The Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers face off today at Lambeau Field in an NFC Wildcard game that reaffirms their rivalry is back in force. Today’s Packers 49ers game marks the second year in a row these teams have met in the playoffs, hearkening back to the teams’ rivalry games from the 1990s. This year’s teams are quite different in today’s NFC Wildcard game, though the quarterback positions are as key today as they were 20 years ago to each team’s success. Today’s Packers game marks the second week back for Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers after his collarbone injury, while 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick looks to continue his road-game momentum today at Lambeau Field. You can watch Packers vs 49ers free online NFC Wildcard game live streaming using a few different services.
Today’s NFC Wildcard game is a rematch of last year’s NFC Divisional round, which the 49ers won 45-31 over the Packers. Today’s 49ers game is also a repeat of their Week 1 matchup this season, which San Francisco won 34-28 at home. In the previous two meetings, Kaepernick set a career high in passing as well as the NFL single-game record for rushing yards by a quarterback (181). Although he suffered a mid-season stumble, Kaepernick has regained his 2013 Super Bowl form during the 49ers recent six-game winning streak.
Passing form aside, dual-threat quarterback Kaepernick also poses a big threat on the ground. Between Kaepernick’s ground attack and running back Frank Gore, who rushed this season for 1,128 yards, the 49ers enter today’s Packers game with third-best rushing game in the league. That’s not good news for the Green Bay Packers defense, which ranks 25th in the NFL and has allowed 27 points per game and 1,200 rushing yards during their past eight games. Without Clay Matthews, today’s 49ers game will pose a particular challenge for the Green Bay Packers.
Fortunately for Green Bay, QB Aaron Rodgers will make his second start in a row when you watch Packers vs 49ers free online NFC Wildcard game live streaming. Rodgers came back against the Chicago Bears last week after spending seven weeks forced to watch Packers game from the sideline. It didn’t take Rodgers long to knock off the rust, passing for 318 yards and two touchdowns in the Packers’ playoff-clinching 33-28 win over the Bears.
Aaron Rodgers last week converted three fourth downs, including the game-winning score, to defeat the Chicago Bears with a playoff berth on the line. The momentum from the win and their late-season surge could hurt the 49ers defense, which hasn’t looked like itself in recent weeks. In the past two weeks, the 49ers have allowed an average of 442 yards and 22 points per game. If their fifth-ranked defense can’t return to form, today’s NFC wildcard game could be a high-scoring affair with Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree on one side vs. the Packers’ receiving duo of Randall Cobb and Jordy Nelson.
San Francisco has a three-game winning streak against the Packers, including Week 1 this season and last year’s NFC divisional round playoff game. the 49ers have also won six in a row, with Kaepernick having a QB Rating over 100 in each of those six games. Interestingly, although today’s 49ers game takes place in sub-freezing weather at Lambeau Field, Kaepernick has a better QB Rating on the road than he does at home.
Packers QB Rodgers, meanwhile, has the third-best passer rating in the postseason in NFL history, with 18 touchdowns against just 5 interceptions and a 103.6 passer rating. But it may not be enough today, as both teams are forced to the ground in inclement weather, a factor that definitely favors the 49ers.
Kickoff for today’s NFC Wildcard game is scheduled for 4:40 EST / 1:40 PST on FOX. You can watch Packers vs 49ers free online NFC Wildcard game live streaming on DirecTV’s website if you have the NFL Sunday Ticket with Max package. Watching the online live streaming version like that requires a subscription, but anyone who has a subscription can watch any NFL playoff game free online, including today’s NFC Wildcard game between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers.
