GREEN BAY – It was three trips to San Francisco ago, but it might be the most relevant as Sunday's night's game approaches.
When the Packers and 49ers met in the regular season in 2019, tight end George Kittle and receiver Deebo Samuel were the game-changers, and among plenty of concerns against a 2-0 San Francisco team this week, Green Bay can't let those two beat them again.
The last two visits to the Bay Area, Kittle and Samuel weren't in the headlines. In 2020, the 49ers were missing a litany of stars, including Kittle (injured) and Samuel (COVID-19 list), and weren't the same team. In the 2019 NFC title game, San Francisco's running attack controlled the game so thoroughly from the outset that 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo attempted only eight passes.
Another anomaly isn't likely, so it's worth revisiting the impact Kittle and Samuel made in that late November matchup 22 months ago.
Mostly due to an early Green Bay fumble and gift score, San Francisco led 10-0 midway through the second quarter when the 49ers started a drive with back-to-back completions to Kittle covering 18 and 22 yards, and kicked a field goal. 13-0.
After a Packers three-and-out, on the third snap of the 49ers' next drive, they faced second-and-6 from the Green Bay 42-yard line, and Samuel took a short crossing route the distance. 20-0.
After another three-and-out, less than 30 seconds before halftime, a 22-yard completion to Kittle on the first play led to another field goal. 23-0.
Following an early third-quarter Packers TD to provide some hope, it was squashed in just two snaps, the second an over-the-top 61-yard touchdown pass to Kittle. 30-8. Game, set, match in the 37-8 blowout.
The final totals were six catches on six targets for 129 yards for Kittle, two on two for 50 yards for Samuel, each with a long TD. They accounted for 179 of Garoppolo's 253 passing yards, and five of the six completions longer than 15 yards.
With the 49ers' backfield banged up heading into Sunday night, they won't abandon the run, but there's all the more reason to believe Garoppolo will be looking for Kittle and Samuel.
Through two games, Samuel already has 15 receptions for 282 yards, including a 79-yard TD. Kittle has a more modest eight catches for 95 yards, with a long of 35.
The difficulty in trying to limit their impact is not just within the obvious numbers game – the more defenders devoted to one opponent, the more other offensive avenues open up.
But Kittle and Samuel also are involved in the 49ers' offense in a multitude of ways.
Here's defensive coordinator Joe Barry on Kittle: "He's not a glorified wideout by any means. They put him in three-point stances and ask him to base block the best defensive end on the field. They'll put him in the backfield and ask him to chip and help tackles in protection. A lot of great tight ends won't do that because they want to catch the ball and make yards, which he does, but he does everything well."
Defensive backs coach Jerry Gray on Samuel: "Deebo is the most dynamic (of San Francisco's receivers) because they hand the ball off to him, they do reverses, they do all types of stuff with him."
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September 25, 2021 at 09:31PM
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Keeping 49ers' playmakers in check no easy task for Packers - Packers.com
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