Packers: Three reasons why 49ers game is must-win in Week 6

Monday night’s game against the 49ers is a must-win for the Green Bay Packers.

Away from the comforts of Lambeau Field, the Green Bay Packers have struggled mightily. So far this season the Packers are 0-2 on the road, with their latest road loss coming against the Lions. With a record of 2-2-1, Green Bay’s Week 6 game on Monday Night Football is a must-win.

At this point in the season it may seem too early to say any game is a must-win. However, with the many issues surrounding Green Bay, this is the case against the 1-4 49ers.

San Francisco lost its franchise quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo earlier this season and will most likely finish with one of the worst records in the league.

A win versus the 49ers is beneficial in many ways. For starters it can help Green Bay keep pace with the division-leading Chicago Bears.

Here is a list of reasons why the Packers must win in Week 6 if they wish to remain contenders in the NFC.

1. Bounce back from a road loss

One of the most important things any NFL team looks to avoid is losing streaks. A two-game losing streak can quickly turn into a four or five-game losing streak. The loss versus the Lions was one that coach Mike McCarthy will find most frustrating because Green Bay’s self-imposed mistakes cost them the game.

Four missed field goals, and three turnovers will almost always lose you any game in the NFL. Returning home versus the 49ers, the Packers should have a better performance.

A win at home following a road loss is something Green Bay has already done this season. After being blown out versus Washington in Week 3, Green Bay returned home to blank the Bills 22-0.

Dominating the 49ers on Monday night would give the Packers a 3-2-1 record before heading into their Week 7 bye.

2. Finding a groove before the bye week

Heading into the bye with positive momentum is what teams want to do. Here’s what Clay Matthews had to say in his interview after Thursday’s practice:

“You always hate heading off into a bye with a bad taste in your mouth, not having an opportunity to redeem yourself,” Matthews said. “So in that whole regard this is one we definitely need to get.”

Consistency is something both the offense and defense has struggled with. A great game from both sides of the ball heading into the bye could give them tremendous confidence come Week 8.

Aaron Rodgers and the offense must find a rhythm from the beginning of the game. The offense needs to knock the trend of starting games off slow. Meanwhile, the defense needs to focus on stopping the run.

Green Bay is number two in the league behind Jacksonville in passing yards allowed per game. However, they’re middle of the pack in rushing yards and points allowed per game.

With a backup quarterback on the road, San Francisco will try to establish a run game to help out their quarterback. Stopping the run will make the 49ers one-dimensional and play into what Green Bay has done best so far this season.

3. Last game Packers are favorites to win for a while

Following their Week 7 bye, the Packers’ schedule takes a turn for the worst.

Possibly the five toughest games of the year come after the bye week. Green Bay has notable road games against the currently undefeated LA Rams, New England Patriots, division-rival Vikings and Bears, and a Thursday night game against the Seahawks.

The troubling part is that they did not take care of the easiest part of their schedule. In the first six weeks of the season, Green Bay has only played one team who currently sits with a record above .500. Yet, if the Packers beat the 49ers on Monday Night, they will only have record of 3-2-1.

So this win against the 49ers is needed, if Green Bay doesn’t want to go into the toughest part of their season with a negative record. With the NFC being so loaded, every win is necessary to try to secure a playoff spot come the end of the season.

Beating San Francisco Monday night will help Green Bay establish confidence they will need as the season continues.