisco 49ers are coming to town again. The Green Bay Packers have a chance this time to end their season before it even gets starting
The Green Bay Packers are 7-3.
They did not win in the prettiest of fashions on Sunday afternoon, but they did beat the Chicago Bears by a fingertip.
They're currently slated as the NFC's sixth seed if the playoffs were to begin today.
Alas, they do not. There is plenty more season to go, and now the Packers have a chance this Sunday to ensure the perennial thorn in their side cannot end their season again.
Yes, the San Francisco 49ers are invading Lambeau Field this weekend.
This time, it's just a regular season game, but you'd have to forgive anyone associated with the Packers if they felt like it was a playoff game.
The 49ers have ended Green Bay's season in 2012, 2013, 2019, 2021, and 2023.
There has not been another team to end their season twice in that span. Who knows how many more Vince Lombardi trophies would exist inside of 1265 Lombardi Ave. if not for the Packers' perennial thorn from California.
This weekend, there is a role reversal of sorts.
The Packers were not expected to win any of the aforementiond games, save for 2021 when they were the NFC's top seed.
Despite that, the 49ers were a trendy upset pick, considering the type of success they've had against Green Bay.
This time around, the Packers are favored to win. They are the better team, with the better record.
They're also likely to be healthier.
Nick Bosa did not participate in practice yesterday, and could miss Sunday's game. He's San Francisco's best player on defense.
Offensively, the 49ers were already banged up going into the week.
Brandon Aiyuk will not play, he's out for the season with a knee injury.
Christian McCaffery is just working his way back from a multitude of lower body injuries that has shortened his season.
Now, Brock Purdy popped up on the injury report with a right shoulder injury. He did not throw in practice on Wednesday.
He'll likely play on Sunday, but will he be at 100 percent?
The answer to that question is likely, no.
Add all of that together, and there has never been a better time for the Packers to exorcise their demons.
With a win, their chance of making the playoffs rises to more than 90 percent.
Conversely, by beating the 49ers, and getting the all-important head-to-head tiebreaker, they drop San Francisco's playoff chances to just above 10 percent.
Winning Sunday's game gives the Packers that opportunity.
They have not been able to slay the dragon that is the San Francisco 49ers in the playoffs since 2002.
Brett Favre and Jeff Garcia were the starting quarterbacks on that day.
One way to avoid losing to the 49ers in the playoffs is to ensure they don't make it in the first place.
“I know their record’s not where they want to be right now,” LaFleur said, “but they’re as good as any team in the league.”
If the Packers give life to their nemesis by losing on Sunday, they could come to regret it in an even bigger game when the calendar turns to January.
