Football is weird. You can have two teams that aren't even in the same division, yet they feel like they've been fighting in a backyard phone booth for thirty years. That is basically the deal with the 49ers vs Green Bay. Honestly, if you grew up in the 90s, you probably still have "The Catch II" or Brett Favre’s rocket passes burned into your retinas.
It’s personal.
Most people think rivalries only happen between neighbors, but San Francisco and Green Bay have played ten playoff games against each other. Ten. That is an NFL record for the most postseason meetings between any two franchises. It’s not just a game; it’s a gatekeeper. To get to the Super Bowl, you usually have to go through the Red and Gold or the Green and Gold.
The Playoff Curse That Moved East
For a long time, the Packers owned the 49ers. In the mid-90s, it felt like Steve Young was destined to always lose to the man from Kiln, Mississippi. Brett Favre was a nightmare for San Francisco, knocking them out in 1995, 1996, and 1997. But the tide turned.
Kinda.
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Since Aaron Rodgers took over, the script flipped entirely. Despite his Hall of Fame career, Rodgers went 0-4 against his childhood team in the playoffs. It’s one of those sports stats that doesn't feel real until you see the final scores. Then came Jordan Love. In January 2024, Love nearly pulled off the impossible at Levi’s Stadium, leading a young Packers squad into a rain-slicked battle that came down to a Christian McCaffrey touchdown with barely a minute left. The 49ers won that one 24-21, keeping their recent postseason win streak against Green Bay alive at five straight games.
A Brutal November Reality Check
Fast forward to the 2024 regular season, and things took a sharp left turn. On November 24, 2024, Green Bay didn't just win; they dismantled the 49ers. A 38-10 blowout at Lambeau Field. It was the largest margin of victory for the Packers in this series since... well, a long time.
That game was a reminder that the 49ers vs Green Bay dynamic is never static. San Francisco entered that game struggling with health, and Green Bay’s defense—now featuring high-profile additions and a secondary that was actually tackling—looked like a different beast. Jordan Love didn't look like a "replacement" anymore; he looked like the next chapter in a very long, very annoying book for 49ers fans.
What the Numbers Actually Say
When you look at the all-time series, the Packers actually lead. They hold a 39-34-1 record over San Francisco. But if you look at the playoffs, the 49ers are in the driver's seat with a 6-4 record. It’s a strange split. Green Bay wins the "meaningless" games more often, but San Francisco has a habit of ending Green Bay’s season when the weather gets cold.
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- Postseason Streak: San Francisco has won the last five playoff meetings.
- Regular Season Dominance: Green Bay has historically been more consistent, especially at Lambeau.
- The Point Spread: Historically, these games are decided by one possession, excluding that November 2024 outlier.
The Shanahan-LaFleur Connection
You can't talk about 49ers vs Green Bay without talking about the sidelines. Kyle Shanahan and Matt LaFleur are close. Like, "worked together in Houston and Washington" close. They know each other’s favorite plays. They know what the other guy is going to do before he even calls it into the headset.
This creates a high-stakes chess match. Every time they meet, it’s a battle of who can "out-scheme" the scheme. Sometimes it’s a defensive slugfest like the 13-10 snowy divisional game in 2022. Other times it’s a track meet. The nuance here is that LaFleur has often had the better regular-season record, but Shanahan finds a way to squeeze out those January wins.
Why 2026 Looks Different
As we move through 2026, the landscape is shifting again. The 49ers are managing a veteran core that has been to the mountain top but hasn't quite planted the flag. Christian McCaffrey remains the focal point, but even a superstar has a "shelf life." Meanwhile, Green Bay is young. They are fast. They are arguably more "built for the future" than San Francisco is right now.
In the most recent 2025 season cycles, we've seen San Francisco rely heavily on Brock Purdy’s efficiency. Critics love to call him a "game manager," but you don't beat the Packers in the playoffs by accident. You do it by being surgical. Green Bay’s defense has become more aggressive, moving away from the "soft zone" schemes that Kyle Shanahan used to eat for breakfast.
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Key Matchups to Watch
The battle usually isn't won at quarterback, though. It’s won in the trenches.
- The Edge Battle: Nick Bosa against the Packers' offensive tackles. If Bosa is contained, Jordan Love has the vision to pick apart the secondary.
- The Middle of the Field: Fred Warner is the best linebacker in the game, but the Packers love using tight ends like Luke Musgrave and Tucker Kraft to create mismatches.
- The Ground Game: When the 49ers can't run the ball, they lose. It’s that simple. Green Bay’s run defense has been the "Achilles heel" in this rivalry for a decade.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you are betting on or just watching the next 49ers vs Green Bay game, keep these things in mind:
- Check the Injury Report on Offensive Linemen: Both teams rely on rhythm. If a starting tackle is out, the whole system collapses.
- Watch the First Quarter: These teams are scripted heavily. Whoever wins the first 15 minutes usually controls the tempo for the rest of the game.
- Lambeau vs. Levi's: Home field matters immensely in this rivalry. The travel from the West Coast to Wisconsin in January is a legitimate factor that players admit is a "mental hurdle."
The 49ers vs Green Bay rivalry isn't going anywhere. It’s built on decades of heartbreak and high-stakes drama. Whether it’s the ghost of Jerry Rice or the rising star of Jordan Love, this matchup remains the gold standard for "must-watch" NFL television.
Next Steps for Deep-Diving Fans:
- Analyze the Cap Space: Look at how San Francisco’s upcoming contract extensions for their core playmakers might force them to let go of key defensive starters before the next meeting.
- Scout the Draft: Keep an eye on Green Bay’s secondary additions; their ability to press-man cover the 49ers' receivers is the only way they’ve found consistent success lately.
- Review Game Tape: Watch the condensed replay of the November 2024 game to see how Green Bay used "pre-snap motion" to confuse Fred Warner—a rare feat that might be the blueprint for beating the Niners in 2026.