SANTA CLARA – At approximately 5:15 p.m. Saturday, 49ers kicker Jake Moody is expected to make a play inside Levi's Stadium and send the ball into play to open the NFC Divisional Round game against the Green Bay Packers.
After all, no matter which team wins the coin toss, it seems likely that both players will end up with the football to start the game.
Coach Kyle Shanahan said he wouldn't even consider taking the ball if the 49ers won the coin toss. He's determined to hold off, and Packers coach Matt LaFleur appears to have found something that fits with his recent decisions to receive the starting kickoff.
Green Bay held off the first 39 times they won the coin toss in LaFleur's first 4 1/2 seasons with the Packers. That all 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 receive the opener. Green Bay led 20-6 at the end of the first quarter and won 29-22.
Once again, the Packers elected to take the ball again on Sunday in their opener against the Dallas Cowboys.
Quarterback Jordan Love led the Packers down the field on a touchdown drive. The Packers took control and maintained control all the way to 48-32 An annoying victory over the Cowboys.
“I think guys feed off of it,” offensive coordinator Adam Stenavich told Green Bay media this week. “Anytime you can start fast and get seven points on the board in the first round, I think that sets the tone for the whole game.”
After the decision's success a week ago, it would be surprising if the Packers changed their approach against the 49ers.
Meanwhile, when asked if he might choose to take the ball in order to prevent the Packers from getting off to a fast start, Shanahan replied: “No.”
The 49ers have had a lot of success early in games while earning the top seed in the NFC. The 49ers scored 76 points in their opening drives this season — the best in the NFL since at least 2000. They have outscored opponents 115-63 in the first quarter of 17 regular season games.
“We're all excited and ready to take the first flight,” 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy said. “Just our mentality of getting into the team very quickly and doing the little things right from the jump. That's the big focus we have here.
“So I think that's something we've done well. Then obviously our scheme and our stuff and the plays that we know we're going to call for the first drive. Those are all things you can prepare for and it helps you out as a player.”
Shanahan prefers the possibility of keeping the ball and scoring at the end of the first half, then immediately returning and receiving the kickoff to open the third quarter.
“That's the advantage,” Shanahan said. “If not, I think it's usually even. But you have a chance to get an extra possession.
“Watching all of this now and really studying it since I was in Atlanta, I feel very strongly about it.”
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