GREEN BAY, Wisc. – An iconic photo in 49ers’ lore shows Fred Warner and George Kittle euphorically embracing as they ran off snow-covered Lambeau Field with a January 2022 playoff upset.
“Obviously the last time being there was a great time,” Warner recalled, “but it has nothing to do with what we’re going to do now.”
Although Jimmy Garoppolo played through a shoulder injury in that divisional-round upset two seasons ago, the 49ers will not ask the same of Brock Purdy, who has been ruled out of Sunday’s return visit to Green Bay after hurting his throwing shoulder in last week’s 20-17 collapse to the Seattle Seahawks.
While Brandon Allen covers for Purdy, the 49ers (5-5) also will need to somehow replace defensive end Nick Bosa if they’re to upset the Packers (7-3) and surface in the NFC wild-card race, if they’re indeed up for a fifth playoff trip in six seasons.
They know they can’t relive their magical win from last visit to Lambeau Field. It at least provides positive vibes for a 49ers core desperately seeking some.
“You know what’s funny about that: someone brought up that photo of me and Fred, I think it was my mom,” Kittle said. “Monday night, I went back and looked at all those photos. It is very fun. I don’t know if we’ll draw anything from it, but it definitely brings confidence and puts good memories in you.”
Here are five ways to make more happy memories and steal another win at Green Bay:
1. SAFE, SANE QUARTERBACKING
Coach Kyle Shanahan’s spin of the 49ers’ quarterback switch Friday is that there is “not a big game-plan adjustment” because Allen has run the offense well since arriving in March 2023 and that “guys are excited to see Brandon play.”
All due respect to Allen, but the 49ers’ offense shouldn’t rely on any journeyman who’s 2-7 all-time in relief starts and hasn’t attempted a regular-season pass in two years. His ability to work within the rigid structure of the 49ers’ incremental scheme earned him a promotion in camp from last year’s No. 3 role, and that gave him the nod over Josh Dobbs, a more experienced option and one who’s a better fit for when plays break down, which could happen if left tackle Trent Williams can’t play or is compromised by an ankle bruise.
Playing it safe at quarterback worked in that playoff win for Garoppolo and the 49ers, who didn’t score an offensive touchdown. This visit, they must avoid turnovers. Green Bay’s 19 takeaways are two off the NFL lead, and Packers safety Xavier McKinney has six interceptions (one in each of the first five games).
“It’ll be our job to protect the ball, keep it in our guys’ hands,” Allen said. “And that’s really, throughout the NFL, that’s a big key to winning games: protecting the football.”
2. RUN, BLOCK BETTER
The 49ers need to blaze trails on the ground to help Allen. With or without Williams, the 49ers’ blocking somehow must reach the point where “we’ve got to run the ball with consistency,” run-game coordinator Chris Foerster said.
The 49ers have been reluctant to relieve Christian McCaffrey through his first two games back from Achilles tendinitis (115-of-127 snaps). McCaffrey got Wednesday to rest up for what could and perhaps needs a 2023-like performance to lead this offense like no other can. He had two rushing touchdowns to deliver last season’s wild-card playoff comeback over the Packers.
Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo obviously have fresh legs that are primed to relieve McCaffrey. But they don’t present the receiving threat or pass-protection reliability of him. All rushers could be needed for this one, including Deebo Samuel, whose third-down run set up Robbie Gould’s walk-off field goal in the January 2022 playoff upset.
3. PICK OFF LOVE
As formidable as Josh Jacobs is at leading the Packers’ ground game (more on that later), their offense is most vulnerable with Jordan Love interceptions. He’s thrown at least one in each of his eight starts this season, news that made 49ers cornerback Deommodore Lenoir actually lick his left hand’s fingers before adding: “He’s a great quarterback, though. He’s been killing it this year.”
Love has produced 11 interceptions against 16 touchdown passes while completing a respectable 62.3% of his throws. The 49ers have 11 interceptions themselves this season, tying for sixth-most in the NFL. Don’t forget about Dre Greenlaw’s two interceptions off Love to seal the 49ers’ 24-21 divisional playoff win in January.
How best to force that issue, when the 49ers’ best (only?) pass rusher is ailing? It’s time that Nick Bosa’s supporting cast comes through, and that includes defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen, who needs to come up with creative pressures (heck, maybe even blitz) to harass Love.
Charvarius Ward will miss a third straight game for personal reasons, so the 49ers’ ball-hawking ways must be led by Lenoir, Renardo Green, Isaac Yiadom, the safeties, the linebackers, anyone.
4. IMPROVE VS. RUN
The 49ers know the No. 1 man their run defense must stop is Josh Jacobs. He’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry (838 yards), and of his four touchdowns, three came in the last three games.
“The last time we faced him was in Vegas, I thought he was the best running back we faced that year,” Kyle Shanahan said of a 2023 New Year’s Day win by the 49ers over Jacobs and the Raiders. “… He runs so hard, he’s quick enough to make people miss, but he doesn’t mess around when he makes people miss.”
The 49ers have allowed 13 rushing touchdowns, and only their 2021 defense allowed more (17) in an entire season under Shanahan. Geno Smith became the third quarterback to run for a touchdown when his 13-yard dash lifted the Seahawks on Sunday. Kyler Murray had a 50-yard touchdown and 83 rushing yards in the Cardinals’ Oct. 6 comeback. Patrick Mahomes scored on a 1-yard plunge that was set up by his 33-yard scramble. Even Sam Darnold hurt the 49ers in Week 2 with 32 yards.
Yes, Love could try following that trend, and his touchdown last Sunday was the difference in Chicago. But Jacobs is enemy No. 1.
5. SPECIAL TIMES
Jordan Willis blocks a Packers’ punt, Talanoa Hufanga scoops and scores a tying touchdown, and the 49ers’ comeback is alive in that last visit to Gren Bay. This season, however, has been filled with dire moments.
This week’s flashpoint could come on punt returns. Rookie returner Jacob Cowing has been in concussion protocol this past week. The Packers’ Daniel Whelan leads all NFL punters in net average at home (49.8 yards).
When it comes to kicking, Jake Moody infamously missed three field-goal attempts in the 49ers’ last road game before his walk-off field goal at Tampa Bay. Punter/holder Pat O’Donnell played for the 2022 Packers and has given Moody, a Michigan native, tips heading into his Lambeau Field debut.
Moody has not had a field-goal attempt blocked this season, but he did by the Packers’ Colby Wooden in January’s wild-card matchup. Wooden also blocked a point-after attempt by the Rams earlier this season. The Packers won last Sunday in Chicago on a blocked field-goal attempt as time expired. That was their fifth win in one-score games, including two on walk-off field goals by Brandon McManus upon joining the Packers.
The 49ers’ record in one-score games is 3-3, but 0-3 in NFC West action. Hence, the urgency to win in Lambeau and improve their record in NFC games to 4-4 for potential wild-card help.
