49ers-Packers Preview

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• Countdown Daily Recap: 49ers-Packers

SCOUTING REPORT

49ers-Packers: 10 observations After breaking down film of both teams, Scouts Inc. offers 10 things to watch in this week's 49ers-Packers matchup. 1. San Francisco needs to pressure the pocket: San Francisco 49ers defensive coordinator Greg Manusky is not afraid to dial up the heat to force the issue. The 49ers, under his tutelage, have become one of the toughest teams to run on, but they lack a great pass rush. With the Green Bay Packers giving up a league-high 41 sacks, San Francisco needs to bring a big blitz.

· Full Scouting Report

Matchup
	W-L	PF	PA	HOME	ROAD	DIV	CONF
SFO	8-8	330	281	6-2	2-6	5-1	7-5
GNB	11-5	461	297	6-2	5-3	4-2	9-3
· Complete Standings

Individual Leaders

San Francisco Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Smith 60.5 2350 18 12 Hill 56.1 943 5 2

Green Bay Passing   CMP% YDS TD INT Rodger... 64.7 4434 30 7 Flynn 58.3 58 0 1

San Francisco Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Gore 229 1120 4.9 10 Coffee 83 226 2.7 1

Green Bay Rushing   CAR YDS AVG TD Grant 282 1253 4.4 11 Rodger... 58 316 5.4 5

San Francisco Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Davis 78 965 12.4 13 Crabtr... 48 625 13.0 2

Green Bay Receiving   REC YDS AVG TD Jennin... 68 1113 16.4 4 Driver 70 1061 15.2 6

Full Player Stats: San Francisco | Green Bay

TEAM AVERAGES & NFL RANKS
TEAM OFFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Total Yards	SFO	291.0
	GNB	379.0
Yards Passing	SFO	190.8
	GNB	261.3
Yards Rushing	SFO	100.0
	GNB	117.8
TEAM DEFENSE	TEAM	PER GAME AVERAGE
Yards Allowed	SFO	326.4
	GNB	284.4
Pass Yds Allowed	SFO	229.4
	GNB	201.1
Rush Yds Allowed	SFO	97.0
	GNB	83.3

HEAD TO HEAD MATCHUPS (SINCE 2001)
Green Bay leads 5-0
Dec 10, 2006	SFO 19, @GNB 30
Nov 23, 2003	SFO 10, GNB 20
Dec 15, 2002	SFO 14, @GNB 20
Jan 13, 2002	SFO 15, GNB 25

Looking for a spark in the second half of the season, the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers have been rejuvenated after recording much-needed victories last week.

Both teams look to build on that momentum while the Packers try for an eighth consecutive victory over the 49ers on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

While Green Bay (5-4) avoided a third straight loss with an aggressive defensive effort in a 17-7 win over Dallas last Sunday, San Francisco benefited from five Jay Cutler interceptions and snapped a four-game losing streak with a 10-6 win over Chicago on Nov. 12.

"It was a big relief," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. "It's truly a blessing to be able to get this. We just have to keep winning."

The victory helped keep the 49ers (4-5) in the NFC playoff mix, one game behind the Packers, who moved into a four-way tie with Philadelphia, New York and Atlanta for the two wild card spots.

"(It) won't mean anything if we don't win (this) week," said Packers cornerback Charles Woodson, who forced two fumbles and had an interception against the Cowboys. "It could be fun the rest of the season. But it could also be tough if we don't do what we need to do."

What Green Bay will try to do is continue its success over San Francisco, which hasn't beaten the Packers since a 24-20 win at Lambeau on Nov. 4, 1990.

After this contest, the Packers have a winnable game at Detroit on Thanksgiving before facing a difficult stretch against Baltimore followed by games at Chicago and Pittsburgh.

It was Green Bay's defense -- ranked fourth in league allowing 282.3 yards per game -- that made the difference against Dallas. The Packers sacked Tony Romo five times and allowed the Cowboys to convert only three of 12 third-down chances while holding them to 283 yards and a late fourth-quarter touchdown.

Green Bay, allowing 19.9 points per contest, had given up 76 points total in losing their previous two games to Tampa Bay and Minnesota after yielding a field goal in blowout wins over Cleveland and Detroit.

"It's well-documented what's gone on the last two weeks," Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy said. "We were able to learn from that, carry it forward to our game (last weekend), and we need to take that forward to San Francisco."

The Packers have a chance for another solid defensive effort against the 49ers, who rank 27th in total offense (277.9 yards per game) and 21st in scoring (20.4 points).

Green Bay's defense should get a boost with the expected return of linebacker Aaron Kampman, who sat out last weekend from the effects of a concussion.

Offensively, the Packers still need to do a better job of protecting quarterback Aaron Rodgers. He was 25 of 36 for 189 yards and a touchdown, but was sacked four times by the Cowboys. Green Bay has a allowed a league-high 41 sacks.

It's uncertain if a knee injury will again keep veteran offensive tackle Mark Tauscher out of the lineup Sunday. McCarthy, however, felt rookie T.J. Lang played well in Tauscher's place last weekend.

Rodgers, who had thrown at least two TDs in six straight games before last week, faces a San Francisco defense which also was the difference in its latest victory.

After failing to force a turnover in their previous two games, the 49ers' recorded a season high with the five interceptions and held the Bears to 43 yards rushing.

Despite throwing for 118 yards, Alex Smith won for the first time in eight starts dating to a 17-16 win over St. Louis on Sept. 16, 2007. Frank Gore rushed 25 times for 104 yards and the game's only touchdown during his second 100-yard game of the season.

After rushing for more than 1,000 yards each of the last three seasons, Gore has gained 551 this season and scored in three straight contests.

Gore ran for 130 yards and a touchdown on 18 carries in a San Francisco's 30-19 loss to Green Bay in the teams' most recent meeting on Dec. 10, 2006.

Leaders talk wording of 49ers stadium measure

Santa Clara city leaders are set to discuss the final wording of the ballot measure for a proposed stadium for the San Francisco 49ers.

Owners talk labor situation; status quo reigns

NFL owners have met for several hours to discuss the labor situation, although it appears they are no closer to reaching an agreement with the players' union for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Bears shift Marinelli to defensive coordinator

The Bears hired the 49ers' Shane Day as quarterbacks coach.

Pasquarelli: Practice-squad player contributing to Colts' cause

Taj Smith won't suit up for Super Bowl XLIV, but he's played an important role in the Colts' defensive preparations, writes Len Pasquarelli.

Santa Clara approves financing plan for 49ers stadium

Nearly three years after Santa Clara's hopes of landing an NFL stadium came to life, the City Council early this morning carried that dream over yet another key hurdle ? approving a long-awaited financing plan with the San Francisco 49ers.

CB Bly blows into camp

"My instincts are still very instinctive," he said. Good to know. When Walt Harris tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee two weeks ago, the 49ers were in need of a top-flight cornerback.

Newsom to Santa Clara: Don't build stadium

The Santa Clara City Council may decide tonight to bless a $937 million stadium project for the San Francisco 49ers.

Sharing stadium not such bad idea

THE ONLY ABSOLUTE about a sports team seeking a new home is the presence of anger.

Singletary's 'intensity' could be rallying point for middling 49ers

The new uniforms bring to mind the San Francisco 49ers of the championship years.

S Atari Bigby isn't back yet, but he's ready to go

Atari Bigby says he feels great, and that's saying something, considering how the Green Bay Packers' strong safety limped through the 2008 season.

Packers Daily Briefing 06.01.09

Jun. 1, 2009 6:00 a.m. Good morning. Here is your PDB for Monday, June 1, 2009. It contains all the links, info, analysis and occasional humor you'll need to start your day.

Tauscher's replacement will be green

The Green Bay Packers won't anoint a new starting right tackle until August, but they'll go to training camp with a pretty good idea about the identity of Mark Tauscher's successor.

Rodgers looks to expand leadership

Aaron Rodgers' strong 2008 season has him operating the 2009 Packers offense with confidence - much more so than last year at this time.