The San Francisco 49ers have been the NFL's biggest surprise. They've started the season off a shocking 9-1 and currently lead the NFC West. But the team's biggest challenge is fast approaching in the form of a showdown with Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers. The game will almost definitely come down to the wire, which isn't exactly the way to go against Rodgers. In order for the 49ers to win a huge game, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo needs to put the team on his back. He's shown flashes of clutch play this season, but nothing decisive yet. A big game against a great team would go a long way in silencing the doubters.
Bold Prediction #1: Garoppolo throws for over 400 yards
This is a feat that the young 49ers signal-caller has only achieved once this season, and it was in Week 11. The catch is that Garoppolo pulled this off against an awful Arizona Cardinals secondary. The Packers' defense is worlds away from the Cardinals', but Jimmy G will still have a shot at this milestone. This will be the third game in a row that comes down to the last possession for San Francisco, and the running game will take a back seat again. Green Bay will turn this into a back-and-forth affair that Garoppolo will have to win through the air, and that will show in the stat sheet.
Bold Prediction #2: Garoppolo commits two or more turnovers
Turnovers are becoming an unfortunate feature in Garoppolo's game. There's only been one game this season where he didn't commit a turnover, and it will likely stay at one in Week 12. The Niners have had a soft schedule that the Eastern Illinois product has definitely benefited from. Now, he has to face the best defense he's seen all year. In a game that is bound to be close, it seems inevitable that Garoppolo makes a mistake. He'll probably be asked to pass more than 40 times, and a couple of those will be completed to the wrong team.
Bold Prediction #3: Garoppolo leads a game-winning drive
Despite being turnover prone, Garoppolo is still a great signal-caller. He's shown some mettle in the last two weeks, leading a crucial tying drive in Week 10 and a game-winning drive in Week 11. To be fair, those performances against shaky defenses, but the lasting effects of those experiences still count. With his confidence high after his last two games, Garoppolo will take control in a one-score game and give the San Francisco fans a night to remember.
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