Tribune Pro Football Writer Don Pierson analyzes the Green Bay-San Francisco game:
OFFENSE
49ers’ 12th-ranked offense is unusually low. They haven’t finished 18th in passing since before Bill Walsh. Without Jerry Rice, they also ranked higher in rushing than in passing and didn’t score as many points as Packers. Steve Young is running again, but Garrison Hearst’s collarbone is iffy. Brett Favre and Dorsey Levens give Packers the edge, even though they miss receivers Keith Jackson and Andre Rison.
EDGE: Packers
DEFENSE
Like the Packers last year, the 49ers have the No. 1 defense in the league and gave up fewer points than the Packers. Dana Stubblefield and Bryant Young are best inside rush tandem. Cornerbacks Marquez Pope and Rod Woodson are targets. Packers rely a whole lot on gimpy Gilbert Brown. Fritz Shurmur is a master of schemes that have worked against 49ers in past.
EDGE: 49ers
SPECIAL TEAMS
49ers have slight edge in kicking and neither team was scary in returns, so Packers have edge with starters Robert Brooks and Antonio Freeman. Punt and kickoff return differential dead even.
EDGE: Even
COACHING
Packers’ Mike Holmgren hopes he didn’t teach 49ers’ Steve Mariucci everything he knows. Holmgren is 3-0 against 49ers in last two years, which cost George Seifert his job. Mariucci knows Favre like a book, but Holmgren calls the plays.
EDGE: Packers
INTANGIBLES
The home field is big, but the Packers ousted the 49ers from the playoffs in San Francisco two years ago. Is that incentive or intimidation? With three wins in two years, the Packers have the 49ers’ number, but that can work both ways, too. 49ers didn’t have healthy Steve Young last two times.
EDGE: 49ers
