Packers and 49ers face off on TNF

The Green Bay Packers will go on the road for a Thursday night matchup with the San Francisco 49ers.

• It is the first-ever Thursday meeting between the teams.It is also the first time the Packers have played at the 49ers in the regular season in back-to-back years since 1973-74.
• This will be the fourth game (including playoffs) for Green Bay at Levi's Stadium (2015, 2019, 2019 NFC Championship).
• Dating back to 1996, Green Bay has an 11-3 mark against San Francisco during the regular season.
• This will be the third of five scheduled prime-time games for the Packers. Green Bay won its first two matchups this season, winning at New Orleans in Week 3 and at home against Atlanta in Week 4. 
• The Packers have won 10 of their last 12 regular-season games, including five of their last six on the road.
• After each of the previous four regular-season losses by Green Bay under Head Coach Matt LaFleur, the Packers responded with a victory the next week.
• Dating back to 2019, Green Bay is 6-2 (.750) in night games during the regular season. The Packers are tied for the most wins in night games in the NFL over that span (Sportradar).

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

ON THURSDAYS

• The Packers have won four of the last six games they have played on a Thursday night.
• In the last five games he has played on a Thursday night, QB Aaron Rodgers has thrown for 12 TDs and one INT with a passer rating of 107.3.
• Rodgers has started 11 Thursday night games in his career and has registered 23 passing TDs, five INTs and a passer rating of 101.8. 
• Dating back to 2011, when Rodgers started his first Thursday night game, his passer rating of 101.8 as a starter ranks No. 4 in the NFL (min. 200 pass att.). while his 23 passing TDs rank No. 1 in the league (Sportradar).
• In games played on Thursday, day or night, Rodgers has recorded a passer rating of 100-plus seven times, tied for the most in the NFL (min. 15 pass att.) since 2008 (according to Stathead.com). Green Bay has won six of the seven Thursday games in which Rodgers' passer rating has eclipsed 100.0.
• In eight Thursday night games, WR Davante Adams has registered five receiving TDs, tied for No. 3 in the NFL since 2014 (Sportradar).

WITH THE CALL

FOX will broadcast the game to a national audience. Play-by-play man Joe Buck joins analyst Troy Aikman with Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink reporting from the sidelines. The game is also available through Amazon Prime Video with your choice of announcers: Hannah Storm and Andrea Kremer, or the scouts feed with Daniel Jeremiah, Bucky Brooks and Joy Taylor.

• Milwaukee's WTMJ (620 AM), airing Green Bay games since November 1929, heads up the Packers Radio Network that is made up of 50 stations in four states. Wayne Larrivee (play-by-play), two-time Packers Pro Bowler Larry McCarren (analyst) and three-time Packers Pro Bowler and two-time All-Pro John Kuhn (sideline) will call the action. McCarren first joined the team's broadcasts in 1995 and enters his 25th season calling Packers games. After originally being paired together in 1999, McCarren and Larrivee enter their 22nd season of broadcasts together. They surpassed Jim Irwin and Max McGee for the most regular-season and postseason games broadcast for the Packers with 313 at the 2018 season opener against Chicago.
• The broadcast is also available on Sirius Satellite Radio (WTMJ feed), WTMJ.com via desktop computer and on numerous devices through NFL Game Pass.
• Westwood One Sports will air the game on radio across the country. Ryan Radtke (play-by-play) and Rod Woodson (analyst) will call the action with Scott Graham hosting pregame and halftime shows.

This is an abbreviated version of the Dope Sheet. Read the full version here (PDF).

THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:

Packers vs. 49ers:

• Regular season, all-time: 32-28-1
• All-time, Postseason: 4-4
• All-time, at San Francisco (regular season): 10-17-1 (1-1 at Levi's Stadium)
• Streaks: Green Bay is 3-3 in its last six regular-season games vs. San Francisco
• Last meeting, regular season: Nov. 24, 2019, Levi's Stadium, 49ers won, 37-8

COACHES CAPSULES

• Matt LaFleur: 18-5-0, .783; (1-1 postseason); 2nd NFL season
• Kyle Shanahan: 27-29, .482 (2-1 postseason); 4th NFL season
• Head to Head: 0-2 (regular and postseason)
• vs. Opponent: LaFleur 0-2 vs. 49ers; Shanahan 2-1 vs. Packers (regular and postseason)

MATT LaFLEUR…In his second season as the Packers' 15th head coach.

• In his 12th season in the NFL, having previously served as an offensive coordinator for two seasons (Los Angeles Rams, 2017; Tennessee Titans, 2018), a quarterbacks coach for six seasons (Washington Redskins, 2010-13; Atlanta Falcons, 2015-16), and an offensive assistant for two seasons (Houston Texans, 2008-09).
• In his first season leading the Packers in 2019, because the first coach in club history to lead the team to the playoffs in his debut season. Also led the largest one-year win improvement in team history (plus-seven wins).
• Became only the fifth coach in NFL history to win 13-plus regular-season games in his first season as a head coach (Jim Caldwell, George Seifert, Jim Harbaugh, Steve Mariucci).
• Guided the Titans' offense in 2018 to a No. 7 league ranking in rushing (126.4 ypg) as Tennessee registered 11 games with 100-plus rushing yards, tied for No. 2 in the NFL.
• Helped the Rams lead the league in scoring with an average of 29.9 points per game in 2017, more than doubling their average from 2016 (14.0 ppg).
• Tutored QB Matt Ryan, who led the league in passer rating (117.1) in 2016 on his way to being named NFL Most Valuable Player by The Associated Press, and QB Robert Griffin III, who became the first QB in Washington franchise history to win AP Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2012.

KYLE SHANAHAN…In his fourth year as the 49ers' 20th head coach. 

• Named Coach of the Year by Sporting News in 2019 after leading the 49ers to a 13-3 regular-season record, the NFC West division title and an appearance in Super Bowl LIV.
• His 2019 offense led the NFL in rushing touchdowns (23), ranked second in points per game (29.9) and rushing yards per game (144.1) and fourth in total offense (381.1 yards per game).
• Possesses 17 seasons of coaching experience at the NFL level, including nine as an offensive coordinator for the Atlanta Falcons (2015-16), Cleveland Browns (2014), Washington Redskins (2010-13) and Houston Texans (2008-09).
• In 2016, helped the Falcons reach Super Bowl LI and guided the Atlanta offense to franchise records in yards per game (415.8), points scored (540), net passing yards per game (295.3) and yards per play (6.7). 
• Was named Assistant Coach of the Year in 2016 by both The Associated Press and the Pro Football Writers of America. 

THE PACKERS-49ERS SERIES

• Originally dating back to 1950, the series featured two games per season from 1953-66 with the teams trading dominant stretches. San Francisco won 13 times in a span of 15 games between 1950-58, while the Packers won 10 of 11 games between 1959-64.
• In more recent times, the series has been noted for its postseason clashes. Green Bay defeated San Francisco 27-17 in the 1995 NFC Divisional playoff before going on to win the next two postseason meetings, a 35-14 home victory in the 1996 NFC Divisional playoff en route to the Super Bowl XXXI title, and a 23-10 win at San Francisco in the 1997 NFC Championship game. The two teams met in the playoffs for a fourth straight season in 1998, with the 49ers winning, 30-27.
• The clubs faced off in the playoffs in 2012, 2013, and 2019, with San Francisco coming away with wins in all three contests.

NOTABLE CONNECTIONS

Packers head coach Matt LaFleur and his brother, 49ers passing game coordinator Mike, worked together in Atlanta for two seasons (2015-16)…Matt LaFleur has also worked with 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan in Atlanta (2015-16), Washington (2010-13) and Houston (2008-09)…Shanahan's father, Mike Shanahan, was the head coach in Washington when LaFleur was the quarterbacks coach…Packers offensive line coach Adam Stenavich spent two seasons as the 49ers' assistant offensive line coach…49ers offensive assistant Bobby Slowik is a native of Green Bay...Green Bay players with connections to California include: WR Davante Adams (Palo Alto, Fresno State), T David Bakhtiari (San Mateo), LB Krys Barnes (Bakersfield, UCLA), DL Kenny Clark (Rialto, UCLA), RB Tyler Ervin (Colton, San Jose State), CB Kevin King (Oakland), TE Marcedes Lewis (Long Beach, UCLA), QB Jordan Love (Bakersfield), QB Aaron Rodgers (Chico, Butte CC, University of California), WR Equanimeous St. Brown (Anaheim), and RB Jamaal Williams (Fontana)…California natives on the Packers' coaching staff include offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett (Fullerton) and defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery (Los Angeles)…Mike LaFleur was an offensive intern in Cleveland in 2014 when Packers defensive coordinator Mike Pettine was the head coach…Pettine coached with 49ers assistant offensive line coach Chris Foerster in Baltimore from 2005-07...Matt LaFleur has worked with a number of 49ers assistant coaches, including special teams coordinator Richard Hightower (Houston, 2008; Washington 2010-13), run game coordinator Mike McDaniel (Houston, 2008; Washington, 2011-13; Atlanta, 2015-16), defensive coordinator Robert Saleh (Central Michigan, 2004; Houston, 2008-09), assistant head coach/tight ends Jon Embree (Washington, 2010), offensive line coach John Benton (Houston, 2008-09), Foerster (Washington, 2010-13), run game specialist/outside linebackers coach Johnny Holland (Houston, 2008-09), Slowik (Washington, 2011-13), offensive assistant Katie Sowers (Atlanta, 2016) and running backs coach Robert Turner Jr. (Washington, 2010-13; Atlanta, 2015-16)…Pettine, Packers special teams coordinator Shawn Mennenga and assistant defensive backs coach Ryan Downard worked with Hightower (2014), McDaniel (2014) and 49ers defensive quality control Brian Fleury (2014-15) in Cleveland…Holland played linebacker for the Packers for seven seasons (1987-93)...Matt LaFleur was on the Houston coaching staff when 49ers inside linebackers coach DeMeco Ryans played linebacker for the Texans…Hackett coached alongside Saleh, Benton, 49ers safeties coach Daniel Bullocks, passing game specialist Mike Rutenberg and assistant defensive line coach Aaron Whitecotton in Jacksonville…Packers tight ends coach Justin Outten was on the Atlanta coaching staff with Matt and Mike LaFleur, McDaniel and Turner Jr. …Packers inside linebackers coach Kirk Olivadotti was on the Washington staff with Matt and Mike LaFleur, Shanahan, Hightower, Embree and Turner Jr. …Embree was the head coach at Colorado in 2011-12 when Bakhtiari played for the Buffaloes and he was the position coach for Packers TE Marcedes Lewis at UCLA in 2004-05...Foerster was Packers G/T Billy Turner's offensive line coach when Turner played for the Dolphins early in the 2016 season...Packers outside linebackers coach Mike Smith and 49ers wide receivers coach Wes Welker were teammates at Texas Tech...Packers assistant chief of staff Joe McKillip worked with 49ers administrative assistant to the head coach Nick Kray on the N.C. State football operations staff (2015-16)…Packers S Will Redmond was a third-round draft pick of the 49ers in 2016, spending parts of the 2016-17 seasons with the organization...49ers RB Tevin Coleman, OL Tom Compton and OL Ben Garland played in Atlanta when Matt LaFleur and Outten were on the coaching staff (2015-16)…Packers S Adrian Amos and 49ers K Robbie Gould played together in Chicago in 2015…Packers LB Za'Darius Smith and 49ers FB Kyle Juszczyk played together in Baltimore for two seasons (2015-16)…Matt LaFleur was the quarterbacks coach at Notre Dame when 49ers OL Mike McGlinchey was a freshman for the Fighting Irish…49ers CB K'Waun Williams signed as an undrafted free agent with Cleveland when Pettine was the head coach...Former college teammates include: Packers LB Randy Ramsey and 49ers LB Dre Greenlaw (Arkansas); Packers DL Montravius Adams and Ford (Auburn); Packers DL Billy Winn and 49ers CB Jamar Taylor (Boise State); Packers RB Jamaal Williams and 49ers LB Fred Warner (BYU); Packers G Lucas Patrick and 49ers OL Laken Tomlinson (Duke); Packers CB Josh Jackson, 49ers QB C.J.Beathard and TE George Kittle (Iowa); Packers WR Equanimeous St. Brown and McGlinchey (Notre Dame); King and 49ers WR Dante Pettis (Washington).