49ers’ 4 biggest obstacles in the way of winning NFC in 2022
By Peter Panacy
![Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) Dak Prescott #4 of the Dallas Cowboys (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/45fa4b9d58be11b54f839cf1789e0bdf5dba5fdf5ca2d33e5565d2dc123604c6.jpg)
49ers obstacle No. 3: Green Bay Packers
2021 end result: Lost to 49ers in NFC divisional round
What a weird offseason for quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers.
Not only did Rodgers fall to 0-4 all time against the Niners in postseason play, leading to speculation about whether or not Rodgers wanted to be traded, wanted to retire or wanted to stay put in the weeks thereafter. But Rodgers also lost his No. 1 favorite target, too, as All-Pro wide receiver Davante Adams found himself traded to the Las Vegas Raiders.
That’s a massive loss. And if speedy wideout Marquez Valdes-Scantling finds himself leaving in free agency, too, the decision to lock up Rodgers long term will have ramifications on proven offensive skill players being available.
Defensively, Green Bay also bid farewell to EDGE Za’Darius Smith, who jumped ship in the NFC North to join the Minnesota Vikings, thereby making the Packers defense weaker.
Simply put, the No. 1-seeded Packers from a year ago aren’t going to be anywhere near as talented and deep as they were last season, which is better news for San Francisco.
Even though the 49ers have had Rodgers’ number in the playoffs.
Still, a player of Rodgers ilk is always going to carry his team into “threat” status.