The San Francisco 49ers, led by the cost-effective quarterback Brock Purdy, clinched the NFC West title and secured the coveted No. 1 seed in the 2024 NFL playoffs. Following a well-deserved bye week, they are gearing up to face the Green Bay Packers in the Divisional Round.
Meanwhile, the Packers are fresh off an incredible 48-32 wild-card victory against the formidable Dallas Cowboys squad. The 49ers vs Packers clash intensifies due to Purdy’s exceptional form during the 2023 NFL season. Despite the buzz surrounding the 49ers and their QB, Packers defensive end Devonte Wyatt believes he and his team have devised a strategic plan to stop Purdy’s resurgence.
Devonte Wyatt discloses plan to stop Brock Purdy
Devonte Wyatt has revealed their game plan to neutralize Brock Purdy, who has been a standout MVP candidate throughout the 2023 NFL season. His approach centers around disrupting the QB’s rhythm by putting pressure on him and getting him off his spot.
“Yeah, just get him off his spot. You’ve just got to get pressure on him, know what I’m saying. When he’s throwing that ball (with pressure), it’s just off rhythm”, he said.
Wyatt’s strategy is rooted in the observation that in Mr. Irrelevant’s four losses this season. He threw nine interceptions and fumbled twice while facing pressure on 44% of his dropbacks. In his 12 wins, Purdy faced pressure only 36% of the time, and notable examples include the Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, and Minnesota Vikings. These teams managed to disrupt his game with well-executed pressure, resulting in interceptions and hits. Wyatt is confident that getting pressure on the QB is a surefire way to force turnovers.
“I watched it a lot on film. When D-linemen just get pressure into him, he’s always throwing off or it’s behind them or it’s overthrown or it’s short. There will be a lot of picks or stuff like that. So when you get pressure on him, it’s a guarantee we’ll get a turnover.”
Despite Wyatt’s assertion, statistics from Pro Football Focus indicate that Brock Purdy has been effective when facing pressure, especially late in the season. He ranks among the league’s best when pressured, with the third-most batted passes (five) as well as sixth-most interceptions (six) along with a turnover-worthy play percentage of 5.4%.
Packers vs 49ers match preview
The Packers vs 49ers clash will mark their 10th postseason encounter. The stakes are high, with the winner earning the coveted ticket to the NFC Championship Game. Levi’s Stadium will be the battleground for this showdown, with kickoff scheduled for 8:15 p.m. ET.
The 49ers enter the game with an impressive regular-season performance, ranking third in both scoring offense and scoring defense. Boasting an exceptional overall PFF grade and the second position in DVOA, they have proven to be a formidable force led by Brock Purdy.
The offensive arsenal includes dynamic players such as potential MVP contender Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle. On the defensive front, Pro Bowlers like Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, and Charvarius Ward are ready to contribute to their strength.
For the Packers to secure an upset victory against the mighty team, their defensive front must play a pivotal role. Despite ranking 17th in sacks during the regular season, their ability to generate pressures, hurries, and QB hits per game could be a key factor in disrupting the 49ers’ offensive rhythm.
The oddsmakers favor the 49ers in this matchup, setting them as 9.5-point favorites at Levi’s Stadium. The over/under is established at 50.5 points, according to SI Sportsbook. It indicates expectations for a potentially high-scoring and closely contested battle.
