JASON WILDE For the State Journal

GREEN BAY — In a 2021 Green Bay Packers season filled with feel-good stories — inside linebacker De’Vondre Campbell going from on-the-street free agent to first-team All-Pro, cornerback Rasul Douglas intercepting a team-high five passes while finding a home with his sixth team in two years — Yosh Nijman might’ve been the best of the bunch.

Until the end, anyway. That was anything but storybook.

During the regular season, the Packers little-known gentle giant offensive lineman had been a godsend, stepping in at left tackle when five-time All-Pro David Bakhtiari developed problems with the surgically repaired ACL in his left knee, and Pro Bowl left guard -turned-left tackle Elgton Jenkins missed time with an ankle injury and then was lost for the season to a torn ACL in his left knee in November.

Nijman, who’d played only 14 career offensive snaps before last year, wound up starting eight regular-season games and playing 590 offensive snaps (52.9%), blocking some of the NFL’s best edge rushers (Pittsburgh’s TJ Watt, San Francisco’s Nick Bosa , Cleveland’s Myles Garrett and the Los Angeles Rams’ Von Miller among them) while giving up three sacks and 20 total pressures according to Pro Football Focus.

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While his PFF grade (63.6) wasn’t elite like those of Bakhtiari and Jenkins in past years, Nijman more than held his own while protecting the blindside of quarterback Aaron Rodgerswho would go on to win his second straight and fourth overall NFL MVP award.

And, Nijman’s PFF grade was still higher than three of his linemates who started games — center Josh Myers (54.9), guard Royce Newman (55.7), center/guard Lucas Patrick (57.2) — and slightly below those of guard Jon Runyan (64.6 ) and right tackle Billy Turner (66.2).

But leading into the team’s NFC divisional round game against the 49ers, Adam Stenavich — now the team’s offensive coordinator, but the offensive line coach at the time — decided to reshuffle the line instead of keeping the status quo with Nijman at left tackle.

With Turner returning from a knee injury, Stenavich opted to shift Turner to left tackle and start veteran Dennis Kelly, who’d played well in 4½ games in Turner’s place at right tackle, on the right side.

Turner struggled, Rodgers absorbed five sacks and was under pressure most of the game, and the Packers’ season ended with a 13-10 loss to the 49ers at Lambeau Field.

“I think (it was a matter of) just going with the most experienced guys,” Stenavich explained earlier this offseason. “My perspective on the whole thing was just going with the most experienced, toughest, hard-nosed guys for that kind of a game.

“Just the kind of game it was going to be, I thought it was going to be a pretty good slugfest. That was my decision as an offensive line coach at the time and I think everyone was on board with it.”

Then, after a pause Stenavich added, “It is what it is.”

As the Packers got ready to kick off their second week of organized team activity practices on Tuesday, Nijman hadn’t shown any signs of lingering frustration or bitterness.

The same guy who had to correct coach Matt LaFleur on his name as an undrafted free agent in 2019, who told All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams what a “blessing” it was just to be on the field when Jenkins was injured and entertained teammates with his “giant robot” celebration doesn’t seem to have let last season’s disappointment affect him.

“Everything,” Nijman replied last week when asked in what ways he’s different from this time last year. “This is my fourth year now. As a rookie three years ago, scrambling into meetings and all around the building, for me, it’s more so being a helping hand for those (younger) guys now. … At this point I know most things.”

He also knows the opportunity he has in front of him. With Bakhtiari and Jenkins both still relegated to spectators at OTAs, the No. 1 group that lined up in front of backup quarterback Jordan Love (with Rodgers not attending the first week of OTAs) had Nijman at left tackle, Runyan at left guard, Myers at center, Newman at right guard and Cole Van Lanen at right tackle.

“With Yosh, you’ve got to give him a lot of credit through the last three years, just his work ethic and his consistency working. I think he just needed an opportunity,” general manager Brian Gutekunst said. “It’s probably as much my fault as anybody. We kept bringing in veteran guys at tackle to shore up that third tackle spot, which never really gave him the opportunity. Once he got the opportunity, he certainly performed exceptionally well.”

With last year’s game experience, Nijman should be the leading candidate to start at right tackle in the Sept. 11 season opener at Minnesota if Bakhtiari finally returns to the lineup but Jenkins isn’t ready and starts out on the physically unable to perform list — especially with Turner, Kelly and Patrick playing with new teams this season.

Once Jenkins is healthy, the Packers will have to decide whether to play him at his previous position (left guard) or move him to right tackle and keep Runyan at left guard, leaving Nijman as the swing tackle backing up both spots.

“We’ll figure all that stuff out. I think if Yosh works at it, Yosh can do whatever he wants,” new line coach Luke Butkus said. “He’s going to have an opportunity.”

With Stenavich having challenged Nijman to take “the next step forward” and prove to the coaches that they can “count on him to be a reliable starter,” Nijman understands nothing will be given to him and that training camp and preseason games will be his proving ground — especially with Gutekunst having picked nine offensive linemen in the past three drafts to elevate the line competition significantly.

“Yosh, he’s a great human being. And then seeing how hard he works (was impressive),” Butkus said. “Every day after practice, I was given the opportunity to work with the young guys. And to see how far he’s come in the last three years is really cool.

“I’m excited, and I think he’s got a huge upside.”

Photos: Green Bay Packers put in offseason work during organized team activities

Linebacker Ellis Brooks stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebacker Caliph Brice stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Backup quarterback Jordan Love stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cornerback Shemar Jean-Charles runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Backup quarterback Jordan Love runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie running back Tyler Goodson runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Defensive lineman TJ Slaton runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Running back Aaron Jones runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur throws a pass during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie defensive lineman Jonathan Ford runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebacker Ty Summers runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Safety Shawn Davis runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Safety Vernon Scott runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Green Bay head coach Matt LaFleur throws a pass during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cornerback Eric Stokes runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie cornerback Raleigh Texada runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tight end Alizé Mack runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tight end Tyler Davis runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie defensive lineman Devonte Wyatt runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wide receiver Randall Cobb runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Linebackers Ray Wilborn and Ty Summers run a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Tight end Dominique Dafney runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie wide receiver Romeo Doubs runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie wide receiver Christian Watson runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wide receiver Malik Taylor runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wide receiver Juwann Winfree runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rookie linebacker Caliph Brice stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Center Jake Hanson stretches during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Running back AJ Dillon runs a drill during a Packers training camp practice Tuesday, May 24, 2022, in Green Bay.

MORRY GASH, ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Green Bay’s disastrous special teams performance in 2021 has resulted in a staff departure.

Special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton will not return to the Packers in 2022, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported.

The Packers announced Drayton’s departure on Saturday.

Green Bay’s special teams struggled throughout 2021, but its worst showing directly contributed to the Packers’ upset loss to the San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.

First, Green Bay had a chance to push its early lead to 10-0 just before the half, but failed to adequately protect on Mason Crosby’s 39-yard field goal attempt. San Francisco safety Jimmie Ward shot through a gap near the edge to get in front of Crosby’s kick, blocking it to keep the game at 7-0.

Later, in the game’s final minutes, special teams problems dealt a crushing blow to the Packers. Clinging to a 10-3 lead late in the fourth quarter of a snow-dusted game at Lambeau Field, Green Bay lined up to punt from deep in its own territory. San Francisco’s Jordan Willis overwhelmed long snapper Steven Wirtel, breaking through to get a piece of Corey Bojorquez’s punt and sent it sailing straight up into the air. Safety Talanoa Hufanga recovered the live ball and returned it for a touchdown, tying the game on Robbie Gould’s extra point.

A few minutes later, Gould kicked the game-winning field goal to send the 49ers to the NFC Championship Game and complete another postseason disappointment for the top-seeded Packers.

The loss was even tougher to bear for Packers coach Matt LaFleur, who watched his field goal block unit send just 10 men out for the game-deciding kick. He was forced to answer for it afterwards, taking responsibility for the lack of a full 11 players out on the field.

Now, LaFleur is making a change within his staff.

The move isn’t shocking when reflecting on Green Bay’s special teams struggles in 2021, but is a bit of a surprise considering LaFleur didn’t pin the blame on Drayton following the loss. LaFleur admitted coaches erred in counting players before the field goal, but wondered whether personnel choices were the problem. The coach said he’d explore using starters on special teams, something the 49ers did in the Divisional Round game, but didn’t commit to it.

“That’s going to be something that I want to do, some studies around the league and see how many teams operate that way,” LaFleur said two days after the loss, via PackersNews.com. “Again, does it have some inherent risks? Absolutely.”

Such risks became evident when running back AJ Dillon was forced out due to a fractured rib suffered while playing on a kickoff return. But special teams ended up being the difference, the crucial but often overlooked third phase of the game that the 49ers earned a victory.

LaFleur will likely continue exploring changes to his squad’s special teams in a process that will now include hiring a new coordinator.

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Maurice Drayton will not return as #Packers special teams coordinator, a source said. Story to come shortly.

— Tom Silverstein (@TomSilverstein) February 1, 2022

After a season-long nightmare on special teams, the Green Bay Packers are making another change in the leadership of the third phase.

According to Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, the Packers won’t return special teams coordinator Maurice Drayton.

Drayton was promoted from assistant to coordinator after coach Matt LaFleur fired Shawn Mennenga after last season. But Drayton’s one season in charge was nothing short of a disaster, with frequent mistakes occurring across all aspects of the special teams and a calamitous final performance helping bounce the Packers from the playoffs.

According to Rick Gosselin’s annual special teams rankings, the Packers finished dead last at 32nd overall.

Green Bay’s special teams had missed field goals, blocked field goals, blocked punts, turnovers on returns and issues covering punts and kicks.

In the divisional round, a blocked field goal, a long kickoff return and a blocked punt all contributed to the Packers losing 13-10 to the San Francisco 49ers at Lambeau Field.

The compounding mistakes and the playoff meltdown gave LaFleur few other options than to make a change.

In 2022, the Packers will have their fourth different special teams coordinator in the last five years. The next hire will join Drayton, Mennenga and Ron Zook.

Drayton was originally hired by Mike McCarthy and served as an assistant under both Mennenga and Zook before getting the coordinator job.

Firing coordinators is nothing new in Green Bay. The big question becomes: Will the organization finally put more value into special teams and recommit to making sure the third phase isn’t holding back the rest of the team? Finding the next coordinator is just the first step. The Packers need an organizational refresh on special teams, from coaching to commitment to personnel.

Good, bad and ugly from Packers’ 2021 season

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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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the San Francisco 49ers (10-7) oppose this Green Bay packers (13-4) at Lambeau Field for the NFL’s Divisional Round. Let’s take a look at the betting lines for Saturday’s matchup. The Packers started the week as 5.5-point favorites, but the spread has since shifted to 6.0, leaving the Packers at -256 and the 49ers at +205. The total score line is set at 47.5, with OVER at -110 and UNDER at -110.

• The 49ers (-110) have a 10-8-0 ATS record this season, while the Packers (-110) hold a 12-5-0 record.

• The 49ers have an 8-9-1 O/U record this season (which means eight games have gone over the total points line, nine have gone under and one resulted in a push). The Packers have an 8-9-0 O/U record.

points on the board

• The 49ers averaged 25.1 points per game during the regular season (13th in the league). In comparison, the Packers averaged 26.5 (10th).

• Defensively, the 49ers gave up 21.5 points per game (T9th in the league) during the regular season, while the Packers gave up an average of 21.8 points (T13th).

moving the chains

• With a 375.7 average, the 49ers ranked 7th in the league for total yards per game during the regular season. In comparison, the Packers ranked 10th with 365.6 yards per game.

• In terms of yards allowed, the 49ers gave up 310.0 per game (3rd in the league) during the regular season, while the Packers gave up an average of 328.2 (9th).

supremacy in the air

• The 49ers averaged 248.3 passing yards per game (12th in the league) during the regular season. In comparison, the Packers defense gave up 219.1 passing yards per game (10th).

• Meanwhile, the Packers averaged 253.8 passing yards per game (ranked 8th in the league) during the regular season, while the 49ers were similar defensively, conceding just 206.5 yards per game (ranked 6th).

advantage on the ground

• Looking at ground play, the 49ers averaged 127.4 rushing yards per game (7th in the league) during the regular season. Conversely, the Packers gave up 109.1 rushing yards per game (11th).

• On the other hand, the Packers averaged 111.8 rushing yards per game during the regular season (ranked 18th in the league), although they might find it difficult to match that number against a 49ers defense that’s rushing at opposing yards Finished 7th and conceded 103.5 per game.

protection of the ball

• In terms of their ability to force turnovers, the 49ers recorded 20 total takeaways (T19 in the league) during the regular season and did not reach the same level as the Packers, who recorded 26 (T8).

• On offense, the 49ers recorded a total of 24 giveaways during the regular season (T20th in the league), while the Packers were more careful with the ball and recorded 13 (T1st).

Score first

The 49ers are +130 to score first while the Packers are -159.

• The 49ers have opened the game in eight of their 18 games this season.

• The Packers have opened the game in seven of their 17 games this season.

Which team will score the first touchdown?

• The 49ers have had the first touchdown in nine of their 18 games this season.

• The Packers have recorded first touchdowns in six of their 17 games this season.

First score game

San Francisco Landing 6/18 +320

San Francisco Field Gate 2/18 +380

San Francisco security 0 / 18 +8000

Green Bay touchdown 3/17 +160

Green Bay Field Goal 4/17 +300

Green Bay Security 0 / 17 +8000

Which team has a quick start?

The 49ers are +160 to be the first team to reach 10 points while the Packers are -205.

• The 49ers became the first to score 10 points in 11 of their 18 games this season.

• The Packers became the first to score 10 points in 10 of their 17 games this season.

Money line in the first quarter

The Packers are favored in the Q1 moneyline market, currently at -165, while the 49ers are at +145.

• The 49ers have an 8-5-5 W/L/T record in the first quarter this season, while the Packers hold a 4-9-4 record.

The last time they met

The Packers recorded a 30-28 win over the 49ers at Levi’s Stadium when those teams last met in Week 3 of 2021. Davante Adams dominated this matchup, ending with 132 receiving yards and a touchdown.

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GREEN BAY, Wisconsin — There will be no shortage of drama as the Green Bay Packers host the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC divisional playoff game next weekend.

There’s the Packers’ decade-long quest for another Super Bowl. There’s Packers coach Matt LaFleur’s icy relationship with his colleague Kyle Shanahan. There’s Green Bay’s playoff story against San Francisco. And there’s the next tune in Aaron Rodgers’ potential “last dance” season with the Packers.

As No. 1 in the NFC playoffs, the Packers earned the first-round bye and the right to host the lowest remaining seed of the wildcard weekend. That’s sixth-ranked San Francisco, who upset Mike McCarthy’s third-ranked Dallas Cowboys by 11:17 on Sunday.

The Cowboys bounced back from a 23-7 deficit and had an opportunity when Niner’s All-Pro offensive tackle Trent Williams was called out for a false start in what would have been a crucial quarterback sneak with 40 seconds left. Dallas started at 20 with 32 seconds remaining. A trick play won 20, a screen won 10, and another finisher gained 10 more to the Niners’ 40 with 14 seconds to go. Dak Prescott climbed to the 24 of the 49ers, was tackled within bounds and time was up when the official spotted the ball.

The rematch between the Packers and 49ers could be played on Saturday — and maybe in the primetime slot. In the past 20 years of the playoffs, the NFC and AFC have each had a divisional playoff game on Saturday and another on Sunday. Since the winner of Monday night’s Cardinals-Rams game will almost certainly play in Tampa Bay on Sunday, the Green Bay game could go ahead on Saturday.

In any case, it will be cold, although perhaps not bitterly cold.

The Packers defeated the 49ers 30-28 in Week 3. In a game that pitted two of the NFC’s supposed – and eventual – powerhouses, the Packers won in dramatic fashion.

Trailing 28-27 with 37 seconds and zero timeouts, Rodgers connected with Davante Adams for gains of 25 yards to midfield and 17 yards to the 33-yard line. After the second close, Rodgers jabbed the ball and vigorously pumped his fist into position with Mason Crosby to win the game with a 51-yard field goal.

Crosby did just that – the kick was almost blocked – and sparked a big celebration as the Packers pulled off the excitement.

“It felt like it was such a growth moment for us,” Rodgers said afterwards. “I’m really glad the guys are feeling that, and it feels like, ‘OK, now we’re on our way. Now we can go for it, now we know how to win and we can take this thing in the right direction.’”

Looking ahead, not looking back, a disparity in Green Bay’s favor is revenue. Green Bay finished third in the league with a revenue gain of 13. It ranked first in the league with 13 giveaways. it had 10 before the backups spat it out three times in Detroit. The 49ers finished 22nd with minus 4.

A mismatch in San Francisco’s favor is the red zone. Green Bay ranked 23rd in red zone defense while San Francisco ranked first in red zone offense.

Green Bay’s new and potentially improved offensive line, with left tackle David Bakhtiari and center Josh Myers, who has returned from knee injuries to start against Detroit, is being tested by the 49ers’ excellent defensive line. Even with Nick Bosa on concussion log for much of the game, San Francisco recorded five sacks and 14 quarterback hits, limiting Dallas running back Ezekiel Elliott to 31 yards on 12 carries (2.6 average).

The Packers haven’t won the Super Bowl since 2010. To keep the season alive and earn a third straight NFC Championship game, Rodgers must avenge some bad playoff stories. Rodgers was picked from the playoffs three times by the 49ers: 37-20 in the 2019 NFC Championship Game in San Francisco, 23-20 at Lambeau Field in the 2013 wild card round, and 45-31 in the Divisional Round in San Francisco.

This season, the 49ers’ offense ranked 13th with 25.1 points per game, seventh in total offense (375.7 yards per game) and first in yards per game (8.2). Defensively, they ranked 12th with 21.5 points allowed per game, but third in overall defense (310.3), third in sack percentage (8.8) and seventh in terms of that Goal before goal (63.3 percent touchdowns).

“Lots of cleats” was Rodgers’ take on the 49ers’ defense ahead of the September game.

A few more notable numbers:

The Packers went 5-1 against playoff teams, including 5-0 against Rodgers. The 49ers went 5-4 including their win over Dallas.

With Rodgers leading the passer rating lead, the plus-20.5 rating difference ranked the Packers fourth in the league. The 49ers ranked 17th, up-2.5, despite Jimmy Garoppolo completing at least 70 percent of his passes and averaging at least 9.0 yards per attempt in his last three games of the regular season. However, he only had a 67.4 rating against Dallas.

Going 7-2 on the stretch, the 49ers outscored those nine teams by an average plus 11.3. The Niners were third in yardage differential, once contrary to what is believed to be a dangerous team. They ran 169 yards against the Cowboys.

Green Bay was the least penalized team in the NFL, while San Francisco had the worst penalty yardage differential.

The Packers and 49ers shared eight playoff games. Overall, Green Bay leads the series 38-32-1.

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The damage caused by Hurricane Ida forced the Packers’ opening game against the Saints to be moved from New Orleans to Jacksonville. But what does this change mean for the Green Bay Packers? How will it affect the game itself and the preparation of the team?

The most obvious change is that the Packers are now playing in a neutral location. The Packers have not played a regular NFL game in a neutral location since 1938, when they faced the Chicago Cardinals in Buffalo on September 28.

The game was played on a Wednesday night in front of a crowd of 10,678 fans who showed up to see the pack defeat the Cardinals 24-22. Tiny Engebretsen scored the winning field goal in the fourth quarter and gave the Packers the win, improving their season record to 3-1-0. Arnie Herber, Clarke Hinkle and Don Hutson scored in-game touchdowns for Green Bay.

Going back to 2021, that game will now be played in a neutral location, although technically it will be a home game for the Saints. While Saints management reportedly picked Jacksonville because it was more difficult and expensive for the Packers and their fans to get to this game, it is still expected that there will be more Packers fans than Saints fans in the season opener. The Packers have fans all over the country and travel well. Additionally, Saints fans living in Louisiana are still grappling with the aftermath of the hurricane and many have more important issues to deal with.

The game will feel more like a Packers home game as most of the fans in the stadium will be standing for the Packers. That clearly speaks in favor of Green Bay. Last season there were no fans in the stands for most of the season because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Only a limited number of fans were allowed to participate in the playoffs. Having most of the fans cheering on the Packers will be an even bigger thing this year than it would be after a typical season.

The game is now played outdoors instead of the New Orleans dome. Last year the Saints were 6-2 in the Superdome. They also played another game in a dome, a 35-29 win over the Lions in Detroit. That means the Saints were 7-2 inside and 5-2 outside last season.

The Packers played five indoor street games last year, going 4-1 in their only loss to the Colts in Indianapolis. The Packers won indoors in Minnesota, New Orleans, Houston and Detroit. The Packers ended 2020 with a 9: 2 mark outdoors.

The game is now also played on natural grass. The Jacksonville stadium features Bermuda grass. The Packers played 11 games on grass in 2020, going 9-2, with their only losses in week 6 against the Bucs and at home in week 8 against the Vikings.

The Saints only played six games on natural turf in 2020 and went through 4-2 in those games. They were 8-2 on man-made surfaces.

While both teams were strong overall last season, with the Packers 13-3 and the Saints 12-4, the Packers are a turf team while the Saints play most of their games on artificial turf. For this reason, the change slightly favors the packers.

Now that the game is being played outdoors in Jacksonville, the heat and humidity are likely to be a factor. The average temperature in Jacksonville, Florida is in the low to mid 80s in mid-September, and the humidity in northern Florida is usually higher than in Wisconsin at this time of year.

As a result, the Saints will likely wear their white shirts for the game and force the Packers to wear their dark green home shirts. On a hot, sunny day, dark colors absorb heat while white reflects it. The Saints hope that wearing their white jerseys will give them an edge especially in the fourth quarter when the players on both teams are more likely to tire, especially in Week 1 when they are not yet in ideal football shape.

The Packers wore their white jerseys at home in the early games of the season, also to take advantage of wearing white in the heat. In 1989, the Pack played their first two games of the season at Lambeau Field, but wore their white street jerseys in each competition. In the first game, Green Bay lost the Bucs 23-21, while the Packers scored an exciting 35-34 win over the Saints in Week 2 when Don Majkowski received a late touchdown pass from Sterling Sharpe.

When all is said and done, the Packers and Saints have one more game of soccer to play. It is played in different environments and in different color uniforms, but it will still be the 2021 season opener and it will still count as one game in the NFL rankings.

Overall, the change in venue should give the Packers a slight advantage over the game in New Orleans. Now it is up to the team to take advantage of this.

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Brian Gutekunst, general manager of Packers, says he can’t think of a scenario in which he would deal with quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

“We’re not going to trade Aaron Rodgers,” Gutekunst said Thursday night after the first round of the NFL draft.

ESPN reported in the hours leading up to the draft that Rodgers does not want to return to the Packers. The ESPN report, citing unidentified sources, said the Packers offered to renew the incumbent MVP’s contract and that team CEO Mark Murphy, Gutekunst and trainer Matt LaFleur met with Rodgers over the off-season.

Gutekust responded to the report by saying, “We are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond”. He expanded on those remarks late Thursday after the Packers picked Georgia cornerback Eric Stokes in the first round.

“I’m not going to speak for Aaron, but I think we obviously have a really good team and I think he will play for us again,” said Gutekunst. “As I said, we are going to work towards it, and we have worked towards it on different fronts. The value it gives our football is really immeasurable, you know what I mean? He brings so much, not just as a player, but also as a leader. He’s so important to his teammates, to his coaches, so yes, that’s the goal. “

John Lynch, general manager of the San Francisco 49ers, admitted that he had inquired of the Packers about the possible availability of Rodgers and was quickly rejected. The 49ers picked Trey Lance, North Dakota State quarterback, with the third overall win.

“We asked and the conversation was over quickly,” said Lynch. “It did not happen.”

Without going into details, Gutekunst said Packers officials communicated with Rodgers on Thursday.

Rodgers, 37, has spent his entire career at Green Bay since the Packers drafted him as the 24th overall selection in 2005. But his long-term future has been a matter of speculation since the Packers made up four spots in the first round to pick Rodgers’ potential successor, Utah State quarterback Jordan Love, with the 26th overall pick on last year’s draft.

Rodgers admitted after last year’s draft that he was surprised by the Love selection and that it hampered his hopes of ending his career at Green Bay.

“I’m certainly looking back on last year’s draft and maybe some of the communication problems that we could have done better,” Gutekunst said. “There is no doubt about that. The design is an interesting thing. It can unfold differently than you think, and it happens pretty quickly. But I think when I look back where we are today, there could have been some communication things that we could have done better. “

Rodgers has three years to go after signing a four-year extension for $ 134 million in August 2018.

Even when Rodgers threw 48 NFL-leading touchdown passes last season and received his third MVP award, he described his future as a “beautiful secret.” After the Packers lost to Tampa Bay in the NFC Championship, Rodgers said that “the future of many guys is uncertain, including me.”

Rodgers tried to clear up those post-game comments less than a week later when he said, “I don’t think there’s a reason I wouldn’t be back” on the Pat McAfee Show in 2021.

“There are talks to be had. I’ll have her with the right people, ”Rodgers said at the time. “But it’s the same conversations we have every year. There’s no big one, ‘I’ll come to the table with I need this, this and this.’ Every year we have honest conversations about where we stand, be it with Brian, Matt or Mark. I’ve had these conversations for years. That is part of being a leader in the squad and having the team and the direction we are going in to have our finger on the pulse. “

This continues an eventful series for Rodgers, who became engaged to actress Shailene Woodley and was a guest host on “Jeopardy”. Rodgers said he would love to be the permanent host and believed he could make it according to his football schedule.

Green Bay designed Rodgers while future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre was still on his list. Rodgers spent his first three seasons supporting Favre, who announced his retirement in March 2008. When Favre retired later that year, the Packers exchanged him for the New York Jets and ushered in Rodgers’ arrival as their quarterback.

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AP Pro Football Writer Josh Dubow contributed to this report.

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More AP-NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL and https://twitter.com/AP-NFL

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Green Bay – The Green Bay Packers’ coaching staff are hoping quarterback Aaron Rodgers will come back and play for them this season. It is difficult to say what this hope is based on.

However, Matt LaFleur, offense coordinator Nathaniel Hackett, quarterback trainer, and offensive pass game coordinator Luke Getsy spoke to him personally, who won the three-time NFL MVP three times. On the flip side, Rogers has no public sign that his dissatisfaction with the front office has subsided and is unlikely to attend the team’s mandatory minicamp starting Tuesday.

This gets LaFleur, Hackett, Getsy, and other offensive trainers in trouble.

At this point, Rogers’ plan is only known to him, and maybe he hasn’t really made up his mind yet whether he can withstand the siren singing of the training camp since he was on the soccer field. Since then in late summer / early autumn debut 1996 with the 8th class Chico Jaguar …

But the coaches know Rogers can laugh at Hale Mary’s prayer to start training camp on July 27th.

And that doesn’t just mean deciding who will play against the New Orleans Saints on September 12th, but still up to 2020 draft first-round nominee Jordan Love or, more recently, a veteran. The added Blake Bortles has started 76 career NFL games. AFC Championship Games – How to Develop an Offense on Man Under the Center Skills.

At the moment, LaFleur and his staff have installed a complete playbook and are experimenting with which clicks the players participating in the training can make.

“You always try to take in most of what you think you are good at as a football team and show it to your players,” said La Fleur after his second training session on open team activities in the spring. Said last week. “(But) this is a great opportunity to (as we say) evaluate some concepts and games.

“Training wheels are never switched on. We throw a lot at all of these guys, but it’s hard to digest. And we just let them work and it’s great. I want it to attack with poise because I think this is the way to get the best results.

A year ago after all on-site work was canceled, LaFleur, Hackett, Getsy and Rodgers held frequent meetings via Zoom video conferencing, and the COVID-19 pandemic has moved the off-season to virtual. That’s why I changed the negative for the positive. Throughout the season, Rogers praised how working together at the table made a difference after a challenging first year with LaFleur’s offensive system in 2019. ..

“I think the off-season Zoom meeting was definitely my desert rose,” Rogers said during the MVP campaign. “It really calmed me down a lot, what we did on the offensive. I think it was really possible for me and Matt, Nate and Luke to be on the same page.

“We talked for hours. I think it has been great for all of us to have the power to underpin our friendship and our business relationships. I think the way you install and communicate has really changed. It goes back in time and optimizes everything, all the good things, the bad things, the things you want to add and the things you want to get rid of last year. It was a great opportunity for a review. “

Rogers, who turned 37 in December, started all 16 regular season games and scored 4,299 372 of 526 passes (70.7%, the highest of his career and a record for the franchise’s only season). So, of course, the proof was in the production environment. Yards with 48 touchdowns and 5 intercepts (passer rating 121.5). His 48 TD passes are the highest record of his career and his team’s single season record, with his rating of 121.5 being the second highest in his career and a point from the 2011 NFL record of 122.5, the second highest in of NFL history. It is down.

During Rogers’ tenure, Lafrua was the coach with Mike McCarthy standing before him, and the coaches discussed two violations, one in writing and one by Rogers. ..

Realistically, the Packers are likely to be in serious trouble beyond Rogers’ control. How far Love has to go and which games Boltrus has counted since the end of the 2018 season. If you think about exactly how to throw in 2 passports. But veteran safety Adrian Amos said openly at the start of OTA: “They won’t cancel all games because they didn’t earn three MVPs in quarterback.”

So do the Packers have to create an alternate reality offensive that dilutes what Rogers did last season?

“That’s a great question,” said Hackett. “You always have to have enough (inside) offensives and enough flexibility to adapt to the players. This is very important – and first and foremost, quarterbacks. It starts from.

“I want to invest enough. So once I’ve figured out what he’s good at and what the players around him are good at, I can adjust to this team at that point. That is, every year. Every year there are different players and different people, from lines to running backs, tight ends and wide receivers. “

The Packers are basically all back offensive for a year, with the exception of Corey Linsley (who signed a free agent with the Los Angeles Chargers) and the second running back at the first team’s Allpro Center. The body. Jamal Williams (Free agency transferred to NFC North rival Detroit). Also whether the five-time left professional professional David Bufftiari can start the regular season after he sustained an anterior cruciate ligament injury in his left knee during training on December 31, the end of the regular season. I doubt.

Of course, Hackett will find a replacement for Lindsley if he doesn’t get back on the team, retires (permanently or temporarily), or if it’s customary, Rogers will leave. Not the same as filling a hole. Manager Brian Gutkanst reversed course and actually acted Rogers – the team didn’t do what he often said.

As a result, Hackett suggested that the OTA-wide approach would be to give players a full offensive, and that training camps and preseason without Rogers are essentially fact-finding missions to be captured. Which aspect of the plan best suited the abilities of love or boltrus?

“With all of my playbooks, I need the ability to choose the right one for the team right now,” Hackett said. “Now we’re throwing everything to them.

“During the week (the regular season) this is a really difficult time for all players as the number of games we play is very limited. At this point we all know what we can do overall. I throw everything on her to be sure, and in the first week of fall I’m slowly starting to adjust it. “

Getty believes what Rogers and his coaches built in the off-season will be carried over when he gets back on the team (or when he does). His absence and obligations from the voluntary OTA. The anticipated lack of a typical mini-camp has certainly reduced the scale of their existing attacks, but what they achieved with Zoom last year is now a boon of salvation as they regain their stars. Can become.

“We have tremendous advantages from where we are (now),” says Getsy. “We’ve spent two full seasons solving so many things. The direction we have now is where we want to go for the first game in September. I think it suits you better where you want to go.

“Sure, you’re here (Rogers) and want to talk again just to put the story together. But where I was out of season last year was the COVID situation from Zoom. It actually helped us in the sense of how much time we could spend with just four of us together.

“That’s why we were able to change the change from (2019) to (2020) so dramatically. So we are more in tune with what we want to be. We know where we are going, we have pretty good direction for who we are and (and) what we need to change to move forward. Or do you have some ideas on what needs to be tweaked for this season. “

Photo: Packer’s 2020 season shown in the photo

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Source Link As Aaron Rodgers moves away, Packers coaches ponder what an MVP-less version of their offensive will look like. All about web sports

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