The Green Bay Packers are fresh off of their Week 11 bye week and have a completely healthy roster heading into their Week 12 showdown on Sunday Night Football against the San Francisco 49ers. Both teams are viewed as legitimate Super Bowl contenders, with the 49ers holding a 9-1 record and the Packers sitting at 8-2 so far this season.
Due to this high profile of a matchup, the NFL decided to flex the Packers vs. 49ers matchup from the afternoon to primetime.
Aaron Rodgers and company are looking to make yet another statement under first-year head coach Matt LaFleur. Knocking off the current No. 1 seed in the NFC would prove yet again that the Packers have gone from missing the playoffs last season to being a top contender to hoist the Lombardi Trophy at the end of the year.
Both teams are stacked with talent, but they are stacked with talent in different ways. Green Bay has an incredibly high-profile offense when they are clicking, while the 49ers focus on locking opposing offenses down with their hard-nosed defenses. San Francisco has a solid offense with a great running game, while the Packers have a defense capable of making big plays.
All of that being said, here are four reasons why the Packers will be the team that comes away with the big win this week.
4. The Packers Can Get To Jimmy Garoppolo
First up, the Packers have one of the league's most formidable pass rushing duos. They have had some trouble getting to the quarterback against top-notch offensive lines, but they will find a way to put pressure on Jimmy Garoppolo this week. Mike Pettine will likely have a very aggressive defensive game plan.
Preston and Za'Darius Smith are two of the top pass rushers in the NFL this season and Green Bay also has other players capable of getting to the quarterback. Kyler Fackrell and Rashan Gary could play a role in this game. Garoppolo is going to have a lot of green and gold in his face all night long.
3. Green Bay Has Too Many Offensive Weapons
San Francisco has a very stout defense, but the Packers have too many weapons for them to shut down. Davante Adams is one of the top receivers in the game and will be much closer to 100 percent than he has been since returning from a toe injury. Add in names like Jimmy Graham, Geronimo Allison, Allen Lazard, and Marquez Valdes-Scantling, and the Packers are tough to stop.
Aaron Jones and Jamaal Williams have been a force on the ground and as receivers. Rodgers is no longer having to do all the work himself, which is going to make things difficult on the 49ers.
2. Winning the Turnover Battle
Next up, the Packers are going to win the turnover battle this week. Garoppolo has had a tendency at times to turn the football over in bunches. Green Bay has a playmaking secondary and they are going to take advantage of a mistake or two from Jimmy G.
Rodgers, on the other hand, is one of the best quarterbacks in NFL history at taking care of the football. He will throw a pick here and there, but they don't come in bunches. Even with San Francisco having a deadly pass rush and some playmakers in the secondary, the Packers are going to win the turnover battle.
1. Aaron Rodgers, Enough Said
Speaking of Aaron Rodgers, his presence alone deserves to be noted at the top of this list. He is back to playing at an MVP level under LaFleur and is only getting better as the season progresses. Rodgers also seems to thrive in high-pressure primetime games, which is exactly what this matchup will be.
Any time a team has a quarterback like Rodgers on their side, they have an advantage. Garoppolo is a solid all-around quarterback, but the presence of Rodgers gives the Packers a great chance to pull off this big conference victory.
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