PACKERVILLE, U.S.A.

Wednesday, December 04, 2024

2024 Week 14 — Packers at Lions

NFC-leading Lions host Packers, aiming for franchise-record, 11-game winning streak, playoff spot

Associated Press

Green Bay (9-3) at Detroit (11-1)

Day / Time / TV: Thursday, 8:15 p.m. EST, Amazon Prime Video.

Series record: Packers 106-77-7.

Last meeting: Lions beat Packers 24-14 in Green Bay on Nov. 3.

Last week: Packers beat Dolphins 30-17; Lions beat Bears 23-20.

Packers offense: overall (3), rush (5), pass (8), scoring (8).

Packers defense: overall (12), rush (8), pass (19), scoring (T-9).

Lions offense: overall (2), rush (4), pass (5), scoring (1).

Lions defense: overall (10), rush (5), pass (25), scoring (3).

Turnover differential: Packers plus-9; Lions plus-8.

The Green Bay Packers believe they’ve come a long way since they last faced the Detroit Lions nearly a month ago. They get a chance to prove it Thursday when they visit Detroit to close a stretch of three games in 12 days. The Packers need to win that game — and avenge a 24-14 loss from Nov. 3 — to have any realistic chance of contending for the NFC North title Although the Packers (9-3) have put themselves in good shape to earn a playoff berth by winning three straight and seven of their last eight, they remain two games behind the Lions (11-1) and a half-game behind Minnesota (9-2) in the NFC North. They also already lost at home to both teams.

That makes Thursday’s game critical. “With how much the guys are winning on the other side, we’ve got to do everything right from here on out,” running back Josh Jacobs said after the Packers’ 30-17 Thursday night victory over the Miami Dolphins. “That’s what we’re trying to do.” Packers coach Matt LaFleur acknowledges the challenge the Packers will face in Detroit. He calls the Lions “the premier team in the National Football League.” But he also believes the Packers are playing their best football of the season. They built a 27-3 lead against Miami four nights after rolling to a 38-10 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

Those fast starts represent a sharp contrast from their loss to the Lions at Lambeau Field. The Packers allowed the Lions to grab a 24-3 lead in that one. “The one thing that stands out to me is just we’re being physical in every phase of football, and I think that’s going to do us well,” LaFleur said Thursday night. “I think that gives you a chance each and every week, just, and it shows up all over the tape, whether it’s our linebackers hitting people, whether it’s up front, our receivers blocking.” Packers center Josh Myers agrees that the Packers are playing better than they were for that last Lions game. “I feel like we just found our rhythm,” Myers said. “We’ve settled in. That whole time you kept hearing complementary football being thrown around everywhere, I feel like we’re doing that now.”

What’s working

The Packers avoided committing a turnover for a second straight game… Green Bay sacked Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa five times and held Miami’s offense to three points over the first 2½ quarters… After limiting San Francisco to 44 yards on 16 carries, the Packers held Miami to 39 yards on 14 rushes… The Packers built a big lead early for a second straight game, as they got three touchdowns and two field goals out of their first seven possessions… The offensive line didn’t allow a sack.

What needs work

When Tagovailoa had enough time to throw, the Packers had trouble containing him. Tagovailoa threw for 365 yards, the highest total Green Bay had allowed this season… The Packers had a handful of pre-snap offside or false-start penalties in the first half.

Stock up

QB Jordan Love has thrown four touchdown passes without an interception over his last two games… WR Jayden Reed scored two touchdowns to increase his season total to seven (six receiving, one rushing)… TE Tucker Kraft matched a career high with six catches and had a team-high 74 yards receiving… CB Robert Rochell earned a game ball after recovering a muffed punt to set up the Packers’ first touchdown… DL Lukas Van Ness has recorded a sack in two straight games… K Brandon McManus was 3 of 3 on field-goal attempts and is 9 of 10 since joining the Packers.

Stock down

LG Elgton Jenkins had an unnecessary roughness penalty that turned a potential fourth-and-goal from the 1 into fourth-and-goal from the 15. The Packers settled for a 33-yard field goal from McManus on that drive.

Key numbers

65 — LaFleur improved his regular-season record to 65-30 and moved into sole possession of second place for regular-season wins by a coach in his first six seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. LaFleur had been tied for second place with Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid. The record is owned by George Seifert, who had a 75-21 regular-season record from 1989-94 in his first six years as San Francisco’s coach.

Next steps

The Packers will try to win in Detroit for a second straight season. The road team has won the last four games in this series.

Packers player to watch

WR Jayden Reed. The former Michigan State star caught five passes for 113 yards last month against the Lions. He had a career-high two TD catches against Miami. Reed leads the team with 44 catches and 693 yards receiving. Reed has seven TDs, including one rushing.

Lions player to watch

S Brian Branch. He was ejected in the second quarter of the game in Green Bay after landing a helmet-to-helmet hit on Packers receiver Bo Melton. He also was called for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for extending both of his middle fingers toward the Lambeau Field crowd as he walked off the field.

Key matchup

Detroit’s running game against Green Bay’s defense. Jahmyr Gibbs has 973 yards rushing and David Montgomery has 720 yards on the ground for the Lions and both have scored 11 combined touchdowns. The Packers allowed fewer than 45 yards rushing in each of their past two games, pulling that feat off in consecutive weeks for the first time since 1995 and second time since 1950.

Key injuries

Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) have missed two straight games… WR Romeo Doubs (concussion) sat out last week… CB Corey Ballentine hurt his knee on the opening kickoff last week and didn’t practice Tuesday… Detroit is prepared to play without OT Taylor Decker (shoulder), DL Josh Paschal (knee) and DL Levi (hamstring)… DT DJ Reader (shoulder) missed multiple practices this week… The Lions are hoping CBs Carlton Davis (knee) and Emmanuel Moseley (hamstring) will be cleared after being inactive last week… LB Malcolm Rodriguez had a season-ending knee injury against Chicago.

Series notes

Detroit has won five of the past six meetings, its best stretch of success in the series since the early 1980s… Last month in Green Bay, the Lions won after Kerby Joseph scored on a 27-yard interception return and they converted two fourth downs into touchdowns. The Packers outgained Detroit 411-261 in the setback. ... Green Bay is 2-0 against the Lions in the playoffs, beating them at home and away by four points each time in the 1993 and ’94 seasons.

Stats and stuff

Detroit, Green Bay and Minnesota (10-2) are the first three three teams in a division to enter Week 14 with at least nine wins since the AFC East in 1985… The Packers have won their past five division road games, including a 29-22 win at Detroit last year on Thanksgiving when Jordan Love threw a 53-yard TD to Christian Watson on the game’s first play and finished with three TDs… Green Bay coach Matt LaFleur, who is from Michigan, has won 65 regular-season games and George Siefert (75) is the only coach in league history to win more in his first six years… The Packers are appearing in prime time for the second of four straight games… Green Bay and Detroit will each play their third game in 12 days… Love had a career-high passer rating last week and has thrown a combined 4 TDs without an INT over the past two games… The Packers have scored 90 points off turnovers this season and Buffalo (91 points) is the only team with more points from a defense… DE Rashan Gary, drafted No. 12 overall from Michigan in 2019, has a team-high 4½ sacks. Gary matched a career high with three sacks last year at Detroit, where he also forced two fumbles and recovered one… Packers S Xavier McKinney and Lions S Kerby Joseph are tied for the NFL lead in seven INTs — two more than any other player… Packers RB Josh Jacobs has 987 yards rushing to rank third in the league and Detroit’s Jahmyr Gibbs (973) is fourth entering Week 14… The Lions clinch a playoff bid with a win or tie. They can also qualify for a spot with a setback in scenarios that include Atlanta or Tampa Bay losing… Detroit has won 10 straight, matching the franchise record with the 1934 team, and has won 11 of its first 12 games for the first time… The Lions led the league in Pro Bowl votes after the opening week with Gibbs ranking fifth among all players in voting… Detroit is 8-2 in prime time with coach Dan Campbell… Jared Goff is one of six NFL players with at least 100 TD passes with two teams, joining Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, Carson Palmer, Kurt Warner and Fran Tarkenton… WR Amon-Ra St. Brown has 391 catches, putting him in a position to become the third player in league history to have 400 receptions in the first four years of a career, joining Michael Thomas (470 receptions) and Jarvis Landry (400)… S Kerby Joseph has four INTs in four games against Green Bay.

Week 14 NFL Schedule

All Times Central

Thursday, December 5

Green Bay Packers 31, Detroit Lions 34

Sunday, December 8

New York Jets 26, Miami Dolphins 32

Atlanta Falcons 21, Minnesota Vikings 42

New Orleans Saints 14, New York Giants 11

Carolina Panthers 16, Philadelphia Eagles 22

Cleveland Browns 14, Pittsburgh Steelers 27

Las Vegas Raiders 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 28

Jacksonville Jaguars 10, Tennessee Titans 6

Seattle Seahawks 30, Arizona Cardinals 18

Buffalo Bills 42, Los Angeles Rams 44

Chicago Bears 13, San Francisco 49ers 38

Los Angeles Chargers 17, Kansas City Chiefs 19

Monday, December 9

Cincinnati Bengals 27, Dallas Cowboys 20

Wednesday, November 27, 2024

2024 Week 13 — Dolphins at Packers

Tagovailoa hopes to continue his hot streak while playing in cold weather at Green Bay

The Associated Press

Miami (5-6) at Green Bay (8-3)

Day / TIME / TV: Thursday, 7:20 p.m. CST, NBC, Peacock
Series record: Dolphins lead 14-9
Last meeting: Packers won 26-20 at Miami on Dec. 25, 2022
Last week: Dolphins won 34-15 at home over Patriots; Packers won 38-10 at home over 49ers
Dolphins offense: overall (19), rush (16), pass (19), scoring (24)
Packers offense: overall (T-5), rush (3), pass (11), scoring (8)
Dolphins defense: overall (7), rush (9), pass (8), scoring (11)
Packers defense: overall (11), rush (12), pass (11), scoring (10)
Turnover differential: Dolphins minus-1; Packers plus-8

Quarterback Tua Tagovailoa hopes to continue his hot streak in the cold when he and the Miami Dolphins visit Lambeau Field for a Thanksgiving night matchup against the Green Bay Packers.
Tagovailoa has thrown a combined seven touchdown passes without an interception in his past two games, home victories over Las Vegas and New England. He could have a tough time keeping up that pace at Green Bay, where the Thanksgiving forecast calls for high temperatures in the 30s and lows in the mid-20s.

The Dolphins have lost their past 11 regular-season or postseason games in which the kickoff temperature has been below 40 degrees, according to Sportradar. The Dolphins’ most recent victory in a game with a kickoff temperature at 40 or lower was a 34-31 overtime triumph at Buffalo on Dec. 24, 2016.

“We’re obviously nowhere near the temperatures where all these other cold teams play at being in Miami, where it’s 80,” said Tagovailoa, who grew up in Hawaii and attended college at Alabama. “Sometimes it gets down to 50, but it just gets nowhere near the teams that make it in long stretches. To me it’s just a mindset, that’s really all it is.”

Tagovailoa already has faced much worse conditions.

He went 20 of 39 for 199 yards with one interception and one touchdown last season when the Dolphins lost a playoff game 26-7 at Kansas City, where it was minus-4 degrees at kickoff with a wind chill of minus-27. Tagovailoa wore a glove on his right hand that night but said he probably won’t do that Thursday.

“I think for a lot of our guys last time that were able to play in that game against Kansas City, it kind of gave you a different perspective of what cold really was,” Tagovailoa said.

The Dolphins (5-6) are seeking their fourth straight victory. The Packers (8-3) have won their past two games, including a 38-10 blowout of the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. This marks the first time the Dolphins have faced the Packers since a Christmas Day 2002 game in which Tagovailoa threw three fourth-quarter interceptions. Green Bay rallied for a 26-20 road win, and it was later determined that Tagovailoa had sustained a concussion during that game.

The Packers realize they’ll face a major challenge containing him and the Dolphins speedy receivers Thursday. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Tagovailoa is “as good as it gets in this league” at throwing with anticipation. “When the ball’s coming out as quick as it does with him and he puts it on the money, it gives those guys the opportunity to run after catch,” LaFleur said. “And we all know the speed that these guys have — it’s unlike probably any team in the National Football League.”

Familiar faces

Tagovailoa remembers how competitive practices at Alabama were with former college teammates Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney. Jacobs, a running back, and McKinney, a safety, are with the Packers. “Those were fun practices,” Tagovailoa said. “Being able to go against those guys, I know ‘X’ knows what he’s going to get out of me, and I know exactly what he’s going to bring to the table, too.” McKinney is tied for the NFL lead with seven interceptions this season. Jacobs is third in the NFL with 944 yards entering Week 13.

Another Thanksgiving assignment

This marks the second straight year the Packers have followed up a Sunday game by playing on Thanksgiving. They’re hoping to match the success they had last year, when they won 29-22 at Detroit four days after beating the Los Angeles Chargers at home. “We know what we have to do,” Packers offensive tackle Rasheed Walker said. “Just from us getting a whole bunch of mental reps, we’re going to come out and play fast on Thursday.”

Productive tight ends

Miami’s Jonnu Smith has 188 yards receiving on 15 catches with three touchdowns over his past two games. During Miami’s three-game winning streak, Smith has more catches (18) and targets (23) than Tyreek Hill (15 catches on 18 targets) and Jaylen Waddle (13 catches on 18 targets), Miami’s two leading receivers last season. The Packers have their own quality tight end in Tucker Kraft, who scored his sixth touchdown of the season Sunday.

LaFleur’s milestone

Green Bay’s victory over the 49ers improved LaFleur’s regular-season record to 64-30. He has tied Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid for the second-highest win total by a head coach in his first six NFL seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. The record is owned by George Seifert, who had a 75-21 regular-season record from 1989-94, his first six seasons as the 49ers coach.

Key matchup

Packers RB Josh Jacobs vs. Dolphins run defense: Jacobs rushed for three touchdowns Sunday and has seven total touchdowns (six rushing, one receiving) over his past five games. He has rushed for 944 yards this season to rank third in the NFL, behind only Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry entering Week 13. The Dolphins allow 106.9 yards rushing per game to rank ninth in the NFL.

Key injuries

Dolphins: CB Kendall Fuller will likely miss his third straight game because of a concussion… LB Anthony Walker Jr. could miss the game after suffering a hamstring injury last week. Coach Mike McDaniel said he doesn’t expect the injury to keep Walker out for an extended period of time… OL Isaiah Wynn (quad, knee) was activated from the physically unable to perform list on Monday and could make his season debut… Packers WR Romeo Doubs left the 49ers game with a concussion… Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) has played only one half of football in the past three games. He didn’t play at all Sunday… Packers LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) also didn’t play Sunday.

Series notes

Although the Dolphins lead the series, the Packers have won the past three matchups and six of the past eight. Miami beat Green Bay eight straight times before the Packers finally beat them for the first time on Sept. 14, 1997… The Packers intercepted Tagovailoa three times in their most recent meeting. Miami’s Jaylen Waddle had five catches for 143 yards and a touchdown and Tyreek Hill had four catches for 103 yards in that game… Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel and Packers coach Matt LaFleur worked together as assistants with Houston (2006-08), Washington (2011-13) and Atlanta (2015-16).

Stats and stuff

This is the Dolphins eighth time playing a game on Thanksgiving. Miami last played on Thanksgiving in 2011 when it lost at Dallas 20-19. The Dolphins are 5-2 on Thanksgiving… The Dolphins haven’t beaten the Packers since 2014 and have not won at Lambeau Field since 2010… A win would give the Dolphins their eighth victory over an NFC opponent under coach Mike McDaniel… The Dolphins are 3-2 in their past five games since Tua Tagovailoa returned from a concussion in Week 8. During that span, they’re second in the NFL in third down conversions (55.0%), first in fourth down efficiency. They’ve outscored opponents 145-107, and their 29 points per game during that span is tied for fifth. By comparison, they averaged just 10 points per game without Tagovailoa and were the worst scoring offense in the NFL… RB De’Von Achane needs 65 scrimmage yards to reach 1,000 total yards for the first time in a season… WR Tyreek Hill needs one receiving touchdown to reach 80 and become one of four active players to catch 80 TD passes… The Dolphins have held opponents under 100 yards rushing in five straight games… This marks the first time in five decades that the Packers have played on Thanksgiving in back-to-back years. The Packers won 29-22 at Detroit last Thanksgiving. The Packers faced the Lions every Thanksgiving from 1951-63… This marks just the second time since 1923 that the Packers have played at home on Thanksgiving. The other time was a 17-13 loss to the Chicago Bears in 2015… The Packers are 4-0 against AFC teams this season, with all the previous matchups coming against the AFC South. They won 30-27 at Jacksonville, 24-22 at home over Houston, 16-10 at home over Indianapolis and 30-14 at Tennessee… LaFleur has a 64-30 regular-season record. He’s tied for second with Bill Cowher, Mike Holmgren and Andy Reid for the most wins by a head coach in his first six NFL seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. George Seifert won 75 regular-season games with San Francisco from 1989-84, the first six seasons of his tenure… The Packers have won six of their past seven games but they remain third in the NFC North, one game behind Minnesota and two behind Detroit. At 8-3, the Packers have the best record through Week 13 of any team to be third or worse in its division since the 1970 NFL-AFL merger… The Packers have scored 83 points off turnovers this season. Only the Buffalo Bills (84) have scored more points after takeaways.

Week 13 NFL Schedule
All times Central

Thursday, November 28 — Thanksgiving
Chicago Bears 20, Detroit Lions 23
New York Giants 20, Dallas Cowboys 27
Miami Dolphins 17, Green Bay Packers 30

Friday, November 29
Las Vegas Raiders 17, Kansas City Chiefs 19

Sunday, December 1
Los Angeles Chargers 17, Atlanta Falcons 13
Pittsburgh Steelers 44, Cincinnati Bengals 38
Houston Texans at Jacksonville Jaguars, 12:00 p.m., FOX
Arizona Cardinals 22, Minnesota Vikings 23
Indianapolis Colts 25, New England Patriots 24
Seattle Seahawks 26, New York Jets 21
Tennessee Titans 19, Washington Commanders 42
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Carolina Panthers, 3:05 p.m., FOX
Los Angeles Rams 21, New Orleans Saints 14
Philadelphia Eagles 24, Baltimore Ravens 19
San Francisco 49ers at Buffalo Bills, 7:20 p.m., NBC

Monday, December 2

Cleveland Browns at Denver Broncos, 7:15 p.m., ESPN

Sunday, November 24, 2024

2024 Week 12 — 49ers at Packers

49ers attempt to bounce back and boost their postseason chances as they visit Green Bay

By The Associated Press

San Francisco (5-5) at Green Bay (7-3)

Day / Time / TV: Sunday, 3:25 p.m. CST, FOX

Series record: Packers lead 38-34-1

Last meeting: 49ers beat Packers 24-21 in NFC divisional playoff game Jan. 20, 2024, in Santa Clara, California.

Last week: 49ers lost 20-17 at home to Seattle; Packers won 20-19 at Chicago

49ers offense: overall (2), rush (7), pass (4), scoring (T-8)

Packers offense: overall (4), rush (4), pass (9), scoring (T-8)

49ers defense: overall (6), rush (8), pass (8), scoring (T-16)

Packers defense: overall (12), rush (14), pass (13), scoring (10)

Turnover differential: 49ers plus-3; Packers plus-5

After losing to San Francisco in the playoffs three of the last five seasons, the Green Bay Packers wouldn’t mind seeing the 49ers get left out of the postseason entirely. The Packers (7-3) could damage San Francisco’s playoff hopes Sunday by beating the 49ers at Lambeau Field. San Francisco (5-5) dropped to .500 after losing at home to the Seattle Seahawks, though the 49ers remain just a game behind the Arizona Cardinals in the NFC West. “I think we’re motivated to keep winning more than anything,” Packers center Josh Myers said. “Obviously, they have knocked us out quite a bit. There’s that extra motivation behind it, but at this point, we’re just trying to churn out wins.”

The 49ers will be playing this game without starting quarterback Brock Purdy, who injured his right shoulder in the Seahawks game. Although an MRI showed no structural damage, Purdy’s shoulder didn’t improve as the week wore on. Brandon Allen will start in Purdy’s place.

Green Bay is third in the NFC North and two games behind the Detroit Lions, but the Packers appear on track to at least earn a wild-card playoff berth. History suggests their path to a potential Super Bowl would get much clearer if the 49ers aren’t standing in their way.

The 49ers trailed 21-14 in the fourth quarter before rallying to beat the Packers 24-21 in the divisional playoffs last year on Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run with 1:07 left. Now, it’s the 49ers who are struggling to protect late leads, as they’ve blown fourth-quarter advantages in three games against divisional opponents. “You could look at, ‘Hey, we’re three possessions away from being 8-2,’ but you can’t really live like that,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said. “Those are the mistakes that we’ve made to be 5-5. It’s not exactly where we want to be. It is frustrating. The nice thing is we have seven games left to go out there and play Niners football and take advantage of those opportunities.”

Green Bay’s recent history of playoff frustration against the 49ers also includes a 13-10 loss at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional playoffs and a 37-20 road defeat in the 2019 NFC championship game. Even the Packers players who weren’t around for last season’s playoff loss realize what this game means. “I think one of the first meetings that I was in here, we had a conversation about the Niners beating us,” said Green Bay safety Xavier McKinney, who joined the Packers this season. “So I understand how important it is, and we all do.”

Red-zone concerns

Both teams must figure out how to convert red-zone opportunities into touchdowns. The 49ers are scoring touchdowns on just 48.8% of their drives inside an opponent’s 20-yard line to rank 27th in the NFL. The Packers are slightly worse in that regard, scoring touchdowns on 48.7% of their red-zone possessions to rank 28th. In their 20-19 victory at Chicago on Sunday, Green Bay drove to the Bears 5 without scoring on two separate series.

Injury issues

Purdy isn’t the only notable player who won’t be participating in Sunday’s game. San Francisco won’t have four-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Nick Bosa available after he hurt his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander (knee) and linebacker Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) also have been ruled out. Kittle expects to play for the 49ers on Sunday after missing the Seahawks game with a hamstring injury. 49ers left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable.

Seeking takeaways

Green Bay’s defense feasted on turnovers the first part of the season, but hasn’t been as effective in getting those takeaways lately. The Packers have 19 takeaways – already exceeding their 2023 total – but haven’t forced any turnovers in their last two games.

Heavy load

49ers coach Kyle Shanahan hasn’t eased McCaffrey back into the lineup in his return after missing the first eight games with Achilles tendinitis. McCaffrey has played 91% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps the past two weeks. Jordan Mason, who rushed for 685 yards during McCaffrey’s absence, has just five snaps on offense the last two games. Shanahan said he’d like to get Mason more opportunities, but it’s hard to take McCaffrey off the field.

Delivering on third down

Green Bay nearly lost to the Bears because of its third-down struggles on both sides of the ball. The Packers were 1 of 5 on third-down opportunities, while the Bears went 9 of 16. The Packers’ defense could have a tough time correcting that problem against San Francisco, which has converted 45.4% of its third-down situations to rank fourth in the league.

49ers player to watch

QB Brandon Allen: With Brock Purdy unavailable due to a sore right shoulder, Allen will make his first start in three years. The 32-year-old Allen has made nine career starts, and his teams have gone 2-7 in those games. His last start came with Cincinnati in the 2021 regular-season finale when the Bengals rested usual starter Joe Burrow to get ready for the playoffs. Allen has thrown three passes in the last three seasons, including none since joining San Francisco in 2023. Allen was a member of the Los Angeles Rams in 2017, when Packers coach Matt LaFleur was that team’s offensive coordinator.

Packers player to watch

RB Josh Jacobs has 838 yards rushing this season to rank third in the NFL entering Week 12. He ran for 76 yards and a touchdown while also catching five passes for 58 yards against the Bears. Jacobs has scored four touchdowns (three rushing, one receiving) over his past four games. He has at least 90 yards from scrimmage over his past six games, matching Houston’s Joe Mixon for the NFL’s longest such active streak.

Key matchup

49ers RB Christian McCaffrey vs. Packers run defense: McCaffrey rushed for 98 yards and two touchdowns — including the game-winner with 1:07 left — in the 49ers’ playoff victory over the Packers last season. Green Bay is coming off a performance in which it allowed a season-high 179 yards rushing to the Bears.

Key injuries

Purdy isn’t playing due to a sore throwing shoulder… The 49ers also won’t have Nick Bosa after he injured his left hip and oblique against the Seahawks. ... Niners CB Charvarius Ward will miss a third straight game following the death of his 1-year-old daughter. ... Niners LT Trent Williams (ankle) is questionable. ... Niners TE George Kittle is expected back after missing last week’s game with a hamstring injury. ... Packers CB Jaire Alexander (knee) and LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring) have been ruled out. … Packers guard Jordan Morgan (shoulder) is on injured reserve.

Saturday Injury Report

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at GREEN BAY PACKERS — SAN FRANCISCO: OUT: LB Tatum Bethune (knee), DE Nick Bosa (hop/oblique), DT Kevin Givens (groin), WR Jacob Cowing (concussion), QB Brock Purdy (shoulder), CB Charvarius Ward (NIR/personal). QUESTIONABLE: T Trent Williams (ankle), C Jon Feliciano (knee). FULL: RB Christian McCaffrey (rest/achilles), TE George Kittle (hamstring). GREEN BAY: OUT: CB Jaire Alexander (knee), LB Edgerrin Cooper (hamstring). QUESTIONABLE: DL Colby Wooden (shoulder).

Series notes

The 49ers have beaten the Packers in the playoffs three of the past five years. That includes a 37-19 victory in the 2019 NFC championship, a 13-10 upset at Lambeau Field in the 2021 divisional round and the 24-21 thriller last season. The past three matchups between these teams — including a Packers 30-28 road victory on Sept. 26, 2021 — have been decided by a total of eight points. This marks the first time these teams have faced off at Lambeau Field during the regular season since a Packers 33-30 triumph on Oct. 15, 2018. Each of the past three Packers-49ers games at Green Bay have been decided by three points. 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan and Packers coach Matt LaFleur worked together as assistants at Houston (2008-09), Washington (2010-13) and Atlanta (2015-16).

Stats and stuff

A loss would give the 49ers a losing record more than 10 games into a season for the first time since going 6-10 in 2020. ... San Francisco has lost a league-worst three games this season after leading in the final two minutes of regulation… The 49ers have allowed 36 points in the final two minutes of regulation, second most in the NFL… The Niners had only one play from scrimmage go for at least 20 yards last week, tied for the fewest in any game in eight seasons under Shanahan… San Francisco is outgaining the opposition through the air by an NFL-best 53.9 yards per game… McCaffrey has topped 100 yards from scrimmage in his first two games back from Achilles tendinitis and has five straight games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage going back to last postseason… McCaffrey’s 57 games with at least 100 yards from scrimmage are the most for any active player… The 49ers are 1-5 this season when Purdy turns the ball over and 4-0 when he doesn’t… Purdy’s four rushing TDs are the most in a season for a Niners QB since Colin Kaepernick had four in 2013… This is the first of three games the Packers are playing in a 12-day stretch. They host the Miami Dolphins on Thanksgiving night and visit the NFC North-leading Detroit Lions on Dec. 5… The Packers are tied for fourth in the league with 19 takeaways, but they don’t have any over their past two games… Packers S Xavier McKinney has six interceptions this season to rank second in the league, behind Detroit’s Kerby Joseph (seven). McKinney has seven total takeaways, putting him in a tie for first with Joseph… Jacobs’ 838 yards rushing and 1,024 scrimmage yards this season are the most any Packer has had in his first 10 games with the team. Jacobs’ 1,024 scrimmage yards are the most for any Packer through the first 10 games of a season since Ahman Green had 1,057 at this point in 2004… Packers DL Rashan Gary had his 35th sack against Chicago to overtake teammate Kenny Clark for ninth place in franchise history. Clark, a three-time Pro Bowl selection, is still seeking his first sack of the season… The Packers and 49ers have the NFC’s best regular-season winning percentage since 2019. The Packers are 63-30 and the 49ers 59-34 during that stretch… San Francisco’s George Kittle has seven touchdown catches to lead all NFL tight ends. Green Bay’s Tucker Kraft has five touchdown receptions to match Baltimore’s Mark Andrews for the second-highest total among tight ends… The 49ers rank 26th in the league with TDs on 48.8% of their red zone drives. Green Bay is 27th in that category and has scored TDs on 48.7% of its drives.