Saturday, Aug. 16 - Candlestick Park - 8 p.m. CDT
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PACKERS HEAD WEST TO TAKE ON NINERS
-Green Bay makes its first road trip of 2008, traveling across the country to take on the San Francisco 49ers in the second preseason game.
-It will be a short week for the Green and Gold after opening up the preseason slate on Monday night against the Bengals with a 20-17 loss. Players return to the practice field Wednesday and Thursday before departing west Friday afternoon.
-Like any preseason game, there were a number of things to highlight Monday night, and of course plenty to correct. The Packers' starting units on offense and defense got into a nice rhythm, mounting a 10-0 lead after the first quarter.
-Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, making his first preseason start in front of a national audience, led the first-unit offense on two scoring drives, including a highlight touchdown connection with wide receiver James Jones.
-Also, the first-unit defense seemed to gain some momentum. It forced three consecutive three-and-outs for Carson Palmer and company.
-The main goal this week in Green Bay will be to heal many of the Packers core players. Seven projected starters were held out of action Monday night, while a number of other key backups were held out.
-Head Coach Mike McCarthy would prefer to play his first units a bit longer Saturday night, but health will be the determining factor.
-San Francisco enters its first home game of the preseason with a bit more rest, having traveled across the Bay last Friday to take on the Oakland Raiders, where it suffered an 18-6 defeat.
THE DOPE ON THIS WEEK'S OPPONENT:
Green Bay Packers vs. San Francisco 49ers:
All-time regular season: 28-25-1
All-time, in San Francisco: 11-16-1
All-time, postseason: 4-1-0
All-time, preseason: 1-2-0
Streaks: Packers have won six straight and 11 of the last 12
Last meeting, regular season: Dec. 10, 2006, Monster Park; Packers won, 30-19
Last meeting, preseason: Sept. 13, 1975, at Lambeau Field; 49ers won, 24-3
Speaking of dope...
