And so we meet again. The Green Bay Packers are out for revenge, as they look to right a previous wrong vs. the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship.
It was a rancid performance by the Packers when they took on the 49ers on Nov. 25. Green Bay was pulverized by the 49ers offense to the tune of 37-8. This was arguably the worst game of Aaron Rodgers’ career, as he completed 20-of-33 passes for 104 yards and a touchdown in this laughable result for Green Bay.
Now he gets a chance for revenge with the Packers heading to San Francisco to take on Nick Bosa, Richard Sherman and the 49ers in the NFC Championship Game.
Since falling in Santa Clara in late November, the Packers have won six games in a row, including Sunday night’s thriller at home vs. the Seahawks in the NFC Divisional Round. The Packers finished the year 13-3 as the No. 2-seed and NFC North champions.
However, many people feel this is one of the softest 13-3 teams in NFL history. The Packers are looking to change that narrative by getting to the Super Bowl for the second time since Rodgers arrived in Green Bay in 2005. This game is 100 percent about Rodgers on the field and 100 percent about head coach Matt Lafleur on the sidelines.
Growing up, Rodgers was a die-hard 49ers fan from Northern California. This was a franchise that could have drafting him No. 1 overall out of Cal in 2005 but opted to go with Utah signal-caller Alex Smith instead. So this game is personal for Rodgers and one he can’t let fall to the wayside as he did back on Nov. 25.
This is his opportunity to right a wrong and he needs to do it.
As for LaFleur, he’ll be going up against one of his former coaching buddies in Kyle Shanahan. LaFleur was on the same offensive staffs as Shanahan with the Houston Texans (2008-09), the Washington Redskins (2010-13) and the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16). This is the game that will decide who is the brightest offensive mind in football, as the winner is going to the Super Bowl.
Ultimately, it’s only fitting Green Bay gets to go back to the place where it all went wrong for them nearly two months ago with a trip to Super Bowl LIV on the line should they rectify those past mistakes. This has to be one of Rodgers’ last best chances to win Lombardi Trophy No. 2.
For LaFleur, this is his opportunity to upstage his coaching counterpart. For them, this is personal.