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NFL Playoff Saturday: The highest seeded Packers look to maneuver on to the championship however first they should beat a pesky San Francisco group. – Sports activities Discuss Florida

Aaron Rodgers understands his hopes for a second Super Bowl title with the Green Bay Packers are running out of time.

The 38-year-old quarterback’s final postseason run begins Saturday night as he attempts to beat the team that has served as the three-time MVP’s greatest nemesis in the playoffs.

Rodgers has a 0-3 playoff record against the San Francisco 49ers, despite beating them in the regular season for the past two years. The top-ranked Packers (13-4) and 49ers (11-7) face off again Saturday night in an NFC division playoff game at Lambeau Field.

“I think mortality in football is something we all think about,” Rodgers said. “And we all think about how many opportunities are presented to us to move forward, and each one is special.”

Since stumbling to a 3-5 start, the 49ers have won eight of 10 while showing a knack for delivering away. They secured a playoff spot by recovering from a 17-0 deficit to win an away game in overtime with the Los Angeles Rams and followed that up with a 23-17 wildcard win in Dallas.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo says San Francisco’s slow start prompted the 49ers to adopt a playoff mentality prematurely.

“When you put that pressure on your team early on, it creates a mindset,” Garoppolo said. “It creates an atmosphere of urgency in the dressing room that we need to win now and make some plays.”

The Packers defeated the 49ers 30-28 on the road on September 26, with the 49ers erasing a 17-0 deficit and taking the lead in the last minute before Rodgers Green Bay for Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal positioned time up. The Packers also beat the 49ers away from home last season, 34-17.

But the 49ers can draw on their successful postseason history against Rodgers’ Packers, including a 37-20 win in the NFC Championship game two seasons ago.

“This is a special opportunity,” Rodgers said. “We’re not going to make it bigger than it is. We’ve come to the point where we’re level headed and balanced and haven’t triggered a roller coaster of emotions, and we will continue to do the same. So if it was good enough to get us this far, it’s good enough to get us past this point.”

DYNAMIC DEEBO

Deebo Samuel has added another role to his all-round squad.

The dynamic receiver and runner showed off his forecasting skills last week. After San Francisco intercepted a pass, Samuel challenged coach Kyle Shanahan to get him the ball and he would score. Shanahan called a handoff on the next play, and Samuel took it 26 yards for a TD.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve never been anywhere near a football player who’s done his own thing,” said Mike McDaniel, 49ers offensive coordinator. “I go to basketball, but when you play with 22 people on the field, 11 of them try to attack you with all their might. And you’re just like, ‘Hey, yeah, give me the ball, I’ll put the ball in the box’, and for him that was a special moment that only a special player could achieve.”

Samuel has 1,880 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns this season, including the playoffs.

STAY DISCIPLINE

Green Bay’s most obvious concern is slowing down a 49ers rushing attack. Elijah Mitchell and Samuel ran 168 yards together against the Cowboys.

The Packers say they also need to pay attention to what linebacker De’Vondre Campbell described as “eye candy.” Campbell was referring to various shifts and pre-snap moves that Shanahan uses to trick defenders into looking the wrong way.

“The way he designs his plays, the moves, and all the different kinds of shifts and all that kind of stuff, it’s something that draws everyone’s attention,” said Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark. “So if your eyes are in the wrong place, if you’re not doing your job or doing what you’re trained to do, he can take advantage of that.”

VIOLATION UPDATES

Packer’s offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) are questionable and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) is iffy. The Packers are awaiting wide receiver Randall Cobb (core) and offensive tackle Billy Turner (knee) after injuries knocked them out for the latter part of the regular season.

49ers defensive end Nick Bosa (concussion), cornerback Ambry Thomas (knee) and defensive end Jordan Willis (ankle) are questionable. Bosa was deleted from the concussion log.

DEFEND DAVANTE

Green Bay’s Davante Adams caught 12 passes for 132 yards and a touchdown in the Packers’ regular-season win over the 49ers.

San Francisco is stronger in the secondary now than it was in September thanks to Thomas’ late-season appearance, but defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans knows slowing Adams will be a tall order.

“They make it difficult because they move Davante great,” Ryans said. “He doesn’t stay in one place. He can move into the slot. He can play outside. He is everywhere.”

tundra

The forecast for Saturday in Green Bay calls for a high of 19 degrees with a low of 7, although no snow is expected.

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AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

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More AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://apnews.com/hub/pro-32 and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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