Ever considering that coach Jim Harbaugh gave second-year quarterbackColin Kaepernick the beginning nod above hot-handed Alex Smith, the query has hovered more than the 49ers like a cloud.
Did Harbaugh make the ideal determination?
The impressive and elusive Kaepernick presented a resounding solution Saturday evening that has a record-setting functionality in the 45-31 victory more than the Packers inside a divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park.
On the evening when Kaepernick became Keepernick, the 49ers quarterback torched the Packers with his arm and his feet, rushing for two touchdowns and throwing for two.
He scored on runs of twenty and 56 yards. The 56-yarder was the longest run by a quarterback from the playoffs, surpassing a 51-yard run from the Titans' Steve McNair in Jan. 2000.
"Guy's taking part in football, guy, he's which makes it take place," 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree mentioned of Kaepernick. "He's a playmaker."
Kaepernick also shattered Michael Vick's mark of 119 yards rushing -- the prior postseason rushing record by a quarterback -- by using a game-high 181 yards on 16 carries.
"The offense that we now have generates a whole lot of confusion along with the quarterback we've got who can run as quick as he can," mentioned tackle Joe Staley, a part of an offense that gained 323 yards within the ground and 579 complete. "He could also throw the ball downfield. We would like to move the chains any way we will, but it truly is wonderful to move the ball along with the ground game."
Kaepernick received off to a bumpy get started ¡§C his 2nd pass was intercepted and run back 52 yards for the touchdown ¡§C but he hardly ever lost his composure, upstaging Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the NFL's reigning most beneficial player.
"Anytime your teammates have self confidence in you plus they truly feel superior about what you happen to be undertaking, it can make you're feeling like you happen to be accomplishing the proper items," Kaepernick stated.
The Packers had been outscored 21-0, within the 2nd half and had two turnovers that led to 49ers touchdowns.
"It's quite aggravating," explained Rodgers, who threw for 257 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. "To go out and perform like that is certainly disappointing. We did not do adequate on offense to aid our defense."
For that 2nd consecutive season, San Francisco has sophisticated towards the NFC championship game the place it is going to encounter the winner of Sunday's game concerning the Seahawks and Falcons.
"They competed like maniacs," Harbaugh stated of his gamers, "and now we have received yet another week of get the job done."
It had been a large day for that Harbaugh family members, with Jim's older brother, John, coaching the Ravens to a double-overtime win at Denver.
"That was a actual football battle," Jim explained of your Ravens' 38-35 victory. "Had an opportunity to view a few of it in advance of our game. Really feel good for John and his crew."
The Packers saw their season open and near with losses on the 49ers. They dropped their opener to San Francisco 30-22 at Lambeau Field.
Saturday's rematch featured Rodgers, a 49ers fan in Northern California who wore a Joe Montana T-shirt beneath his pads like a kid, and Kaepernick, who was born in Milwaukee and grew up idolizing Brett Favre.
Crabtree caught two touchdown passes to the 49ers, and Frank Gore and Anthony Dixon just about every ran for any score.
In spite of it staying his 1st postseason commence, Kaepernick was unflappable, even immediately after the pick-six interception to begin the game. He came back within the following possession and orchestrated an eight-play, 80-yard drive that ended with his 20-yard keeper to get a
touchdown. That came on third-and-8, and -- contrary to his longer touchdown run -- was not a planned run for him.
"Man-to-man coverage, they doubled Crab, broke down and I saw a operating lane," the quarterback explained that has a shrug.
Place basically by Packers receiver Greg Jennings: "We lost to a superior crew these days."
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