GREEN BAY, Wisc. -- The 49ers have already been bumped from one of their scheduled prime-time, national TV appearances.
And the odds do not appear strong that they’ll remain in the Sunday night time slot for their Sunday, Dec. 2, game at Seattle, either. But in the meantime, all the 49ers can do is play well in the games – and times – that are scheduled.
That begins Monday night when the 49ers (1-4) take a three-game losing streak into Lambeau Field to face Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers (2-2-1).
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“Everyone says we have a lot of injuries and were kicked out of a Sunday night football game. And no one really expects us to win on Monday night,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said last week. “Screw them. And we’re going to do everything we can to show up. We’re going to ball out. That’s about it.”
The biggest injury that impacted the 49ers’ attractiveness to a national audience occurred in Week 3 when quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo sustained a season-ending torn ACL in his left knee. A week before the start of the regular season, running back Jerick McKinnon was lost for the year when he went down with an ACL tear of his own.
The 49ers have lost consecutive games to Kansas City, the L.A. Chargers and Arizona to find themselves as one of five one-win teams in the NFL entering Monday’s game against the Packers.
[RATTO: 49ers have low bar to clear]
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The NFL announced last week that the 49ers’ scheduled Sunday night game on Oct. 21 against the Los Angeles Rams would be moved to 1:25 p.m. at Levi’s Stadium. A game featuring Kansas City and Cincinnati got move to the national TV game.
Coach Kyle Shanahan, speaking on 49ers Game Plan on NBC Bay Area, said he will probably address the team’s demotion this week as the club prepares to face the Rams.
But, right now, the 49ers see an opportunity in front of them while making one of two appearances this season on Monday Night Football. After facing the Packers, the 49ers will be play another Monday game in Week 10 against the New York Giants.
“I think it’s a great thing,” Shanahan said of the opportunity that awaits the 49ers Monday night in Green Bay. “What I like is a lot of people doubt us, and understandably so right now.
“We want to go out and do things people don’t believe we can do. When you get a chance to prove to people you can do things they don’t expect, I’d much rather everyone watching than just a few people watching.”