Packers: Four bold predictions vs. 49ers in NFC Championship Game

Packers win the turnover battle

Aaron Rodgers’ fumble on the opening drive in Week 12 effectively gifted the Niners a seven-point lead as they started with the ball on Green Bay’s two-yard line. Despite that, the Packers didn’t turn the ball over again all night.

Green Bay had the third-best turnover differential in the NFL in 2019 and also ranked seventh in takeaways. The offense, meanwhile, barely gave the ball away with the second-fewest turnovers in the league.

The 49ers defense was excellent at taking the ball away, doing so 27 times in the regular season, but their offense protected the football far worse than the Packers. San Francisco turned the ball over 23 times, ranking 21st in the NFL.

Jimmy Garoppolo has been prone to turnovers this season, throwing 13 interceptions and fumbling five times. He only failed to throw a pick in six games during the regular season, being intercepted at least once in the other 10 games. One of those turnover-free games was against the Packers.

Given Green Bay’s ability to force turnovers on defense and San Francisco’s struggles at protecting the ball at times this season, there will be opportunities to make game-changing plays.

The Packers lost the turnover battle during their last trip to Levi’s Stadium. If they win it this time, it’ll be one step towards advancing to the Super Bowl.