GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers host the San Francisco 49ers Saturday night in the NFC Divisional Playoffs at Lambeau Field.

If it seems like these two teams have met often in the playoffs, it’s because they have, eight times dating back to the 1995 season. Each team has won four. San Francisco has taken the last three.

“One big moment that sticks out was Young to TO,” said Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who grew up following the 49ers in California.  “I think a lot of Packers fans talk about there being a fumble on a drive that wasn't called. This is one of those rivalries up there with Dallas and San Fran on the NFC side, and then all of our divisional rivalries, with us and Chicago, that's pretty special to the league.”

Rodgers knows that, fairly or not, a lot of the playoff pressure falls on him.

“I understand that, in our business, so much of it is focused on the wins and losses, especially in the playoffs, Super Bowl rings and all that stuff,” said Rodgers. “I understand it's part of my legacy I'll be judged on when I'm done playing and every year is important. When it comes to furthering your legacy. Football mortality is something that we all think about, how many opportunities we’re gonna be forwarded moving forward, and each one is special. Each season is different and unique in its own way. There's four teams left on the NFC side, we're one of them, we get to host playoff games. This is a special opportunity.” 

Packers coach Matt LaFleur knows what the 49ers bring.

“It’s gonna be a great challenge for us,” said LaFleur. “This is a physical football team that brings it in all three phases, offensively, defensively and on special teams. We are going to have to get our minds right to have a physical football game. We're gonna need everybody's best and everybody's going to have to just focus in on doing their job, doing their one-eleventh, and relying on their teammates to do their jobs.”

It figures to be a typical January cold night in Green Bay Saturday night for the game. The Packers are also looking forward to a full house at Lambeau Field—unlike last year in the playoffs when attendance was limited because of COVID-19.

“It makes a huge difference,” Packers running back Aaron Jones said. “You feel the energy, you feel the juice that our fans bring. I've been told by different players that this is one of the louder stadiums in the NFL. We can definitely feel their energy, and we feed off of it. I'm glad to have everybody back in the stands.”

Packers wide receiver Davante Adams knows the Packers need to start fast against the 49ers.

“We just got to make each possession count,” said Adams. “Don't come out flat, like what we have in some playoff games against them in the past. You gotta come out firing. You got to kind of throw everything you got at them and not hold anything back.”

Adams is aware that playoff success — or lack thereof — powerfully shapes perception.

“To a certain extent, the things you do in the regular season sometimes can get lost in the sauce a little bit if you don't follow it up with that with a decent playoff run,” said Adams. “I like to take the same intensity that I had for all 16, 17 games now, and add to that as I get to the playoffs. When I think about playoff football, I definitely think about the teams down the stretch. Not really the guy who led the league in receiving, or led the league in rushing. You don't really remember that. Years later, you think about the teams that had a legit playoff push and go on to win the Super Bowl.”

LaFleur said offensive tackle David Bakhtiari did not practice Tuesday because of load management as he comes back from an ACL injury. He also said the Packers will monitor ZaDarius Smith and Jaire Alexander this week with the hope they can return from their injuries and play.