Tonight's game will be a battle of the broken. The Green Bay Packers are expected to be without several starters, while the San Francisco 49ers will have only three starters on offense who also played in last year’s NFC Championship Game. In other words, the Packers have no excuses this week.

Green Bay and San Francisco have never played before on Thursday night. A win for Green Bay will provide a confidence boost and hopefully get them back on the right track. They would also lead the all-time series 37-32-1, including playoffs.

The 49ers have won the last two matchups by a combined score of 74 to 28. The Packers don’t want to make it three in a row, and Matt LaFleur probably wants a win against his good friend Kyle Shanahan. Another loss would put San Francisco at 4-5 in what is arguably the best division in football. Given all their injuries, it would be a steep uphill battle to recover.

This game should be a get right game for Green Bay. The defense will essentially be facing San Francisco’s backup offense, and they have already lost multiple key starters on defense. For those expecting a rematch of two of the top teams in the NFC, this is not it.

Last year’s 49ers team was arguably the most well-rounded team in the NFL. Shanahan designed masterful game plans that even Jimmy Garoppolo could execute. Packers fans might remember the one in which Raheem Mostert ran for 220 yards and four touchdowns and ended their season.

This is not the San Francisco team from 2019, but Shanahan is still a great coach. If anyone can give Mike Pettine everything he can handle despite fielding a junior varsity team, it’s him.

Tonight, it will be Nick Mullens replacing an injured Garoppolo. For comparison’s sake, this could be like the game from two years ago on Monday Night Football. CJ Beathard was the starter that night when it took a last-second field goal from Mason Crosby to beat the 1-4 49ers.

For those worried about the run defense, Pettine is tasked with containing Jerick McKinnon. You may remember him from his time with the Vikings. McKinnon is a small but speedy back. If Green Bay takes him away, they likely win.

Speaking of backfields, the Packers won’t have Jamaal Williams or AJ Dillon. Aaron Jones will be a game-time decision after missing the last two games with a calf injury.

This outcome could come down to Aaron Rodgers and Davante Adams. The quarterback-wide receiver duo has been on a tear of late, connecting 26 times for 310 yards and five touchdowns in the last three games. The only plausible way Green Bay can let this game slip through their fingers if the defense implodes. It’s happened before at the mercy of this very opponent.