A new 49ers-Packers rivalry – Brock versus Jordan
Green Bay’s Jordan Love (10) left, and San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy (13) right, ready for a Divisional Playoff game on Saturday 20, 2024 at 5:15pm PT. NFL/Associated Press
2024.01.13 – Every year the NFL Playoffs brings about excellent quarterback rivalries, a new one might begin on Saturday in Santa Clara, Brock Purdy with the San Francisco 49ers versus Jordan Love and the Green Bay Packers.
But, every minute this week will be spent noting that the NFL has a great quarterback rivalry for this modern era, as Patrick Mahomes will play Josh Allen in Buffalo on Sunday.
Starting Saturday and in the coming years, we might be talking about Purdy and Love in the same way.
It has been almost a constant throughout the years: 49ers and Packers meeting in the playoffs. But who saw the record-breaking 10th playoff meeting between the marquee NFL franchises happening this year?
The 49ers (12-5), the top seed in the NFC, will host the Packers at 5:15 p.m. Saturday in the divisional round because seventh-seeded Green Bay stunned second-seeded Dallas 48-32 in a wild-card game Sunday.
The Packers (9-8), began the season 3-6 and will enter Levi’s Stadium on a roll after qualifying for the playoffs in Week 18. Including Sunday’s postseason opener, they have won seven of their past nine games, led by quarterback Love.
The 49ers’ latest playoff meeting against the Packers will be their third in the past five seasons, with the 49ers winning the previous two. The franchises’ 10th playoff meeting is the most in NFL history, with three other match-ups occurring nine times (49ers-Cowboys; Rams-Cowboys; Packers-Cowboys).
2024.01.13 – Preview- 95.7 The Game (SF 49ers vs. GB Packers)
Green Bay’s Jordan Love (10) left, and San Francisco 49ers Brock Purdy (13) right, ready for a Divisional Playoff game on Saturday 20, 2024 at 5:15pm PT. NFL/Associated Press
2024.01.13 – Preview- 95.7 The Game (SF 49ers vs. GB Packers)
2024.01.13 – Preview- 95.7 The Game (SF 49ers vs. GB Packers)
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (49ers Wake Up with Bruce & Krueger)
For two decades, the AFC was the superior conference because it had the superior quarterbacks.
And from 2004 to 2017, save for one season, that conference’s champion was either Tom Brady, Peyton Manning, or Big Ben Roethlisberger.
You could count on the best of the best to face each other in the playoffs every year. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the league more than doubled its annual revenue over that stretch.
The NFC has lacked those kinds of showdowns this century. Russell Wilson and Colin Kaepernick played second fiddle to the team’s defenses. Brady and Aaron Rodgers only faced off once during the former’s time with the Buccaneers. The Rams took one quarterback to the Super Bowl and won it with another. Somehow, the Bears were in the NFC Championship Game during that stretch — twice.
But Purdy vs. Love has a chance to break the mold.
In his first full season as the 49ers’ starter, Purdy nearly won the MVP. He led the NFL in passer rating and yards per attempt, and was second in completion percentage. With Purdy pushing the ball down the field, the Niners had the best offense in the NFL this season by a wide margin.
Save for the Christmas night debacle against the Ravens, Purdy has been elite. Don’t let anyone tell you different.
And yet there’s an argument to be made that he is the second-best quarterback in Saturday’s game against the Packers.
Green Bay quarterback Love had a bumpy start to his first season as the Packers’ starter, but patience has paid off: He has been on a heater since Thanksgiving, throwing 19 touchdowns to just one interception, posting a 115.5 passer rating over his last eight games, which includes his effectively perfect wild-card round win over the Cowboys on Sunday.
These are two young quarterbacks, 24 and 25, who have figured out how to play the game at the highest level.
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (NBC Sports-Pre Game)
FILE – 49ers Nick Bosa (97), right sacks Packers’ Aaron Rodgers, left. Bosa has the most postseason sacks (eight) in 49ers history. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (NBC Sports-Pre Game)
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (NBC Sports-Pre Game)
Of course, the two quarterbacks won’t face each other — they’ll face the opposing defense. That’s where the separation might be found.
Love has been spectacular as of late, but during that stretch, he hasn’t faced a defense like the 49ers’, which has elite players at every level and is anything but front-running. They’re also rested and playing at home, which makes them exceptionally dangerous.
Purdy, on the other hand, will face a defense that had a big game against the Cowboys, but was the sixth-worst in the NFL this season, per DVOA.
Looking at the quarterback’s supporting casts, yes, the Packers have young, exciting play-makers, but the 49ers boast even better players across the board, all in the primes of their careers. The Niners effectively have a Pro Bowl roster. The Packers didn’t have anyone selected for the Pro Bowl this season.
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (Damon Bruce – Pre Game)
49ers defensive back (41) Tayler Hawkins celebrates his second-quarter interception against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday. Scott Strazzante/The Chronicle
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (Damon Bruce – Pre Game)
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (Damon Bruce – Pre Game)
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (Krueger & Haberman Pre Game)
2024.01.13 – 49ers vs. Packers (Krueger & Haberman Pre Game)
Yes, there’s a reason the 49ers are 10-point favorites on Saturday (and rising) — the San Francisco team is better. Perhaps the young Packers close the gap in the years to come, but on Saturday, Green Bay cannot win with anything less than Love’s best.
“I think it just shows the world what we’re all about as a team,” Love said. “We’ve been counted out so many times. I think it was just a great team win (vs. Cowboys) tonight. All three phases were able step up. When we’re playing complementary ball like that, I think we’re tough to beat.”
Lucky for them, that best might be good enough.
And it might be good enough for years to come.
This is a league where success is predicated on the head coach and quarterback, and both teams are coming into Saturday’s game with the best of the best at both positions. I see no reason that will change in the years to come.
So no matter what happens Saturday, expect these two quarterbacks to battle it out once or twice a year for years to come — the best of the best have a funny way of finding each other.
UP NEXT
49ers vs. Packers: Divisional-round game at Levi’s Stadium on January 20, 2024.
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Read more at: San Francisco 49ers Media Services / More AP NFL
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