TNF: Packers vs 49ers Game Thread

Thursday Night Football, Week 9. Tonight the San Francisco 49ers host the Green Bay Packers in a matchup of NFC playoff contenders.

The 5-2 Packers come into this game having lost two of their last three games after opening the season with four consecutive victories. The Packers are led by future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who is having a brilliant bounce back year, with 20 touchdown passes and just two interceptions over seven games. The Packers fortunes have turned south the last few games as they began to turn the ball over just a bit, after going through the first four games turnover free.

The 4-4 49ers come into this game off a tough loss to their division rivals, the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers have been absolutely devastated by injuries this year, with an incredible 23 players on injured reserve. The latest devastating injury came against the Seahawks on Sunday when All Pro tight end George Kittle broke a bone in his foot, sidelining him for perhaps the rest of the season. Without Kittle, starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, receivers Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk, running back Raheem Mostert, edge rusher Nick Bosa, and a host of other players out for extended periods of time, it is difficult to see how this 49ers team can remain a viable contender. Nonetheless, they still have games to play, starting tonight against the Packers. We’ll see what kind of effort they can muster.

It’s the Packers and the 49ers on Thursday Night Football. Enjoy the game everybody.