Quarterback Jordan Love and the Packers meet the 49ers again on Sunday for the first time since the Packers squandered a fourth-quarter lead and fell 24-21 to the 49ers in last season's NFC divisional round. (GV Wire Composite/Paul Marshall)

- Love watched the playoff loss to the 49ers multiple times in the offseason, analyzing what went wrong and seeking improvement.
- Both teams enter Sunday's game with playoff implications, adding extra motivation to the rematch at Lambeau Field.
- Love's improved health and mobility could be a key factor if the game comes down to a crucial final drive.
Share
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
GREEN BAY — Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love doesn’t hide the fact that the playoff loss to the San Francisco 49ers lingered with him throughout the offseason.
Love can gain some measure of revenge Sunday when these two teams face off for the first time since the Packers squandered a fourth-quarter lead and fell 24-21 to the 49ers in last season’s NFC divisional round.
“That’s what you’ve got to kind of just sit with all offseason, is going back, watching that game, trying to see what you could have done better, could have done differently in that game,” Love said Wednesday. “It definitely sits with you through the offseason, and obviously you move on. Just knowing that that’s the team that knocked us out, we’re definitely hungry for this game.”
Related Story: 49ers’ Playoff Hopes Hang in Balance as Bosa’s Injury Clouds ...
Love’s Late-Season Success Overshadowed by Playoff Loss
Love threw two third-quarter touchdown passes to continue his sizzling late-season run as Green Bay carried a 21-14 lead in the final quarter. Those two scoring strikes to Bo Melton and Tucker Kraft followed a nine-game stretch in which Love had thrown 21 touchdown passes with only one interception.
But with the Packers facing third-and-11 from their 48 later in the third quarter, Dre Greenlaw picked off Love’s pass intended for Kraft. The 49ers kicked a field goal on their ensuing possession to cut Green Bay’s lead to 21-17.
And after Christian McCaffrey’s 6-yard touchdown run put the 49ers ahead for good with 1:07 left, Love rolled right and threw a wild pass across his body that Greenlaw also intercepted to seal the Packers’ fate.
Love said he watched the game about three times during the offseason to see what went wrong, tough he noted that he didn’t necessarily view it any more times than he had other Packers games from last season.
“No matter who it was, you’re going to sit and reflect on what you could have done better to get over that hump,” Love said.
Related Story: 49ers Blow Another Late Lead in ‘Infuriating’ Loss to Seahawks
High Stakes for Both Teams in Upcoming Matchup
The stakes aren’t quite the same Sunday at Lambeau Field, but the game still has plenty of meaning for both teams.
San Francisco (5-5) is trying to work its way back into the playoff picture and bounce back from a 20-17 home loss to Seattle. The 49ers are in a three-way tie for second place and a game behind Arizona in the NFC West.
The Packers (7-3) want to maintain their playoff position while trying to work their way up in the NFC North standings, where they’re currently in third place and two games behind Detroit. They should benefit down the stretch from a healthier Love.
Related Story: McCaffrey’s Return Elevates 49ers’ Offense Headed Into Matchup vs. ...
Love’s Improved Health Boosts Packers’ Offense
Love missed two games in September with an injured left medial collateral ligament and sat out most of the second half of an Oct. 27 victory at Jacksonville with a groin strain, but he’s feeling better now. That was evident Sunday as he showed plenty of mobility while going 13 of 17 for 261 yards with one touchdown pass, one touchdown run and an interception in a 20-19 triumph at Chicago.
Love said Wednesday he felt as comfortable moving around in the Bears game as he has since the first week of the season. Love’s knee injury happened during Green Bay’s final series of a season-opening 34-29 loss to Philadelphia.
That could prove critical if Sunday’s game again comes down to a drive in the final minute. If that happens, perhaps Love’s offseason viewings of the Packers’ playoff loss will pay off for him.
“The main takeaway is it sucks losing, obviously getting knocked out of the playoffs,” Love said. “There’s going to be things that we see, I think, plays that we’ll see, things that they did on defense that gave us fits and things that we did well. So just building on that for this week.”
NOTES: CB Jaire Alexander (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday after missing the second half of the Bears game. … RB MarShawn Lloyd went on the reserve/non-football illness list. Lloyd was activated from injured reserve Monday after dealing with an ankle issue that has kept him out since a Sept. 15 victory over Indianapolis. Packers coach Matt LaFleur said Friday that Lloyd had appendicitis. … WR Alex McGough was signed to the practice squad.
RELATED TOPICS:
White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission
60 minutes ago
Residents Stockpile Food, Rush to Bunkers as Conflict Rattles India and Pakistan
1 hour ago
Other States Are Showing California How to Protect Its Budget Without Cutting Needed Services
2 hours ago
Federal Cuts Threaten Science, Ethics, and Public Health
2 hours ago
Former Supreme Court Justice David Souter, a Republican Who Became a Liberal Darling, Dies at 85
2 hours ago
Pope Leo XIV Celebrates First Mass as Pope and Calls His Election Both a Cross and a Blessing
2 hours ago
The Latest: Trump Floats Cutting China Tariffs to 80% Ahead of Weekend Meeting
2 hours ago
Wall Street Drifts as It Waits for a Highly Anticipated US-China Meeting on Trade
2 hours ago
Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer
41 minutes ago
Categories

Valley Crime Stoppers’ Most Wanted Person of the Day: Michael Lee Brewer

White House Dismisses Democrats on Consumer Product Safety Commission

Residents Stockpile Food, Rush to Bunkers as Conflict Rattles India and Pakistan

Other States Are Showing California How to Protect Its Budget Without Cutting Needed Services

Federal Cuts Threaten Science, Ethics, and Public Health
