San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers Pick & Prediction NOVEMBER 24th 2024

Preview and Prediction

A triumph against the visiting San Francisco 49ers on Sunday would strengthen the Green Bay Packers' chances of making the playoffs, drop a conference rival below .500, and seek revenge for a bitter playoff defeat.

These objectives may not be in any particular order for the Packers (8-3), but they are not afraid to dwell on the past as they prepare for a Week 12 showdown.

Last season, the San Francisco 49ers eliminated Green Bay 24-21 in the NFC divisional playoffs, scoring 10 unanswered points in the fourth quarter.

"That's what you have to live with all offseason, going back and watching the game, trying to see what you could have done better," said Packers quarterback Jordan Love. "What you could have done differently in that game... Just knowing that they are the team that knocked us out, we are definitely hungry for this game."

The same goes for San Francisco. After last week's 20-17 home loss to Seattle, the 49ers fell to 5-5, with Geno Smith's 13-yard touchdown run with 12 seconds left sealing their fate.

Despite being just one game behind NFC West-leading Arizona, the reigning conference champions are only 1-3 in division play and cannot afford to lose more ground. After their trip to Green Bay, they will face AFC East leader Buffalo.

The good news is that the 49ers expect to have some key players back. Cornerback Charvarius Ward, who missed the last two games following the death of his 1-year-old daughter, returned to practice on Wednesday. Tight end George Kittle is also eager to play after being sidelined by a nagging hamstring injury against the Seahawks.

"I am very excited," he said. "I cannot pass up playing against the Packers, so no, I will definitely be out there."

San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is day-to-day with right shoulder soreness, but coach Kyle Shanahan said he is on track to play.

Shanahan and Packers head coach Matt LaFleur have been fierce competitors since working together twice, first as low-level assistants with the Texans in 2008, then on the so-called "dream team" staff in Washington that included Sean McVay. They also spent two seasons together with the Falcons (2015, 2016), where LaFleur was quarterbacks coach and Shanahan called the plays.

Shanahan came out on top in their most recent meeting in January. However, Green Bay has won seven of the last eight regular-season matchups between the two teams.

Their familiarity and shared approach to offense, which has led to them completing each other's play calls, has resulted in some close games. The last three at Lambeau Field were all decided by three points.

Green Bay, who will host a home game on Thanksgiving next Thursday, is beginning a stretch of three games in 12 days. They will play back-to-back Thursday games, with their Week 14 game against Detroit.

This may be good news for LaFleur, as some unexpected contributors have emerged in recent weeks.

Packers wide receiver Christian Watson had a career-high 150 receiving yards on just four catches in last week's 20-19 road win against the Chicago Bears. His diving 60-yard reception in the fourth quarter set up Love's go-ahead 1-yard touchdown run with 2:59 remaining.

Watson had only eight catches for 83 yards in his previous three games, but LaFleur assured that he remains a "big part" of their offensive strategy.

"He is a guy who has all the physical attributes you could want - size, speed, and those were not easy plays he was making," LaFleur said. "He was making tough, contested catches."

San Francisco will look to generate more pressure on Love than the Bears did, as they only managed to sack him once. The 49ers recorded four sacks against the Seahawks, with Nick Bosa and Leonard Floyd contributing 1.5 each.

Bosa (hip/oblique) did not practice on Wednesday, but Shanahan said there is just as much chance of him not playing as there is of him playing.

Green Bay has had the upper hand in recent regular-season matchups against San Francisco at Lambeau Field.

The Packers have won seven of their last eight home games against the 49ers and have a 22-11 record against them at home all-time.

PREDICTION

San Francisco 49ers

23

25

Green Bay Packers