Inexperienced Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) talks with head coach Matt LaFleur, proper, through the second half of an NFL soccer recreation in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2019. (AP Photograph/Ben Margot)
Would you imagine Aaron Rodgers if he says his 0-3 playoff report in opposition to the 49ers doesn’t give him further motivation for Saturday night time’s fourth assembly?
Nicely, that’s what he's saying, together with far more because the top-seeded Inexperienced Bay Packers put together to host the sixth-seeded 49ers at Lambeau Subject.
“Not likely any motivation. Motivation comes from inside. I've sufficient of that,” Rodgers advised Inexperienced Bay reporters Tuesday. “Inspiration, I did watch this rivalry rising up. One huge second that stands out is Younger to T.O. (for the game-winning landing), and quite a lot of Packers followers discuss there being a fumble on that drive not being referred to as.”
Whereas that 1997 season’s NFC Championship Sport is seared into Rodgers’ reminiscence, he absolutely hasn’t forgotten his personal defeats to the 49ers in a Packers’ uniform: 2012 divisional spherical at Candlestick Park, 2013 wild-card thriller at chilly Lambeau, and the 2020 season’s NFC Championship Sport rout at Levi’s Stadium.
“No further motivation,” Rodgers insisted. “I’ve been round, performed quite a lot of soccer. I perceive the historical past of this rivalry, the historical past of us in opposition to them. However these are totally different groups.”
With Rodgers presumably fleeing Inexperienced Bay after this season — he redid his contract previous to the season with an escape clause — he predictably fielded a query earlier than his eleventh postseason on the helm, solely certainly one of which ended with a Lombardi Trophy (2010).
“I perceive in our enterprise, a lot of it's targeted on wins and losses, particularly within the playoffs, Tremendous Bowl rings, and all that stuff,” Rodgers stated. “I perceive that’s a part of my legacy I can be judged on once I’m accomplished taking part in. Yearly is necessary in furthering your legacy. I take quite a lot of satisfaction within the success we’ve had and I’ve had, and I hope we will add to it.”
As for previous shortcomings, Rodgers famous that judgment shouldn't be primarily based “solely in your losses, your failures, your errors, your low factors. It’s a lot extra. It’s mindset. It’s an strategy. It’s the full bundle.”
How he’s approached the previous seven video games: 20 touchdowns, no interceptions for a 124 passer ranking.
Aaron Rodgers hasn’t thrown an interception since Nov. 14.
He has a quarterback ranking of 124 in his final seven video games. 20 touchdowns, zero picks.
Immortal nonsense.
— Dieter Kurtenbach (@dieter) January 18, 2022
The Packers (13-4) overcame a season-opening loss at New Orleans to go on a seven-game win streak, the second victory of which got here within the 49ers’ residence opener, courtesy of Rodgers’ heroics within the remaining 37 seconds to arrange Mason Crosby’s 51-yard subject aim as time expired.
Rodgers, a Chico native and Cal product, is 6-3 in regular-season motion (20 touchdowns, two interceptions) in opposition to the franchise that duped him into considering he’d be the 2005 draft’s No. 1 general decide, earlier than the 49ers took Alex Smith.
Inexperienced Bay ended final season with NFC Championship Sport loss at residence to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, infamously choosing a subject aim when down by eight factors and permitting Tom Brady to kill the ultimate two minutes of that 31-26 affair, with solely 7,772 allowed into Lambeau due to COVID precautions.
The 49ers (11-7) are coming off last-second, elimination wins on the street in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams (Week 18 time beyond regulation) and the Dallas Cowboys (Sunday’s wild-card recreation). Though the 49ers Trustworthy has strongly invaded opposing stadiums the previous two Sundays, such a takeover gained’t be simple in Inexperienced Bay.
“Hoping for a loud crowd that has a pleasant, pleasant afternoon, perhaps doesn’t go too arduous, and leaves some room for some enjoyment from 7 to 10:30 on Saturday night time,” Rodgers stated. “It’s an thrilling alternative to be again at Lambeau for a playoff recreation in prime time. ”
Rodgers (toe) was a full participant in Tuesday’s observe, the place left deal with David Bakhtiari (knee) sat out for “load upkeep. Operating again Aaron Jones (knee), linebacker De’Vondre Campbell (elbow), offensive deal with Billy Turner (knee) have been full go; restricted have been large receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (again) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder).
Here's what else Rodgers (then different Packers) needed to say Tuesday:
On 49ers injured defenders Nick Bosa (concussion) and Fred Warner (linebacker):
“They have been with out them a lot of that recreation vs Dallas and there wasn’t an incredible dropoff. These guys are unbelievable, All-Professional caliber gamers, However they’re a really deep crew, and, over time, they’ve overcome accidents at totally different positions, and that provides them depth to fall again on ought to a few of their tremendous stud gamers go down. However they’re each recreation wreckers and improbable gamers.
“I’ve identified Fred since he was coming into the league, quite a lot of respect for him, the way in which he performs, how he goest about his enterprise, distinctive expertise however nice instincts
“Nick is a formidable participant, as formidable as you’ll see within the league. He calls for consideration. He’s robust on the level of assault. He’s good in opposition to the run. He’s clearly an incredible cross rusher. good, instinctual participant. In the event that they’re on the sphere, we’ll should account for them.
“In the event that they’re off the sphere, they’ll have guys in there fairly rattling gifted, too. We’ll be prepared for whoever’s in there Saturday night time.”
On 49ers’ visiting Saturday night time:
“They’re going to have a plan for what we do offensively. That they had a plan in Week 3. They’re well-coached on either side and so they’ll be prepared for what we’re doing. It comes all the way down to execution in these moments. The Cowboys didn’t execute; the Niners protection did, stored them out of the tip zone a lot of that recreation.
“They’re coming to Lambeau and our subject and our climate, we be ok with the product we placed on the sphere and we have now to go execute yet one more time.”
On playoff stress:
“Soccer mortality is one thing all of us take into consideration and what number of alternatives we’ll be afforded shifting ahead. Each is exclusive. There’s 4 groups much less on the NFC aspect. We’re certainly one of them and we get to host playoff video games. This can be a particular alternative. We’re not going to make it larger than it's. We’ve gotten this far being degree headed and even keel and never experience a curler coaster of feelings.”
COACH MATT LaFLEUR
On Samuel, the 49ers’ All-Professional large receiver who’s additionally change into an instrumental a part of their speeding assault:
“It positively provides one other layer to their complicated offense. They do such an incredible job of formationing, motioning, giving very complementary performs. It's a must to be very disciplined along with your eyes, your guidelines and duties.
“However Deebo, he’s a dynamic participant. He’s one of many extra elite gamers on this league. They attempt to discover other ways to get him the ball, whether or not it’s handing it off, reverses, and within the passing recreation he’s a bodily man.
“It does current some issues whenever you aren’t fairly certain the place he’s going to line up. Is it going to be within the halfback posting, and the halfback is out large, or vice versa? He’s a man we have now to account for on each play.”
On the variations of the 49ers now vs. Week 3, when Inexperienced Bay gained 30-28 at Levi’s Stadium:
“Once you have a look at their tape, the id continues to be there. That has not modified. We knew going into that recreation how bodily they’d be.
“Actually, they’re utilizing Deebo slightly in another way on offense. They’ve added some wrinkles defensively and their corners are slightly bit totally different on the market. Naturally, issues evolve.
“Should you have a look at them as of late, it is a assured group. You possibly can see it on tape. You possibly can see how they performed. We've got to play each play prefer it’s our final play during our recreation. Return to that (Week 18) Rams recreation, down 17-0 in opposition to one of many higher groups within the league: they didn’t flinch, stored battling and gained in time beyond regulation.
“… We’re going to should get our thoughts proper to have a bodily soccer recreation. We’re going to wish everyone’s finest, and everyone goes to should give attention to doing their job, doing their 1/eleventh and counting on their teammates to do their jobs.”
On the 49ers protection’s means to close down the Cowboys’ CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper in Sunday’s wild-card recreation:
“They do an incredible job of complementing the again finish with a cross rush. Before everything, it's important to block these guys. They're extraordinarily disruptive. I wouldn’t say they’re overly sophisticated not less than on early downs. Actually in identified passing conditions, they current totally different challenges and totally different seems to be that complement one another.
“They do an incredible job teaching their guys, and also you add within the gamers and their expertise, it makes it a problem to get the ball to a few of your playmakers.”
On the 49ers’ cross rush:
“It’s a serious concern, you’re speaking about one of many elite cross rushes within the NFL. These guys fly off the soccer and so they do an incredible job. It’s a really quick protection throughout. You have a look at the again finish, you have a look at linebackers, they do an incredible job of taking part in their keys and teeing off. It’ll be an incredible problem. We've got to do an incredible job up entrance and play complementary offense. Should you get one-dimensional, it’s going to be a protracted day.”
RUNNING BACK AARON JONES
On fumbling in final 12 months’s playoff loss to the Bucs:
“We’re speaking a couple of fumble from final 12 months. We’re about to play a playoff recreation. I’m not nervous about what occurred in final 12 months’s recreation. All I can management is that this recreation. It did affect my and I considered it a very long time. I received it off my chest.”
On 49ers’ Deebo Samuel:
“He’s versatile. Once you line him up within the backfield, he can take it to the home. He will also be used as receiver out of backfield and be a mismatch with the linebacker. They do a good way of getting him the ball.”
NOTES
— Kickoff when the No. 1-seeded Packers (13-4) host the sixth-seeded 49ers (11-7) on Saturday night time is at 7:15 p.m. CT, with the low-temperature forecast for 3 levels.
— Packers left deal with David Bakhtiari is not going to observe at the moment due to “load administration” points along with his surgically repaired knee.
“We’ll at all times take it someday at a time with him,” LaFleur stated. “He’s coming off a serious harm, so need to be conscious. We’ll see the place he’s at tomorrow.”
— LaFleur is hopeful Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith will return to the Packers’ protection on Saturday, and each will observe at the moment.