Weather forecast: Rain set to play a role in 49ers-Packers playoff clash

The San Francisco 49ers are 10-point favorites for their divisional round matchup with the Green Bay Packers.  What that betting line doesn't take into account is the elements, which look set to play a role in events at Levi's Stadium on Saturday night. According to NFLWeather.com, it is set to rain throughout the game in […]

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Colts and 49ers fans endure rain from a \"bomb cyclone\" weather system during the first half of the game Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Indianapolis Colts Visit The San Francisco 49ers For Nfl Week 7 At Levi S Stadium In Santa Clara Calif Sunday Oct 24 2021
Robert Scheer/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK

The San Francisco 49ers are 10-point favorites for their divisional round matchup with the Green Bay Packers. 

What that betting line doesn't take into account is the elements, which look set to play a role in events at Levi's Stadium on Saturday night.

According to NFLWeather.com, it is set to rain throughout the game in Santa Clara.

There is a 75 percent chance of precipitation at kickoff, which will increase to 77 percent in the fourth quarter. There will be wind of 12mph, with gusts between 16 and 17mph. 

Such conditions have the potential to be an equalizer in a game most expect to be one-sided.

Yet given how Packers quarterback Jordan Love dissected the Dallas Cowboys' defense in Green Bay's surprising blowout win in the wild-card round, the weather may make a repeat performance harder to replicate.

Love thrived by making a series of spectacular downfield throws, extending broken plays for large gains and demonstrating remarkable accuracy throwing off his back foot. 

Executing such throws should prove substantially more difficult in wet weather, particularly for a quarterback that, per Sports Info Solutions (h/t Niners Nation), was 23rd in the percentage of passes that were catchable when playing outside on the road in the regular season.

Those numbers would appear to point to the weather being an advantage for San Francisco, and the 49ers had no problem blowing out the Seattle Seahawks in last year's wild-card game, a contest that was played in part in wet weather.

Still, wet conditions can make things extremely challenging for both offenses and, for a 49ers team that looks to have all the edges in its favor, it will be imperative to ensure the weather does not lead to them committing turnovers that could level the playing field.