Every Packers fan is still trying to forget the replacement referee season of 2012. Some of that has been avenged in the 2015 season as the Green Bay Packers knocked off the Seattle Seahawks just two short weeks ago. This week they get the one they started that season off with, the San Francisco 49ers. They faced Alex Smith at quarterback in that game, where they lost 22-30, and since then have lost the next three times, two of those coming in the playoffs, to Colin Kaepernick.
Everyone remembers the January 12, 2013 playoff game though, as that is one that Packers fans will not easily forget, as they started off with an early lead off a Sam Shields interception return for a touchdown. But Kaepernick would pass for 263 yards and then run for 181 yards and a combined total of four touchdowns. But now it has been a long time and it seems like the fortune's have changed for the 49ers as they are not the NFC West dominant team that they had been during the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
One thing that will be key in this game is the Packers early offensive success. 49ers Head Coach Jim Tomsula will be clearly game planning to slow the Packers down and keep them off the field, but expect the Packers to go with a no huddle offense early in the contest. Aaron Rodgers will be trying to get a spark going on the first few possessions as he takes the field with Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Eddie Lacy. They have also found success when they put Ty Montgomery in the game, as he will likely get his first career NFL start if Davante Adams is unable to play on Sunday. One major key is going to be if the 49ers have a good solution to when Cobb lines up in the backfield, because that is a match-up nightmare that most teams are just not able to face well.
Meanwhile the Packers defense will need to tackle very well as they face the rushing attack of Reggie Bush and Carlos Hyde. Bush was hurt earlier in the season, but he's expected to be back to play on Sunday, and with the previous struggle that the Packers have had in stopping Kaepernick, this writer feels they will design more plays for him to give out of the pocket in hopes of him being able to run up the field. Torrey Smith will be a new target in this match-up that the Packers haven't faced with the 49ers, and he is worth watching as he had six catches for 120 yards two weeks ago against the Pittsburgh Steelers, and he may be a bigger focus as Vernon Davis might miss the game due to injury.
As far as a prediction goes, this writer feels like the Packers will be able to get the monkey off their back again in this game. It will be another NFC West foe down as Rodgers throws for four touchdowns in this game, one each to Cobb, Jones, Richard Rodgers, and Montgomery. Kaepernick will throw another pick six to Shields in this game and the Packers will rout the 49ers on the road as they will go on to get the victory 38-13.