San Francisco 49ers: 5 Bold predictions vs. Packers, Week 12

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The San Francisco 49ers begin a brutal three-game stretch with the Packers on Sunday Night Football. Five bold predictions for the Niners in Week 12.

If the NFL regular season ended today, the San Francisco 49ers would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC. Sitting at 9-1 on the year, Kyle Shanahan’s team has been impressive on both sides of the ball with Jimmy Garoppolo healthy, a revamped defense that’s one of the best in the league and a run game that’s been near impossible to stop with all the mouths they’re able to feed.

On Sunday Night Football in Week 12, however, the 49ers face a tough test as the Green Bay Packers make their way to Levi’s Stadium. After losing to the Seahawks two weeks ago — their first defeat of 2019 — the Niners now have a brutal schedule as the Packers are the first of three straight playoff teams that they’ll have to face. Green Bay, however, is the only one they’ll face at home.

As good as the 8-2 Packers are this season, they are also not perfect. And the 49ers might be the right type of team to exploit their weaknesses. Taking that into account and with the stakes of the No. 1 seed in the NFC on the line, here are five bold predictions for San Francisco in primetime in Week 12.

5. Kittle returns with 100-yard night

George Kittle seems like he’s good to go for this Week 12 matchup, despite missing the past two games after suffering a broken bone in his ankle in Week 9. He says he’s ready to play, though, and with his warrior-like mentality, there’s no reason not to believe him.

If Kittle is on the field, we know that Garoppolo is going to look for him — the same of which can be said for wide receiver Emmanuel Sanders, who is also questionable for the matchup with Green Bay. The star tight end is the lifeblood of the 49ers passing attack whenever he’s in the lineup and the Packers linebackers and safeties could struggle to contain him.

Even if he is playing at less than 100 percent with the ankle injury, Kittle is going to find success against Green Bay. The big fella will end the day with six or more receptions and over 100 yards in his return to action, likely finding the end zone on a red zone target as well.