Niners Get Long Week to Prep for Packers

The 49ers weren't necessarily impressive with their victory over the Chicago Bears last Thursday night, but that win really put them on the right track as they head into the latter part of the season.

Not only did they pull off the victory coming off 3 days rest, the win allowed them to rest up as they prepare for Green Bay. Had they lost that game, I think Coach Singletary would probably have had them all in pads the following day practicing for the Packers game. However, with the win, Singletary granted the players the weekend off to do something they rarely get to do, and that's watch their next opponent play live. The Packers are going to pose a tough test for the Niners, as this is a game that could go a long way towards deciding where the Niners finish in their division. They right now sit 2 games back of the first place Cardinals, who they have another visit with in week 14 in San Francisco. The Cardinals opponent this weekend are the lowly St. Louis Rams, so it's likely that the 49ers will need to win Sunday in order to keep pace with the Cards.

In order to win in Green Bay on Sunday though, the Niners are going to have to put up some points. We now the Packers are going to score, no matter how good the Niners defense is, so Alex Smith and Frank Gore are going to need to be on their games, and most importantly, the offensive line is going to have to play well. Playing in Green Bay in late November is no easy task as temperatures will likely be down around freezing, although the forecast right now looks well. No matter the temperature, the most important player in this game for the Niners' is going to be Alex Smith. Outside of that second half in Houston in which he threw for 200 yards and 3 touchdowns, Smith hasn't done anything to spectacular since taking back reigns of the starting QB job, including last weeks struggles in which he threw for just 118 yards and an interception against a very mediocre Bears defense. Smith is going to have to keep the int's at a minimum, like no more than one, and he's going to have to throw for a couple of touchdowns in order for the Niners' to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and the high powered Packer offense. The Pack will be focusing on Gore and will likely force Smith to beat them threw the air and he's going to have to respond. I just think the Pack in Green Bay are a little too much for the Niners' to handle at this point, Packers win, 27-17.