The Green Bay Packers improved to 8-3 season by defeating one of their hated NFC rivals, the San Francisco 49ers, by the score of 38-10 on Sunday afternoon. It was a game that, in many ways, was a “must win” for both teams. San Francisco entered the day 5-5, tied for second in the NFC West with the Seattle Seahawks and Los Angeles Rams. The Seahawks won today, but the team they defeated was the Arizona Cardinals, who were in first place in the NFC West. After falling to 5-6, San Francisco still has time to make a postseason push, but time is running out.
Also Read: Green Bay Packers: 3 Studs and Duds from Dominating Win Over 49ers
The Packers, meanwhile, kept pace with the 10-1 Detroit Lions and 9-2 Minnesota Vikings, both of whom won this week. It is astounding that, despite having the fourth-best record in the NFC, the Packers sit in the sixth seed. A loss would not have ended their playoff hopes, but it would have made them sweat a little bit more.
The San Francisco 49ers Were Missing Several Star Players Against the Green Bay Packers
The NFL is a violent league and, unfortunately, injuries happen. Packers wide receiver Romeo Doubs had to leave the game against the 49ers early due to a concussion, for example. Jaire Alexander and Edgerrin Cooper both missed the game with injuries of their own.
But the injuries Green Bay sustained before and during the game pale in comparison to those of the 49ers. San Francisco has been without All-Pro wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk for weeks after the star pass catcher suffered a torn ACL earlier this year.
But in the days leading up to their showdown with Green Bay, the 49ers also ruled out Pro Bowl quarterback Brock Purdy, All-Pro left tackle Trent Williams, All-Pro pass rusher Nick Bosa, and Pro Bowl cornerback Charvarius Ward.
After the Packers won the game against San Francisco handily, many claimed their victory was tainted because they did not play a fully healthy 49ers team.
Green Bay’s players do not view it that way.
Green Bay Packers Stars Jordan Love and Keisean Nixon Dismiss the Idea of an “Easy” Win
Green Bay is well-versed in having to play games without key players this year. As fans may recall, Malik Willis had to start two games in place of Jordan Love after he sprained his MCL in Week One. Willis also had to come into Green Bay’s win over the Jacksonville Jaguars after Love went down with an injured groin.
The Packers won all three of those games.
Having played multiple games without some of their best players this season, Green Bay’s players were not buying the 49ers being injured as a reason for why they won so convincingly.
Cornerback Keisean Nixon said, “It’s the NFL. It’s not an excuse. We didn’t have our quarterback. We won three games, so we don’t wanna hear that. We came to play. They should’ve came to play.”
Love felt the same way: “It’s the NFL, they’ve got other good players. We’ve had injuries, guys are banged up. You gotta find a way to go out there and win, no matter who’s out there. It’s tough for them, but we’ll take the win.”
And the Packers will take the win, right into Thursday night (Thanksgiving) when they take on the Miami Dolphins, who may be just 5-6 but have won three games in a row.
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