San Francisco 49ers vs. Green Bay Packers Matchup Preview (11/5/20): Betting Odds, Depth Charts, Live Stream (Watch Online)

The Green Bay Packers will be on a long and quiet flight to California. Dalvin Cook made work of a poor defensive effort, giving Green Bay an embarrassing upset loss at home. Davante Adams did his best to keep his team in the game, scoring three touchdown receptions, but it wasn’t enough. The 49ers meanwhile are coming off a tough loss to Seattle on the road. Trailing 7-30 in the 4th quarter, the 49ers scored touchdowns in three consecutive drives to make the final score just 27-37. Both teams showed heart in their losses. Both teams are hungry. And both teams want to prove they can win close games.

For odds movement and full matchup history, visit the Green Bay Packers at San Francisco 49ers Matchup Page.

TV Schedule

Date: Thursday, November 5th, 2020
Time: 8:20 PM ET
Location: Levi’s Stadium – Santa Clara, California
TV Coverage: FOX

49ers vs. Packers Live Stream

Where can you watch 49ers vs. Packers online? You can stream this game and many other NFL games live online with Hulu. Hulu has a 7 Day free trial and is cheaper than cable options at $5.99/month. Watch 49ers vs. Packers Free Online Now.

Injuries

San Francisco 49ers: IR list: Jimmy Garappolo (ankle), George Kittle (foot), Raheem Morstert (ankle), , Jeff Wilson Jr. (ankle), Jalen Hurd (ACL), Jordan Reed (knee), Out list: Tevin Coleman (knee), Deebo Samuel (hamstring), Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles (hamstring). Questionable: Jaquiski Tartt (Groin), Richie James (ankle).

Green Bay Packers: IR list: Allen Lazard (core), Josiah Deguara (ACL). Out list: Jamaal Williams (Covid), AJ Dillon (Covid). Questionable: Aaron Jones (calf),

San Francisco 49ers Analysis

Someone at the 49ers’ front office must have opened an umbrella or shattered a mirror because the injuries they have faced this season are remarkably unlucky. Losing a starting quarterback to injury is uncommon, but not unheard of whatsoever. A few starting quarterbacks get injured every year. But to lose your QB, starting running back, starting tight end, and your best defensive player to just name a few is different. That is, put simply, unheard of.

But it hasn’t completely trainwrecked the 49ers. San Francisco may sit at the bottom of the NFC West, they still have a 4-4 record which does not begin to describe the volatility of this team. In-fact, only three of the 49ers’ 8 games have been decided by one possession. The average difference in score regardless of who wins is 15.625 points for San Francisco. It is fair to say a game determined by 27 points is a landslide, the 49ers have had 4 of them. They’ve gone 2-2 in those games.

So what makes this team so inconsistent? In a word, adjustments. It has been a season of adjusting to injuries for San Francisco. The 49ers did not expect to have anyone other than Jimmy Garppolo at the helm for the foreseeable future after signing the ex-patriot to a 137 million dollar, 5 year deal in 2018. The faith did not seem misplaced when the 29 year old led the 49ers to the Super Bowl last year in a tough loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Garappolo has already missed time this year, when he suffered in ankle sprain in Week 2. For the following two games without him, the 49ers beat a bad Giants team, and lost to a bad Eagles team. The 49ers will miss their starter on Thursday.

Raheem Morstert was looking like an upcoming star for the team and a favorite among his fantasy owners. In his three games, Morstert surpassed 100 scrimmage yards before a slightly more average game against a very tough Rams defensive line. There was excitement about the running back. Then he went down with an ankle sprain. He is now on the IR.

George Kittle has created a name for himself as one of the best tight ends in the league. He was averaging 87 yards per game and reeled in two touchdowns this season before a devastating injury against Seattle last week. The 6’4 target will be missed on Thursday, especially when down in the endzone.

Maybe the most substantial loss of the year was superstar defensive end Nick Bosa. It did not take long for Bosa to become a must-find on tape when entering the league. In a defensive rookie of the year campaign, Bosa tallied 2 fumble recoveries, a forced fumble, an interception, and 35 tackles. He will be missing the season after tearing an ACL week 2. Don’t expect him to receive a get well card from any quarterbacks until the offseason.

So who does Head Coach Kyle Shannahn need to step up for the team in a short week? Well backup quarterback Nick Mullens is an easy answer. This week will not be the first time Mullens has experienced the national spotlight. Giants fans, myself included, might remember Nick Mullens’ epic Monday Night Football battle that took overtime to decide in 2018. Mullens had a touchdown, 250 yards, and an interception. But we only have to look back earlier this season to see Mullens recent performances. The quarterback has appeared in 4 games this year, starting in two. He totals 4 touchdowns, 3 interceptions, but most noticeably a 70% completion percentage. For a team lacking huge targets like Kittle and receiver Debo Samuel, it will be relieving to have a backup quarterback throwing consistently smart and accurate passes.

It will be a game to decide the trajectory of the season. The first without the 49ers’ big name starters for the foreseeable future. But in many ways, it is a game of opportunity. Plenty of young and talented players will have their chance to prove themselves in the national spotlight and earn themselves a starting role. Players like Nick Mullens, running back JaMycal Hasty, and receiver Kendrick Bourne. For the team itself, the 49ers have a chance to cemente into the minds of NFL fans they remain contenders in the NFC and look to return for a deep playoff run.

San Francisco 49ers Depth Chart

QB: Nick Mullens
RB1: JaMycal Hasty
RB2: Jerick McKinnon
WR1: Brandon Aiyuk
WR2: Kendrick Bourne
WR3: Trent Taylor
TE: Ross Dwelley

Green Bay Packers Analysis

It would be easy for me to write a lengthy analysis detailing the failures of the Packers’ defense to contain one player coming off a groin injury. But it would not be a fair representation of the Green Bay season. Even after Dalvin Cook seamlessly rushed up and down Lambeau Field, the Packers still rank as the 15th best defense against the run.

But it is the Packers’ offense, not defense, that makes headlines. Green Bay impressively ranks as the third most scoring offense with 31.3 points per game. Davante Adams is having himself a fantastic season, even for his standards. In just five games he has caught 43 passes for 502 yards and 7 touchdowns. There is no doubt the 49ers are up late watching game film for number 17.

The Packers’ offense, however, is not without losses themselves. Jamaal Williams and AJ Dillon are both missing Thursday’s game due to Covid precaution. Aaron Jones may be out with an injury. The only run options the Packers could have on Thursday is Tyler Ervin and Dexter Williams. For a team that passes on average 8 more times than running, expect that number to go soaring.

It would be journalistic suicide to write a Green Bay Packers analysis without mentioning Aaron Rodgers. The renown quarterback has already proven he can win, come back down big, and miraculously return from injury mid-game. He is by all measures a Hall of Fame quarterback. In how his 16th year there are no signs he is slowing down. This season he has thrown 20 touchdowns, 1948 yards, and just 2 interceptions. I expect another big game out of him.

The Packers are coming off an upset loss at home to the Vikings. Dalvin Cook dismantled their defense. But Cook is a proven elite running back. The back Green Bay is facing this week is JaMycal Hasty. He has in total 14 carries for 38 yards. Green Bay should not have to worry too much about the 49ers run game. The Packers defense is not amazing this year, but expect a slightly better performance.

The Green Bay Packers believe they are a legitmatite contender team. After going 13-3 last season, winning a playoff game, and losing a close one to the 49ers in the NFC Championship game, many believed they were the worst 13-3 team of all time. To be honest I did not totally agree with it, but many did. To the point, the Packers want to prove themselves this year by winning the NFC North and having a deep playoff run. This Packers’ ambition alone is enough to scare opposing coaches. On a nationally televised broadcast, look for them to seek a statement win against a very injured 49ers team.

Green Bay Packers Depth Chart

QB: Aaron Rodgers
RB1: Aaron Jones*
RB2: Tyler Ervin
WR1: Davante Adams
WR2: Marquez Vandes-Scantling
WR3: Malik Taylor
TE: Robert Tonyan

Betting Corner: -5.5 Packers

Spread: +/-5.5
Moneyline: -250 Packers, +125 49ers
Over/Under: 51 points

Prediction:

Spread: -5.5 Packers
Moneyline: -250 Packers
Over/Under: Over

The spread has grown for the Packers over the week. Perhaps the whims of a headline matchup grew thin when there was a careful look at the 49ers new depth chart. I believe the game will be fun to watch, with some lesser-known names making noise on offense for San Francisco, but ultimately I predict the Packers offense will have a season game and take home the win. Final Score Prediction: 45-31 Packers.

Slam the over in this game. Between the Packers’ ability to run up the scoreboard, and the 49ers’ tendencies to have huge differences in points, this should be a high scoring matchup. Between the 15 games these teams have combined for, over 51 points was scored in 7 of them. Expect a slightly riskier bet, but have faith in the Packers offense.

Love/Hate Daily Fantasy Picks

Love: Davante Adams
There was controversy last Summer when the Packers did not spend an early draft pick on a receiver like expected. Rodgers wanted help with young receivers, and the front office had other plans. It was thought Aaron Rodgers and the Packers would suffer as a result. Those predictions could not be more wrong. Davante Adams, in the 5 games he has played this year, he has caught 43 passes for 502 yards and 7 touchdowns. He is a fantasy superstar. Perhaps for a lack of other options, between no rookie receivers and Allen Lazard being injured, Adams has been a target machine. In all but the one game he injured his hamstring, Adams has earned double-digit targets. Expect him to win the battle against a respectable 49ers secondary.

Hate: JaMycal Hasty
JaMycal Hasty is much more of a question mark than Davante Adams. He does not have much experience carrying the football. A majority, 65%, of his season’s attempts have come from the past two weeks, a time period that has netted him just 9.2 fantasy points per game. I don’t see him having a great game against the Packers.