49ers vs. Packers: 3 bold predictions for divisional round of NFL playoffs

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Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers, Jimmy Garoppolo, San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo (10) hugs Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

0-0. 49. 1-0. 42. Packers -5.5. 8:15 p.m. ET. Fox. Saturday, Jan. 22

The 49ers take to Green Bay to face the Packers in the divisional round of the playoffs, and Niner Noise offers up some bold predictions for the game.

Well, playoff time is finally upon us, and to be quite honest, my nerves cannot tolerate much more suspense.

After scratching and clawing their way back into contention, the San Francisco 49ers seem poised for another deep playoff run after taking out the Dallas Cowboys in one of the more wilder Wild Card weekend games in recent memory.

As the Niners get set to square off against the Green Bay Packers in the divisional round with the hope of advancing to the NFC Championship game, there’s three bold predictions we should elaborate on.

49ers vs. Packers: 3 bold predictions for NFL playoffs

Prediction No. 1: Jimmy Garoppolo outperforms Aaron Rodgers

For our first prediction, you may want to grab a seat and hold on to your headgear because let’s going out on a serious limb here.

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo will outplay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the reigning NFL MVP and likely back-to-back MVP recipient.

No, we didn’t bump the collective head one too many times in 2021, rather this is a very real possibility.

Garoppolo has been one of the more streaky-hot players over the last eight games of the season leading into the playoffs. Now that he and head coach Kyle Shanahan have been together for two full seasons without serious injuries getting in the way, one should expect for the quarterback-head coach duo to come out with a solid game plan.

They opened up on the road for Wild Card weekend against the vaunted Cowboys by narrowly escaping with the victory. With a final score of 23-17, the 49ers should feel very fortunate about the win, but they know they have to consistently improve in order to extend their season.

Despite a late game surge from the Cowboys, the Niners had already jumped out to a comfortable enough lead, and the only thing left for them to do was hold on for dear life until the clock hit all zeros.

Rodgers, meanwhile, is 0-3 in the playoffs against San Francisco, and Garoppolo knows he’ll have to be at his very best on Saturday.