Packers vs. 49ers: Picking a combined starting offense
Picking a combined starting offense between the Packers and 49ers.
Between the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers, you could build a pretty dominant offense.
Ahead of this week’s divisional-round game between the two teams, which players would make a combined starting offense?
Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers (Packers)
Easy choice here with the potentially soon-to-be four-time NFL MVP. Rodgers has been unbelievably good again this season with 4,115 yards, 37 touchdowns, and just four interceptions. Two of those picks were way back in Week 1.
Running back
Aaron Jones (Packers)
You could certainly make a case for Elijah Mitchell here, who has been excellent when healthy, but Jones is a game-changer. He has split carries with AJ Dillon throughout the season, but few running backs can swing a game the way Jones can both in the run game and as a receiver.
Even in a timeshare with Dillon, Jones has 1,190 total yards and 10 touchdowns this season.
Wide receivers
Davante Adams (Packers), Deebo Samuel (49ers), Brandon Aiyuk (49ers)
Adams and Samuel are the obvious picks. Both were named first-team All-Pros.
Adams set franchise single-season records for receptions and receiving yards. Samuel had 1,770 total yards and 14 touchdowns in the regular season, and he even threw a touchdown pass. Against the Dallas Cowboys in the wild-card round, Samuel put up 110 total yards with a touchdown.
Picking the third receiver wasn’t as easy, but I’ve gone with Aiyuk over Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Aiyuk finished the year strong and ended the regular season with 826 yards and five touchdowns.
Tight end
George Kittle (49ers)
No arguments here. When fully healthy, Kittle is among the top tight ends in the league both as a receiver and blocker. Despite missing a few games, Kittle still finished second on the 49ers in receiving and just missed out on another 1,000-yard season.
Offensive line
LT Trent Williams (49ers), LG Laken Tomlinson (49ers), C Alex Mack (49ers), RG Lucas Patrick (Packers), RT Billy Turner (Packers)
Had David Bakhtiari been healthy this season, he’d almost certainly be the choice. But Bakhtiari is coming off a torn ACL and has played one quarter of football in the regular season.
Williams, meanwhile, has been simply outstanding all year long, being named a first-team All-Pro and earning his ninth Pro Bowl selection.
Tomlinson struggled in the wild-card round allowing six pressures, per PFF, but he’s had a solid season overall and hasn’t missed a snap.
Mack gets in ahead of rookie Josh Myers, who missed a big chunk of the regular season. Packers backup center Patrick will likely shift over to right tackle for the playoffs, a position he’s more familiar with, and that’s why he’s the choice at guard. Patrick is having a good season. While at center, he tied for second at the position in run block win rate, according to ESPN.
Turner was having another phenomenal year before injuring his knee late in the regular season, but he could return for the playoffs.