A lot is being said of the Green Bay Packers' last trip to Levi's Stadium as the San Francisco 49ers prepare to host them again — this time in the NFC Championship. Kyle Shanahan's squad embarrassed the Packers 37-8 in that last meeting.
Needless to say, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur is looking for things to be different this time around, and he may enlist some help from a friend, according to Mike Silver of NFL Network.
Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay knows what it is like to face the 49ers twice a season. His team, like the Packers, was embarrassed during the first meeting with Shanahan, Jimmy Garoppolo, Nick Bosa, and company. During the second meeting, however, McVay's squad was able to put up more of a fight, losing by a field goal but finding ways to better move the football on offense.
McVay was able to have more success with his quarterback, Jared Goff, during the second meeting. Goff passed for 74 yards against San Francisco in Week 6, and then 323 yards during Week 16. Like Goff, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had his worst game of the season against the 49ers, passing for 104 yards during Week 12. He's hoping for a Goff-like rebound, as well.
"So I would imagine that not only will Matt LaFleur look to make similar adjustments with Aaron Rodgers," Silver explained on NFL Network, "but then he and Sean McVay may have a couple of conversations this week, and discuss this on a much higher level than I could understand."
Of course, McVay is also friends with Shanahan, so with the Rams' season over, who knows which friend the coach might side with.
Added Silver: "I would expect to see quicker releases, and some movement getting Aaron Rodgers off the spot where if he stays, like he did the first time, he just stands back there, Nick Bosa and friends could make it another pretty brutal outing."
Another Packer seeking some friendly help to find a way to beat the 49ers is Rodgers, who joined Brett Favre's SiriusXM NFL Radio show on Tuesday, according to a report from Bay Area News Group.
What advice did Favre offer the quarterback who replaced him in Green Bay? A fast start might help.
"The first drive, Davante Adams got a questionable call against him, a personal foul," Favre said. "I feel that really changed the game."
Rodgers responded: "We have to start fast. That's the key. That play was important. That was a (10)-yard gain. We were outside the 40 now. Then we get a 15-yarder (penalty) and (we're) back inside the 30. Then I fumble and it's (13) minutes on the clock and it's 7-0 we're down."