Tapp: Packers have to do a number of things to beat 49ers

By JERRY TAPP

The Packers will venture out to California to play the San Francisco 49ers for the second time this season. Less than two months ago, on November 24, the Pack lost to the 49ers 38-9 in their Week #12 game. To advance to the Super Bowl, Green Bay will need to do a lot of things differently this time against San Francisco.

Here’s a look at 14 stats from the first meeting between the two teams and how the Packers will need to reverse those numbers.

1. San Francisco had a 10-0 lead at the end of the first quarter. The Packers cannot let the 49ers get off to a quick start like they did last game. Green Bay only let two opponents score 10 or more points in the first quarter all season (SF and Detroit on 10/14); they were 1-1 in those two games. They were 3-2 in games when they did not score in the first quarter and 10-1 in games where they did score in the first quarter. They were also 3-2 in games this season when they were behind after one quarter.
2. Aaron Rodgers had only 104 yards passing. The 104 yards passing was the lowest of the year for ARod. The second lowest was 161 yards passing against the Chargers, another loss for the Packers in 2019. Green Bay is 0-8 in Rodgers’ career when he has less than 155 yards passing in a game and 1-11 when he has less than 170 yards passing in a game.
3. Green Bay gave up five sacks in the contest. The 49ers five sacks against the Pack was tied for the most against the Packers in 2019. Green Bay is 5-17 since 2010 in games when they allow five or more sacks. Conversely, they are 9-2 since 2010 in games when they do not allow a sack in the contest.
4. The Packers did not have a takeaway in the game. Green Bay was 1-3 this season when they did not have a takeaway … 12-0 in games when they had at least one takeaway. Since 2010, they are 6-26 in games when they do not have a takeaway … 96-30-2 since 2010 when they get at least one takeaway in a game.
5. The Pack was 1-for-15 in third down attempts in the game.  A third down conversion rate of 6.7% will not cut it in this game. The 1-for-15 on third down was the worst of the season for Green Bay. The Packers are 67-22 since 2010 in regular season games when they convert 40% or higher of their third down attempts. Last week against Seattle, the Packers converted on 9-of-14 third downs for 64.3%. That was the third highest third down conversion for the Packers in their history in a playoff game.
6. Aaron Jones had 13 carries for 38 yards, a 2.9 average. Jones ended the 2019 season with a 4.6 yards per carry average. Green Bay was 9-0 this season when Jones had a per carry average above 4.0 in a game. They were 4-3 when it was below four yards per carry in a game.
7. Davante Adams had seven catches, but for only 43 yards. In two of the three losses the Packers had this year, Adams had under 50 yards receiving. Green Bay is 24-11-1 in Adams’ career when he scores a TD.
8. Green Bay had the ball 11 times in the first game, but no drive in that game started past their own 35 yardline. Field position will be a key. They can’t start every drive in their own territory.
9. They had eight drives in the first half and did not score. In five of their eight drives in the first half, the Packers were three-and-out. Their longest drive of the first half was eight plays and 3:47. They will need to sustain drives and get first downs. For the season, Green Bay scored on 19 or the 23 drives that went 10 plays or longer.
10. San Francisco scored on seven of their 11 drives in the game. Four of those scores came on drives that lasted four plays or less.
11. Final Score, 38-9. Green Bay ended the year going 12-1 in games where they scored 20 or more points in a game. They were 0-3 in games where they allowed the opposition to score 26 or more points in the game.
12. San Francisco had 112 yards rushing. In the three games the Packers lost this season, the opponents had more than 100 yards rushing in each of those contests.
13. The Packers longest pass completion in the game was 15 yards. Rodgers completed a pass to Jamaal Williams for 15 yards for the longest pass of the game. The longest pass to a wide receiver was 14 yards to Adams.
14. The longest play from scrimmage in the game was a 21-yard run by Allen Lazard (pictured above). The 21-yard run by Lazard was the longest play for the Packers. Is it possible that more trick plays need to be in the game plan?

Keys for a Packers win?

• A trick play or two will help.
• Keep the game a one-score game at halftime
• Aaron Rodgers cannot throw an interception
• The “O” line has to keep Rodgers on his feet; no more than two sacks
• Sustain drives; a third down conversion rate above 40%
• The running backs need to break a couple of long runs
• Davante Adams has to have a big game
• Rodgers two TD passes and 200-plus yards passing would be great
• The “D” needs to get a takeaway (or two)
• Mason Crosby cannot miss

Follow Jerry on Twitter @StatsonTapp