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On the first weekend of the NFL season, the Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers got together in a very competitive game. Even though the Pack was able to score 22 points against the vaunted San Fran defense, the 49ers still got the win. As they head into their playoff game this weekend the two teams have a different look this time around and instead of playing in Lambeau, this time the 49ers will be at home and coming off a bye week. After the heartbreak of the playoffs last season, the 49ers are hoping to erase those memories and start their Super Bowl run this weekend the way their season started back in September, with a win against Green Bay. Patrick Willis joined 95.7 the Game in San Francisco with the Wheelhouse to talk about whether he thinks he is going to be taken off the field as much as he was last time the 49ers played the Packers, whether he has watched a lot of Packers film in preparation already, if he thinks the Packers will change much from the first meeting between the two teams, what he thinks of Aaron Rodgers, if he thinks pressure on Aaron Rodgers is a big key to the game and whether he believes Justin Smith will play against Green Bay.
Whether he believes he will be taken off the field as much as he was in the last meeting against Green Bay:
“Honestly I have no idea. My job is just to play the defensive scheme that Coach Vic (Fangio) has and whichever defensive package he calls at that time. If I happen to be in there then I will play and if not, I just do my job, I just do what I’m asked to do.”
If he has watched a lot of Packers film in anticipation of this weekend’s game:
“Yes, sir. I have and I watched the game and we watched them a little bit last week just not knowing who to prepare for. Just kind of looked at a little bit of them and of course earlier in the season. I know that number 26 (DuJuan) Harris is running the ball really well for them. We don’t know what they’re going to throw at us but we will be prepared for whatever.”
On how much he expects the Packers to change in this meeting:
“Really, I don’t. I think that they’re going to go back and try to find out what they did wrong in that game or what they feel they didn’t do right. For us we just have to go out there, watch film this week and find the things that we did well and the things we didn’t do so well. It’s going to be a competitive match and it’s going to be a great football game.”
On Aaron Rodgers:
“I like to call him a quick drawer. When he pulls up he is throwing it. He’s letting it go. He’s not holding it very long and he kind of knows where he is always going with the ball and he’s accurate. He has a lot of power behind the ball and velocity. He’s one of the best quarterbacks in the league, if not the best. It’s going to be a great football game.”
Whether he thinks putting pressure on Aaron Rodgers is a key to the game:
“There’s no question. That’s one of the things we pride ourselves on. We pride ourselves on stopping the run and getting them into third downs in a distance where I guys can get after the quarterback. I feel like we have the best guys in the game to do that. We have to make sure we stop the run and get them in long third downs and see what happens from there.”
If he thinks Justin Smith will be able to play this weekend:
“Last week he was out there a couple of days and he looked good. We won’t know for sure until probably game time. We hope that he is able to be out there with us and if not then we have to fill that void and get it done.”
On how much excitement there is for this weekend’s game after having a bye week:
“It’s truly a blessing. I was watching playoff games this week and just seeing the enthusiasm and just remember the feeling we felt last year to be playing those games and to realize that we have two games that we have to win to get to the Super Bowl and three to win it, that’s amazing. Those opportunities don’t come around often and to have a bye and be fresh, it’s right here in front of us and we have to take advanatge of the opportunity. That’s all that matters. I know for me my whole mindset has been, as soon as I woke up this morning, nothing else matters in this whole world but winning this game Saturday and nothing else matters but winning the Super Bowl. These next three or four weeks that is the only thing that matters to me. I know my family and the ones that love me understand if I don’t talk as much or I can’t hang out as much, they understand. For those that don’t then I apologize ahead of time.”
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