Since 1992, they have been the two most dominant teams in the NFC. In that time span, they have combined for 26 division titles (Packers – 15, 49ers – 11), 20 NFC Championship game appearances (49ers – 11, Packers – 9), seven NFC titles (SF – 4, GB – 3) and three Super Bowl titles (GB – 2, SF – 1). The only other NFC team close to those numbers since the early 90’s is the Philadelphia Eagles.
In many years, regular season matchups for the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers have been very important in determining NFC playoff seeding. In seven different seasons since 1995, the two teams either finished tied with the same record or were one game apart after the regular season.
In the last 30 years, no two NFL teams have met in the playoffs more than the Packers and 49ers. In fact, the 10 playoff matchups between the two historic franchises (all since 1995) are the most in NFL History. The 49ers lead the series 6-4, winners of the last five meetings.
The two teams have met at least two times in each of the three rounds of the playoffs, with the most matchups being in the divisional round.
Those 10 playoff matchups have always included one of three quarterbacks for the Packers: Favre, Rodgers and Love.
In his 12 starts against the 49ers, Brett Favre was 11-1, including a 4-1 postseason record. Aaron Rodgers followed that by finishing with a 6-7 record against San Francisco, but a paltry 0-4 record in playoff games.
Last January, Jordan Love was unable to break the 49ers recent postseason dominance in this rivalry, as he threw two second-half interceptions en route to a disappointing 24-21 loss in last season’s NFC Divisional Playoff game.
The 49ers, who made their third straight NFC Championship game last year, are 5-5 and are fading in the NFC playoff picture, two games back of the Packers.
For the Packers, Sunday will be a chance at a home win against another potential NFC playoff team. In three home games against NFC teams, the Packers are just 1-2, with the win being against the Arizona Cardinals and losses against the division rival Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions.
In that rainy game last January, Love 21 for 34 with 194 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. He played well for the first three quarters, but two of the Packers final three drives ended with his interceptions.
Coming off his fifth career game-winning drive in Sunday’s win against the Chicago Bears, Love will look for his first win in this matchup. A win on Sunday could be a bit of redemption for last year’s playoff defeat, as well as give the Packers a critical win over a team they could be vying with for a playoff spot.
Having fourth quarter performances more reminiscent of the Texans or Bears games, rather than last season’s 49ers game, will likely be a big determining factor in Sunday’s game.
