The San Francisco 49ers have eliminated the Green Bay Packers in two of the past three postseasons. Last season, Jordan Love led the Packers in a dramatic playoff clash at Levi's Stadium that ended their championship aspirations.
This Sunday, Love will have a chance to settle the score when the 49ers visit Lambeau Field for a pivotal NFC showdown. The quarterback is eager for the rematch.
"I think just ending the season, getting into the playoffs, and then being knocked out by the 49ers, whoever it would've been, that game is definitely going to sit with you," Love said on Wednesday, via Tristi Rodriguez of NBC Sports Bay Area. "And that's what you got to sit with all offseason. Going back and watching that game and seeing what you could've done better, what you could've done differently.
"So it definitely sits with you through the offseason, and obviously you move on, but just knowing that's the team that knocked us out, we're definitely hungry for this game."
The Packers enter Week 12 with a solid 7-3 record, winning five of their last six games, and are eager to close the gap with the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions. On the other hand, the 49ers are struggling to match the lofty expectations set by their Super Bowl appearance last season, sitting at 5-5 heading into Sunday's contest.
"We've had four games here that have come down to the last two possessions, and we've only won one of those," 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan said this week. "And that's the difference between 8-2 and 5-5, with the one we won being Tampa.
"In contrast, you look at a team like Green Bay, they've had seven games come down to the last possession and they've won six of them, with the only one they lost being the opening game versus Philly. And that's why they have such a good record."
For Love, records don't matter. He's focused on defeating the team that ended the Packers' postseason run in last year's Divisional Playoff Round.
"Having them being the team that knocked us out last year definitely plays a factor, but at the end of the day, [they're] an NFC opponent, and since I've been here, we've had a lot of games against the Niners," Love said. "So I want to go out there and get this win."
Love admitted to re-watching that playoff loss multiple times during the offseason, using the film to analyze mistakes and prepare for the next meeting. What stood out to him from those reviews?
"The main takeaway is it sucks losing," Love said candidly. "Getting knocked out of the playoffs, there's going to be things that we see, plays that we'll see, plays they did on defense that gave us fits and things that we did well."
Robert Saleh lends a hand
Former New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh, who served as the 49ers' defensive coordinator from 2017 to 2020, has been offering insights to the Packers since his dismissal from the Jets, serving as an offensive consultant. This week, his knowledge of Kyle Shanahan's system could be invaluable.
When asked if Saleh provided any advice to help Green Bay prepare for the 49ers, Packers head coach Matt LaFleur smiled and kept his response simple: "He's been helpful."
How helpful Saleh's input proves to be will be revealed on Sunday. Saleh faced the 49ers in Week 1 this season when his Jets fell 32-19 at Levi's Stadium. The Packers hope his experience will help them rewrite their narrative against San Francisco.