We are unable to use his real name because he spent the end of the weekend not only celebrating but also strategizing and scheming, ultimately coming up with a strategy that would entail lying to his boss a few times. with his coworkers. as well as his spouse. This weekend, Jimmy C. will go all the way to Green Bay to watch Jimmy G and the Niners play the Packers in the divisional round. The issue is that he has already been allotted vacation time and is scheduled to work on Saturday morning, which theoretically precludes him from traveling for the much awaited game.

“So I’m going to call in sick,” Jimmy said. “We’re nearly at the end of a big project. It’s not really fair on everyone else. But I’ve got no other choice.” As for his wife, she knows about the trip; “she just doesn’t know how much it’s going to cost yet.” Jimmy C. spent hours online late Sunday putting his plan into action once the schedule was announced, and he is most certainly not alone in his commitment to the 49ers’ cause. Over the past two weeks, the San Francisco fan base has spread its wings in a way that has gained significant notice. On the final day of the regular season, with the team needing a victory to secure its postseason spot, SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles was a veritable sea of red as the other Jimmy (Garoppolo) sparked a late comeback against the Rams.

A 49ers contingent that occupied an estimated 30% of AT&T Stadium’s vast space disrupted the Dallas Cowboys’ preparations for a whiteout this past weekend. Ann Killion wrote, “49ers fans are all over the country now,” in the San Francisco Chronicle. “A hot national narrative is that everyone is abandoning the overpriced Bay Area; if true, that means more 49ers fans all over the country, including Texas, where they might use their savings on housing for pricey football tickets.”

However, a large number of the new fans have traveled from 49ers home territory, and it’s not inexpensive for them. Particularly when traveling to Wisconsin. Jimmy C. will undoubtedly find the final total painful: almost $500 for a direct ticket to Chicago that avoids uncomfortable departure times and multiple transfers. A car ride from the Windy City to Green Bay with another traveling fan is estimated to cost $150, and the return trip should cost at least as much. An additional $200 or so for a decent hotel stay of two nights. Additionally, a game ticket at Lambeau Field, which was purchased from an online reseller, cost over $300.

It feels worth it for a couple of reasons. One is that the 49ers, to their own fans at least, are beginning to feel like a team of destiny. It’s not hard to see why. The season could and would have ended if Garoppolo hadn’t driven 88 yards in 61 seconds in Week 18. And the way the wild-card clash with the Cowboys shook out, with time running out on Dak Prescott’s potentially game-winning drive, has reinforced the notion. San Francisco is a 5.5-point underdog against the Packers with FOX Bet and is priced at +190 on the money line. There will be no shortage of confidence, however. The 49ers thought they had Green Bay beaten in September, only for Aaron Rodgers to embark on an incredible, 37-second drive into field-goal range to secure victory. Garoppolo recently insisted that the 49ers’ nail-biting habits have instilled a fresh sense of belief into the squad, which went winless from Sept. 19 to Oct. 31 before closing the campaign strongly.

Garoppolo told reporters, “I think whenever you have a battle at the end like that, it shows a real team.” “You can tell who is present and prepared for it by looking males in the eyes. It will only benefit us in the long run. The 49ers have a long road ahead of them as a No. 6 seed. Given how the fan base has reacted and what has transpired thus far, they won’t be deterred by that. According to head coach Kyle Shanahan, “it’s so cool to go to opposing stadiums and see half of it red.” “Feels like a home game,” Fred Warner, a linebacker, said.

In an impressive display of dedication and foresight, Jimmy C. has already priced out a few possibilities for the NFC Championship Game. The Niners would have to travel to Tampa Bay, Los Angeles once more, or Arizona if they were to pull off an upset this weekend.

No matter the distance, the cost, or the number of little deceptions required to make it happen, an army in red will accompany you wherever and whenever the next game is.