5 reasons why the Packers will beat the 49ers (and 1 reason why they might not)

I was fully confident that the Green Bay Packers were going to beat the 49ers 57-0 until I heard the reports out of San Francisco that 49ers coach Jim Tomsula let a fart rip during Thursday's news conference.

Now the score might not be so lopsided. Tomsula's flatulence could be the secret weapon that helps the 49ers make a game out of this one.

For instance, how will Aaron Rodgers handle it if Tomsula lets one fly during a key series in the fourth quarter, causing Randall Cobb (or whichever receiver is closest to the 49ers sideline) to immediately drop dead?

What if the noxious fumes waft their way onto the playing field? If Packers offensive linemen pass out from the stench, is that a false start penalty?

How will Rodgers himself handle the situation if Tomsula crop dusts the red zone? Rodgers has dealt with plenty of adversity in his career, but never something like this. 

Or what if Mason Crosby is setting up for a game-winning field goal and Tomsula raises his leg and provides a nasty gust of wind that pushes the kick wide right?

Be worried, Packers fans. Be very worried...

On the other hand, the Packers should be well prepared to handle any and all stinky situations. The state cuisine in Wisconsin is bratwurst, cheese and beer, after all. I'm sure plenty of grossed out faces have been made at Packers team parties following dinner and an "Alright, who did that?" fart.

And I guarantee you every member of the Packers offensive line has let one go as a joke during practice or during a blowout Packers win. Bryan Bulaga, Josh Sitton, or whomever, probably thought they were being funny by clearing out the huddle early. Little did they know they were helping to prepare their teammates to face the Great Farting Tomsula in the Big Bell Bottom.

Injuries haven't slowed down the Packers this season. Neither has a challenging first part of the schedule or playing two games in prime time. I can't see a gassy head coach getting in the way, either.

Here are five reasons why the 49ers will be just another fart in the wind on the Packers march to the Super Bowl:

Perseverance
No matter what type of injuries you throw at the Packers, they keep chugging along. Yes, having a healthy Aaron Rodgers makes it much easier to overcome the injury bug, but it's nice to see a team not only hold it together through injuries, but thrive and improve. That train should keep rolling later this afternoon.

Multi-faceted
It's still too early to make bold declarations about any team, but doesn't this Packers team seem more diverse than other years? Yes, there are hiccups, but it seems like the Packers aren't relying so heavily on turnovers to be successful on defense and big plays to take over the game on offense. The D is capable of holding their own without taking the ball away and the offense has thrived despite the lack of deep pass plays downfield. In past matchups, the 49ers' power running would seize control of the game and their physical secondary would frustrate the Packers' offense. The Packers seem better equipped to handle both of those things today.

Bring on the blitz
Under new coordinator Eric Mangini, the 49ers blitz often. Rodgers' mobility and his ability to read the defense pre-snap makes him deadly against blitzes. So, Mangini should just try and get pressure with four rushers, right? Well, so far this season, when the 49ers don't blitz they've been picked apart. It could be a damned if you do, damned if you don't kind of day for Mangini and the 49ers defense.

Right side woes
Pay attention to the right side of the 49ers offensive line. The Steelers and Cardinals had great success going after guard Jordan Devey and tackle Erik Pears. Look for Dom Capers to employ a similar strategy.

Time to win one
Because the Packers can't lose to the 49ers again, right? Green Bay finally beat Seattle this season, now it's time to get that smaller 49ers monkey off its back. 
 


...but just in case the 49ers run of success continues over Green Bay, this could be why:

Kaepernick owns Capers
Much like Bears quarterback Jay Cutler can't figure out Dom Capers' defenses, Capers can't seem to figure out what to do against 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick has trashed the Packers defense multiple times and is no doubt looking at today's matchup as an opportunity to get his season -- and career -- back on track against a familiar foe.

0 points
 

Comments (15)

Fan-Friendly This filter will hide comments which have ratio of 5 to 1 down-vote to up-vote.
porupack's picture

October 04, 2015 at 06:25 am

Entertaining article, Adam. Well done. I agree with your rationale, especially second point about multi-faceted is really important. DC-MM seem to be inserting mixes of versatile players in OLB-ILB, ILB-Safety, Safety-CB, so it creates a lot of confusion. Plus there seems to be more speed in ILB. Its hard to rank the improved DLine, because the first 3 games were against weak opponents' Olines. Maybe same this week, so should be a clear win. Nonetheless, there seems to be more discipline in front 7 as well; so let's see if they contain Carlos Hyde and Kaepnick.

0 points
0
0
PaulRosik's picture

October 04, 2015 at 09:13 am

If the Packers lose it is because it is a road game. The Packers are 9 - 9 in their last 18 road games and included in these are some real clinkers where the Pack looked listless and disinterested.

Let's hope part of McCarthy not calling plays and watching out for the overall team includes motivation and being ready to play on the road.

0 points
0
0
Dan Stodola's picture

October 04, 2015 at 09:54 am

The road to a top playoff seed is win your home games and go .500 on the road. I'll take a 12-4 record every year! Winning on the road in the NFL is not easy by any means, no matter the team or venue.

That said, this is a game the Packers need, the road schedule only gets tougher w/ games in Oak, AZ, Denver not to mention remaining road division games at Det and Minn.

0 points
0
0
PaulRosik's picture

October 04, 2015 at 08:36 pm

I agree. Survive on the road and make your living at home. But tell that to people on this site. They seem to treat home games and road games the same and expect Lambeau style dominance when the Packers play on the road.

0 points
0
0
Ibleedgreenmore's picture

October 04, 2015 at 09:18 am

They cut Gaston and brought up Abby who knows but it means Adams is not as good as one would want.

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

October 04, 2015 at 10:09 am

They brought up Abby because Adams is injured and probably out until after the bye. It's difficult to be good when you're injured. In the meantime let's hope that Abby gets to make some big plays. Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
Oppy's picture

October 04, 2015 at 11:56 am

I think all it means is that the Packers believed having Abby on the roster was better for the team at this point than having Gaston on the roster at this point.

I also think it means that -you- don't think Adams is as good as -you- would want... but that's just my best guess ;)

0 points
0
0
Oppy's picture

October 04, 2015 at 11:57 am

Full disclosure: I think Adams is an absolute stud in the making.

0 points
0
0
Dan Stodola's picture

October 04, 2015 at 12:25 pm

Adams is a good #2 WR, and Abbrederis is a good #4 WR. On there best days, when they have favorable matchups, they can make a couple plays. Neither is a stud, game breaker or anything near it.

Both have some good qualities and are useful players, but role players fits them best.

Packers should have drafted Donte Moncrief, who I liked in that draft. 6'2 220, 4.4 40 as good a leaper as Adams. Moncrief (TD in every game this year) would be the deep threat we are missing w/o Jordy and which Adams is not. Did you see Moncrief leap over a CB to make that TD catch last week, that was supposed to be what Adams was best at, yet hasn't done. But Adams did get run down by a CB due to his pedestrian 4.56 speed last year doubt that would have happened to Moncrief.

Hope Ted got in right, but even when healthy this year Adams didn't step up. Its a bit early but just sayin...

0 points
0
0
Oppy's picture

October 04, 2015 at 01:36 pm

Maybe you missed Adams' rookie games vs. NE and vs. DAL in the playoffs. They had almost identical statistical rookie seasons, but Adams had the disadvantage of getting less opportunity, playing in a stronger receiving corps headed up by Nelson and Cobb, on a team that had 130 less passing attempts than the Colts in 2014.

I'm good with Adams. We'll see in five years where these two guys are. The biggest difference is going to be opportunity- there's less of it in GB because the stable of WR's is stronger.

0 points
0
0
Thegreatreynoldo's picture

October 04, 2015 at 07:25 pm

I agree with every word Dan wrote about Adams, except I think Adams is a #3 WR, not a #2. Moncrief would have been better and would have been a bargain. I liked both Moncrief and M. Bryant much better than Adams. OTOH, I liked Marcus Martin at center and Bradford, too, so I have that on my resume. I'll go with TT in general, and particularly on WRs and O linemen.

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

October 04, 2015 at 10:11 am

Five reasons why the Packers will beat the 49ers:
1. Aaron Rodgers
2. Aaron Rodgers
3. Aaron Rodgers
4. Aaron Rodgers
5. Aaron Rodgers

Go Pack Go! Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
Tundraboy's picture

October 04, 2015 at 10:45 am

I'll go with that again (and a complete game from the D)

0 points
0
0
Since'61's picture

October 04, 2015 at 10:54 am

We're 3-0, I'm sticking with it as long as it's working. Thanks, Since '61

0 points
0
0
croatpackfan's picture

October 05, 2015 at 03:18 am

This time it was not good prediction. Thank God, our defense starts to roll...

0 points
0
0