The Green Bay Packers will welcome the shorthanded San Francisco 49ers — who will be without quarterback Brock Purdy and edge rusher Nick Bosa — to Lambeau Field on Sunday afternoon for a key showdown in the NFC playoff race.
Can the Packers take care of business against the football equivalent of a wounded animal on Sunday?
Here’s how the staff at Packers Wire believes the Week 12 showdown with the 49ers will go down:
Zach Kruse: Packers 23, 49ers 12 (5-5)
Just win baby. As satisfying as it would be for the Packers to take down the mighty 49ers at full strength, any kind of win is an excellent result on Sunday. This is a golden opportunity for the Packers to increase their playoff odds significantly while severely damaging a team that has knocked them out of the playoffs during three of the last five seasons. The 49ers are reeling and shorthanded and hanging on for dear life in the NFC playoff race. Sure, a commanding and comfortable win would be nice, and it’s certainly possible the Packers will produce one against a backup quarterback. But I’m reminded of last November, when the Packers faced another reeling NFC West team starting a backup quarterback at Lambeau Field — and Matt LaFleur’s team grinded their way to a comfortable but mostly unaesthetic 20-3 win over the Rams. I won’t be surprised if Sunday plays out in a similar fashion. The 49ers’ backs are against the wall, so an inspired effort is likely. But it won’t be enough against a nearly full-strength Packers team that smells blood in the water.
Brandon Carwile: Packers 28, 49ers 21 (8-2)
Coming off last week’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers desperately need a win to preserve their playoff hopes. However, coming away with a win in Week 12 will be much more difficult without Brock Purdy, Nick Bosa, and possibly Trent Williams. Meanwhile, the Packers smell blood and are eager to capitalize on the struggles of the team that ended their Cinderella run last season. Jordan Love is hungry after last January’s game-ending interception, and I expect him to deliver with a three-touchdown performance. On the other hand, Kyle Shanahan’s offense is never to be underestimated, even with Brandon Allen under center. With one of the league’s best backfield duos, the 49ers should keep this one close by controlling the clock. Still, missing so many key players will be too much to overcome as Green Bay improves to 8-3 and sends San Francisco toward an early offseason.
Brennen Rupp: Packers 20, 49ers 17 (9-1)
With no Brock Purdy and Nick Bosa, the Packers have a golden opportunity to crush San Francisco’s playoff chances and ensure that their playoff boogie man won’t be in the bracket. Green Bay’s front seven needs to redeem themselves after being dominated by Chicago’s offensive line last week. If they can bottle up Christian McCaffery, the 49ers will find it tough sledding with Brandon Allen under center. If Jordan Love and the offense can limit the mistakes, they should get the win and improve to 8-3 as they prepare for a Turkey Evening Showdown at Lambeau Field with the Miami Dolphins.
| Writer | Prediction | Score | Record |
| Zach Kruse | Win | 23-12 | 5-5 |
| Brandon Carwile | Win | 28-21 | 8-2 |
| Brennen Rupp | Win | 20-17 | 9-1 |
