Historic Change: Unusual Weather Could Force 49ers to Alter Game Plan
The San Francisco 49ers famously came from behind in the Divisional Round of the 2021 playoffs to stun the Green Bay Packers in the snow at Lambeau Field and progress to the NFC Championship Game.
But, in the regular season, they have never played an official ‘snow game’ (as in snow was the weather at kickoff), under Kyle Shanahan.
There’s a chance that may change this Sunday when they return to Lambeau for the first time since that postseason triumph.
Seats at Lambeau could be seen covered in snow on Thursday. It is not currently forecast to be in the air on Sunday as the 49ers look to prevail in a road game crucial to their playoff hopes, with temperatures at kickoff expected to be a little over 40 degrees. However, if the conditions do prove amenable to some flurries, the 49ers could end up playing in their first regular-season snow game since 2016.
On that occasion, the 49ers lost 26-6 to the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field, with quarterbacks Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert combining for just 39 yards passing in a miserable game of a season to forget for San Francisco.
If Brock Purdy wants an example of a 49er quarterback succeeding in the snow, he can look to Jeff Garcia, who threw for 344 yards and two touchdowns in a 41-38 road loss to the Cincinnati Bengals in 2003.
Jimmy Garoppolo only threw for 131 yards passing and an interception in the 49ers’ 13-10 win over Green Bay in the 2021 playoffs, so, if the snow does come, there’s no guarantee the 49ers will need Purdy to be spectacular.
But, as a quarterback very used to such temperatures from his time at Iowa State, the 49ers will be in a much better spot if Purdy can adapt to the anticipated cold weather and heat things up in the passing game to help San Francisco get back on track.
