Packers: Five players key to victory in Week 9 vs. 49ers

5. Kingsley Keke

Green Bay’s defense has been pushed around, slammed down, run through and run over by opposing running backs.

Not only did the Packers ignore the offense they also did not add anything to the defense.

In 2010, Howard Green was a huge midseason pickup. Along with Ryan Pickett and B.J. Raji, Green gave the Packers a whole lot of beef up front to help stop the run. It doesn’t look like the Packers will be getting that type of addition this year.

Like the wide receivers, someone on the defensive line already on the roster is going to have to step up.

Kingsley Keke has shown flashes of being able to be that guy in the pass rush. In week three, he was able to get after Drew Brees and record his only two sacks on the season.

But now, he needs to show he can be stout against the run.

The blueprint to beat the Packers on offense is to blitz Rodgers. On defense it’s even more simple: run the ball.

The 49ers know this. They’ve done this. Twice.

Kyle Shanahan’s system is very running back-friendly and it has made stars out of every type of running back. That they won’t have their top two backs won’t matter. Shanahan will still try to run it right down the Packers’ throats.

Coming into this season we all knew there would be trials and tribulations. There are in every season. Adding a global pandemic ensured there would be very unique situations to occur. The Packers now find themselves in a very unique spot: coming off a loss, not being able to afford another one and down three key players on a short week.

It’s not ideal.

Don’t cry to the 49ers about it. They have faced injury after injury and have shown the mettle to keep fighting through.

The Packers must now do the same and come through with a victory in a place that hasn’t been kind to them.