Neither team is going to blink

Jeremy from Evansville, IN

Can you recall a season with eight teams as strong as the eight we have remaining? I see eight legitimate contenders. Any one of them are more than capable of winning three more games. Best of the best.

No one’s a Cinderella story this year … here nor at Augusta.

Given how I am feeling, I imagine you and Mike are dealing with waves of trepidatious Packer fans with how the Niners looked vs. the Boyz. How are you both staying so positive?

Probably because I don’t ever recall waiting through a playoff bye in this chair (’07, ’14, ’19, ’20, ’21), seeing whom the Packers will face and thinking, “Wow, they looked like crap winning that wild-card game. This oughta be a piece of cake.” Regardless, not embracing the challenge is the first step toward failing to meet it.

Could we please just drive the ball down the field for a touchdown on our first possession this weekend. Please!

My hope is with Rodgers now back in practice on a regular basis, the chances of the offense starting fast will go up.

My version of “Three Things” for Saturday: contain Deebo, pressure Jimmy G, and capitalize on those errant throws with some picks! If you had to pick three points of emphasis for the offense, what would they be?

Protect the ball, protect Aaron Rodgers, protect … um, I mean, stay balanced.

Ian from Sherman Oaks, CA

Let’s take a different perspective on this and pretend you’re writing for the Niners. What are the keys to victory for the Niners beating the Packers?

Protect the ball, pound the run, prevent explosive plays.

Peter from Chippewa Falls, WI

Joe Barry has to know that SF will want to run, run and run some more. Running the ball keeps the clock moving and out of the hands of Aaron Rodgers. Running also limits the mistakes of turnover prone Jimmy G. If Jimmy G has the game of his life and outduels Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau in a playoff game, so be it.

I expect the 49ers’ persistence with the running game to be, well … persistent, even if the Packers get off to the fast start everyone’s hoping for.

Landon from Coeur D’Alene, ID

Since not drafting Aaron Rodgers, SF has made four NFC title games and two Super Bowls while going undefeated against GB in the playoffs. Rodgers said he was going to make SF regret not drafting him but it seems SF has done just fine. Fair or unfair?

I take nothing away from their accomplishments, but if you’d asked that question a few years ago when the 49ers were in the midst of their fourth straight season with double-digit losses, the perspective shifts. Green Bay has had one season of double-digit losses since Rodgers took the reins, none since his first under center.