SANTA CLARA – At approximately 5:15 p.m. Saturday, 49ers kicker Jake Moody is expected to field the ball and send the ball into play at Levi's Stadium to open the NFC divisional round game against the Green Bay Packers.
Because regardless of which team wins the coin toss, it's likely that the Packers will be able to start playing the football at the end.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he wouldn't even consider taking the ball if the 49ers won the coin toss. He's desperate to delay, and Packers coach Matt LaFleur appears to have found something that works with his recent decisions to get the opening kickoff.
Green Bay deferred the first 39 times they won the coin toss during LaFleur's first 4 1/2 seasons with the Packers. All that changed on Thanksgiving Day when he stressed the importance of a fast start against the Detroit Lions.
The Packers won the toss that day and elected to take the opening kickoff. Green Bay led 20-6 at the end of the first quarter and cruised to a 29-22 victory.
Once again, the Packers decided to take the ball again on Sunday in their playoff opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Jordan Love led the Packers down the field with a touchdown drive. The Packers took control and stayed in control throughout as they pulled out a surprising 48-32 win over the Cowboys.
“I think the guys are just feeding off of it,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told Green Bay-area media this week. “Anytime you start fast and get seven points in the first drive, I think that sets the tone for the whole game.”
After the success of the decision a week ago, it would be a shock if the Packers changed their approach against the 49ers.
Meanwhile, when Shanahan was asked if he might opt to take the ball to prevent the Packers from getting off to a fast start, he replied, “No.”
The 49ers have had a lot of success early in the games, securing first place in the NFC. The 49ers scored 76 points on their first drives this season – the best in the NFL since at least 2000. They outscored opponents 115-63 in the first quarter of their 17 regular season games.
“We’re all energized and ready for the first drive,” said 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy. “Just our attitude of getting into a team quickly and doing the little things right from the start. That’s a big focus we’re putting here.”
“So that’s something I think we did well. Then of course our plan and stuff, the plays that we know we're going to call for the first drive. These are all things that you can prepare for and that will help you as a player.”
Shanahan prefers the ability to hold the ball and score at the end of the first half, then immediately come back and receive the kickoff to open the third quarter.
“That’s the advantage,” Shanahan said. “If not, I think it's usually balanced. But you have the chance to get an extra possession.”
“Looking at it all now and really studying it since I’ve been in Atlanta, I just feel pretty strongly about it.”
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