Green Bay Packers aren’t supposed to be here. No one expected the Packers to be playing for a chance to make it to the Super Bowl. As Davante Adams said yesterday, ‘All the pressure is on San Francisco.’ He is right. Packers are coming to San Francisco where they were blown out earlier this season and a significant underdog. No one expects the Packers to win this game, except for the Green Bay Packers and some fans of the team. How will the Packers make it to their seventh Super Bowl?

THREE STORYLINES I CARE ABOUT
1. Which pass rush prevails? – The cliche comment about the game is won or lost in the trenches is typically accurate. Whichever team can be better with the offensive or defensive line usually wins the game. Packers’ pass rush has been one of the staples of their success this season. 49ers can rush four with ease and that has given Green Bay fits this season. DVOA gives the Packers’ offensive line the slight edge being 10th in pass protection versus 15th for the Niners.

2. Green Bay needs to get first downs – One of the ways that San Francisco can enforce its will is getting Green Bay off the field early and often. They did this against Minnesota too. Packers need to move the ball, even if, they do not score, it helps everything. Packers need to find opportunities for 5-8 yard plays versus major chunk plays. I’m all for taking a shot or two, but I’m fine with the Packers being methodical.

3. Slowing down George Kittle – I don’t think you can stop George Kittle. But hope you can slow him down at the very least. Kittle is a helluva player. And Packers have not been great against tight ends this season. Mike Pettine needs to quit with the soft zone this week. That will not help Blake Martinez or anyone else in the middle of the field when it comes to slowing down the best tight end in the game.

SNOTAPWI PREDICTED PLAYER OF THE GAME
Aaron Rodgers – I realize this gives away my pick for the game, but so be it. Rodgers lives for these moments. In a way, he hasn’t had an opportunity like this since the 2014 NFC Championship. Feel free to mention 2015 or 2016, but both those teams were banged up to holy hell. The Packers star knows the commentary on him this week, and in the past weeks. People love to clamor that he is average, but I wouldn’t have another quarterback lead my team this Sunday.

PREDICTION
Packers are going to win this game. It will not be easy, it will not be fun to watch as a fan. When it comes down to a close game, who do you trust more? Aaron Rodgers or Jimmy Garopplo? That’s what we’re going to have on Sunday, and the Packers get a last-second field goal to win this game. Packers 20 49ers 17.

Charlie.