Packers would be foolish to take 49ers lightly
By GERY WOELFEL
It would appear, at least on the surface, the Green Bay Packers are going to have a walk in the park Sunday at Lambeau Field.
The Packers will host the 49ers, and the 49ers resemble a M*A*S*H unit. They have stars on both sides of the ball who’ll be watching the game instead of playing it.
That group of 49ers includes star quarterback Brock Purdy, star defensive end Nick Bosa and standout cornerback Charvarius Ward. There’s even a chance their all-world offensive tackle Trent Williams may miss the game because of injury.
The Packers should roll, right?
Well, maybe not.
The good folks in Vegas, who making a living predicting the final scores of games, have the Packers as a mere 5.5-point favorite. That’s hardly a whopping spread, especially since the Packers are playing at home.
So, what gives?
Actually there are two things: 1) The 49ers still have a spate of talented players who are playing (Yes, the 49ers are that talented) and 2) The 49ers are virtually in a “must-win’’ situation.
As for the former, the 49ers will still have the services of Christian McCaffrey, an exceptional running back, and a stellar cast of receivers led by George Kittle, the preeminent tight end in the game.
The 49ers receivers are also top shelf: Deebo Samuel Sr., and Brandon Aiyuk are game-changers. And they aren’t even the 49ers leading receiver this season. That distinction belongs to Jauan Jennings, who has 42 receptions.
As for the “must-win’’ scenario, the 49ers are on the NFC playoff bubble with a 5-5 record. A loss would clearly put the 49ers in deep trouble, especially considering they practically have a “Murderers’ Row’’ schedule in front of them, including games against the Lions and Bills, the best teams in the NFC and AFC, respectively.
So, while the Packers (7-3) should take care of business against the battered 49ers, head coach Matt LaFleur and his crew would be making a monumental mistake to take them lightly.
Prediction: Packers 27, 49ers 24
