There are three teams the 49ers could face at Candlestick in two weeks for the divisional round of the NFC playoffs – the Packers, the Seahawks and the Redskins.
Which team do the 49ers match up best against? Who should the Niners be rooting to face?
I’ll list the teams in order.
1. The Packers. Despite Aaron Rogers being their quarterback, the Niners should prefer to play Green Bay first. They are somebody with whom the Niners are familiar, although Colin Kaepernick had only one snap against them in the season opener.
Their running game is not as potent as Seattle’s or Washington’s. Also, with the success the Vikings had running the ball against the Packers, Frank Gore might come back to life for more than just one or two runs a game.
Additionally, Mason Crosby, the Packers’ kicker, has had a season almost as miserable as Akers.
The Niners secondary would face a tougher test against the Packers than against the Seahawks or the Redskins passing games, but that is a trade off with which the Niners could live.
2. The Seahawks. The 49ers are familiar with them. The Niners would have an easier learning curve and prep time than against most teams. What’s more, Seattle is a different team on the road and on grass. The 49ers just saw them two weeks ago, and even though they killed the Niners, the Seahawks struggled against the Rams yesterday. Maybe the Niners should study Jeff Fisher’s defensive game plan against the Seahawks.
3. The Redskins. The 49ers have no familiarity with them. The Redskins have a dynamic running game with the Pistol option, they have a dual threat QB in Robert Griffin III and they have a defensive coordinator who blitzes coming off the bus. There are potentially too many surprises for which to prepare even though the Niners have a bye week to do a little bit of work against each of the possible opponents.
With this bye week, they should start game planning for Washington first because of the lack of familiarity with their personnel, the uniqueness of their offense and the myriad of blitzes from their defense. After that, do some work on Green Bay and then lastly Seattle.
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I prefer to play the best team coming out of the Wild Card. Any of those teams you mentioned will be a formidable foe.
I would love the sea chickens at home..
I dont know why. They are the hottest team in the NFL right now.
I think the 49ers will be facing the Packers and Rodgers, but to put two teams with rookies at QB as tougher matchups than the one with the QB that has won the SB, MVP and is playoff veteran that has thrown for 39 TD’s and has 1000 yards more passing than either one would seem the tougher opponent.
I would take the rookie QBs over a super bowl MVP any day. Oh yeah, we’re also starting our own QB who has only started 7 games.
Oh vey!!!!!
Bye bye Vic Vangio hope you have success wherever you go. I know this is premature but wouldn’t be surprised.
Now that’s what I call optimism!
^Fangio sorry
Wasington Redskins are the best matchup. Wounded rookie quarterback. Worn out team traveling cross country. Their offense is not unfamiliar to Fangio given that the 49er offense has a similar style incorporated into it.
Where Fangio has done a poor job is beyond me. He had 6 probowlers this year? Yeah Vic is not going anywhere. In fact he should be promoted to assistant head coach comsidering the job he has done the last two years.
Without our defense we go maybe 9-7.
Fangio is solid.
True dat.
It’s our Offense that’s completely dysfunctional and schizophrenic.
I’m sorry about VD is our best offensive weapon, a top 3 TE for sure,
Crabtree is having a great year and a great possession receiver, but no Defensive Coordinator is afraid of him.
Delanie Walker is as unreliable as it gets for a TE too.
Gotta disagree about Crabtree. He is not a possession receiver. Now he has a qb that sees him open more often. Sorry but I watched smith in person miss MC open numerous times. And I watched MC walk off the field upset that he Didnt get the look more often.
MC has come into his own the second half of the season for a reason. And I’ll bet DC’d fear him and will be preparing for him like they never have in the past. If have to say Walker is our second go to guy all of a sudden. It would be huge for Davis to come alive this postseason. They have two weeks. Hopefully VD calls Ck or vice versa and they put some one on one time in for these two weeks.
When I posted my statement I was referring to all the firings that he was going to get a head coach job. I should’ve been clearer.
Fangio is a great defensive coach and we should try to keep him if possible. As far as Crabtree, he is an all around number one Wide out and finally he as a qb that is not scared to throw him the ball. GO NINERS
I think our Niners do better against the less mobile QB. Rodger’s is as elite a QB as it gets, but I like our chances against the Pack @ Candlestick. We can handle the Seahawks if we can contain Wilson & we can handle the Falcons in Atlanta. Go Niners!!
Grant: Concept-wise, I’m not so sure we’re unfamiliar with the Redskins. We run a fair amount of read option; we practice executing it and defending against it. I think JH, having recruited RG3, has a pretty firm grasp of his skill set. We know Haslett and his defensive tendencies pretty well, as he’s been around for a long time and many of our guys have faced off against him in the past, including last year. I think it’d really come down to the teams’ respective playmakers and who executes best, rather than unfamiliarity.
If we were so aware of the read option, then why did Wilson make us look so foolish?
Big: I said we were familiar with it. I also said it comes down to playmakers. Wilson made plays, our guys didn’t.
That’s a question for the men on the field that day to answer.
Interesting Grant, I would have it ranked (in order of matchup preference) WAS, GB, SEA. I think the reasons you listed for the redskins are just as applicable to them. They will have to travel across country to face a rested team they are unfamiliar with, with a wounded QB.
I agree that the 49ers would matchup well against the packers, and I also think that the packers is their most likely opponent since if they beat MIN they travel to SF. playing SEA or WAS relies on the vikings beating GB in GB.
I think SEA @ WAS next weekend is going to be the game to watch. Two very similar rookie QBs, really good running games, and good defenses. I will be really excited to watch that one.
If we do end up facing seattle, I think its in the NFC CG after they go through WAS and ATL. Either way, we will see seattle in SF where their defense won’t have the homefield advantage. And as i’ve mentioned, SEA has yet to beat a playoff team on the road. So if they do so next week, it will be their first time.
I don’t understand why Rex Ryan still has a job, reminds me of the days with Matt Millen, he kept his job way longer then he should of.
Bills, Bears, Chargers, Chiefs, Browns, Cardinals, and Eagles all fire their head coaches! The good news is that Greg Roman might get one of these jobs.
I’d like to believe that, but I think he’s coached his way off the list of hot commodities. If someone does hire him, I’d imagine we’d hand Chryst the reins. I could get with that.
I can’t wait to find out who the next coach will be in the NFC West. I have a funny feeling Andy Reid or Norv turner will be coaching in Arz next season. If not then two I could see them signing their DC to the coaching job.
Word is it’s going to be the DC, Horton. If they brought on Turner as the OC, they’d have a shot at fixing that wretched offense.
MD
Imagine a scenario where GRo goes to Arizona and possibly takes Alex with him. Wouldn’t that be something? The thought of playing against Alex doesn’t scare me one bit, but playing against GRo may be tough given his familiarity with the Niner’s system.
Nick… It would be a test of intelligence at that point if he went to arz. They know each other well. And on top of that intelligence would be talent. And the 49ers are far superior right now in that department. I don’t think he gets an NFL coaching job. To many big names that most think need a fresh start fired today. I think he goes college.
This blog really is a bunch of haters G Roman you may not like but the Niners are the 2cd seed in the NFC! Maybe the niners need you and your madden playing skills to call the plays, or your vast experience coaching community sports for children.
Your a total putz. Mr. Clam Chowder. Calling people haters on here certainly has a different meaning, then it does in real life. I hate Hitler, I hate Osama Bid laden, I hate serial killers like Adam Lanza and James Holmes. But if we make a criticism of Greg Roman or if many of us feel that he is inconsistent and maybe incompetent, we are haters. Your nothing but a drama queen and a few fry’s short of a Happy Meal.
Your biscuits are cooked.
You’re a few fries short.
Get it?
Actually, your the one that sounds like a hater. Ad hominem attacks with baseless accusations and a gratuitous “hater” designation thrown in. Greg Roman is a decent, but not great coordinator. We can win a Super Bowl with him. However, with his name popping up as a HC candidate multiple times last year, it’s a relevant topic on a blog like this. The reality is that Norv Turner is a better OC, and Chrsyt would possibly an upgrade. Has nothing to do with HATING Roman.
Neal I have already told you that you are racist rubbish. As far a G Roman and people hating look at the previos blog entry from Grant. Don’t get defensive and try to play semantics over (hater) I hate racist rubbish!
Sourdough Sam,
Sounds like you are the hater, you remind me of George C Scott, and your mad at the world. As for me, I have never been called a racist, ofcourse a loser like you, would not know that, go back to the hole that you came from. prejudice arse.
That being said the NFCCG against the seahags at the Stick would be the best way to head to the BigDance!
Heck yea, the sweetest revenge would be beating Cheatin’ Pete after thinking he has SF’s number
How did pete cheat?
just wondering
I’ve been wondering about that, too. Unless the definition of cheating has changed to “anyone who beats the 49ers” (which I could live with, by the way!), when or how did he cheat?
I’m not sure. With RG3′s knee issue, Washington seems mortal. It’s really a tossup.
I lack the TV cable and bandwidth (still only dial-up here) to scout opponents in detail (the joys of country living), but it seems…
The 49ers defense does a fairly good job limiting opponents fast wideouts, but has problems defending quick slot receivers.
The 49ers offense seems to excel against big 4-3 defenses (Detroit, Chicago etc.), but has problems against faster front sevens.
I’d rather play Seattle. Not a fan of Pete and his cheating ass team.
How did they cheat
If we can get past the Packers, which is plausible. I think the Seahawks dominate the Redskins. I think they have the chops to beat Atlanta in their dome. Atlanta is one dimensional and Seahawks secondary will make for a long day against Ryan. I see us playing the Seahawks at Candlestick for the NFC Championship. It will be a bar fight and everyone will probably get ejected.
I don’t care who they play. The 49ers match up well with all of these teams. Line ‘em up and let’s get it on!
Love the attitude, Jack. But I’ve gotta say, while watching the Card game early on, the thought that kept coming to me was, “Who the eff would be afraid to meet these Niners in the playoffs?” I’m sure glad we got the bye, though not particularly proud that it took another team’s win to get it for us. Right now, I’ve got a lot more hope than confidence.
“Who the eff would be afraid to meet these Niners in the playoffs?”
We can only hope that teams are not afraid of the 49ers. This team has it’s imperfections, but so does each team in the tournament. It’s about matchups, and they appear favorable this year.
The Seahawks are a different team on the road. I seriously doubt they can win two in a row. The Vikings are not going to beat the Packers on the frozen tundra. We will be playing Green Bay in the first round. Bank on it.
One road teams winning in the playoffs is rare enough, both road teams winning in the same round is almost unheard of. Of the two road teams next week, I give Seattle a better chance of winning. I think the Niners should prepare for Green Bay as the most likely opponent. Washington as the #2 possibility. The Seahawks as the #3 possibility.
I’d rather face Atlanta in Atlanta than Seattle at the Stick. I don’t think we match up well against Seattle at all, which pains me to say. They led well into the 2nd half against us at home, not good. We’ll destroy Atlanta imo.
I think destroy could be a little strong, don’t you? Roddy White always seems to have a good game vs the 49ers, not to mention that slouch on the other side, Julio Jones…let’s hope that Carlos Rodgers brings his ‘A’ game that day should it come, because he will be the target.