Colin Kaepernick ran himself into the NFL record book Saturday and along the way he carried the 49ers to their second straight NFC Championship Game appearance.
In his first postseason start, Kaepernick set a league record for most rushing yards by a quarterback in a playoff game, propelling the 49ers to a 45-31 shredding of the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park. The 49ers will meet the winner of today’s game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons next Sunday.
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If, like many passionate and mildly pessimistic football fans, you look for and often easily find fatalistic omens, you likely watched the Packers return an awkward, ill-advised Colin Kaepernick pass for a touchdown on the 49ers’ first drive Saturday night at the Stick and immediately flashed back to Craig Newsome’s fumble return for a TD on
San Francisco’s first offensive play against Green Bay on the same field in the 1996 divisional playoff game.
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Last January, the 49ers entered the playoffs with a strong defense and consistent offense. They have neither this January, and it would be a big surprise if they get past a better and strongly motivated Green Bay team at Candlestick Park on Saturday.
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The 49ers proved last season was not a fluke in the 2012 season opener by beating the Green Bay Packers 30-22. If they want redemption after the shortcomings in last year’s playoff run under coach Jim Harbaugh, they will need to duplicate that season-opening effort Saturday.
San Francisco has changed dramatically since the Sept. 9 opener, most dramatically at quarterback, where Colin Kaepernick took over following an injury to Alex Smith on Nov. 11.
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Even at less than full strength, Justin Smith’s presence on the 49ers’ defensive line is enough to instill plenty of fear in opposing offenses.
Or even his own teammates, for that matter. Running back Frank Gore endured his toughest training camp yet last summer while facing his defensive teammates each day — Smith, in particular.
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He caught six passes, including one for a score, the night he emphatically declared quarterback Colin Kaepernick “the man.”
But since his 83-yard receiving night in the 32-7 route against the Chicago Bears in mid-November — a team that was then projected to be in the postseason — Vernon Davis hasn’t been the preferred target of his precocious passer.
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Billy Cundiff, sporting a crisp, new white No. 6 jersey, had an impressive first day of practice with the 49ers while kicking alongside struggling veteran David Akers as coach Jim Harbaugh watched closely.
Cundiff signed a one-year contract Tuesday with the NFC West champion Niners (11-4-1) to compete with Akers as Harbaugh and his staff determine who will handle the kicking duties for San Francisco in the NFC divisional playoffs Jan. 12 at Candlestick Park.
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The 49ers’ defense is that much more stingy with Justin Smith on the field.
Anyone in his own locker room or elsewhere will emphatically say as much. So, perhaps the most important part of San Francisco securing a first-round playoff bye is the chance to get the defensive menace back for its playoff opener.
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Jim Harbaugh is a man of many labels. Genius, egomaniac and master motivator are just a few of the tags he’s picked up in his brief NFL coaching career. Here’s another one if the 49ers do make a Super Bowl run this month: psychic.
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The 49ers signed kicker Billy Cundiff on Tuesday to compete with struggling veteran David Akers.
“He’s thrilled with the opportunity to be in a position to help the team in any way he can this postseason,” said Cundiff’s agent, Paul Sheehy. “It’s a great opportunity, with a great organization.”
Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that the NFC West champion Niners (11-4-1), off this week as the NFC’s No. 2 seed, planned to try out kickers because of Akers’ prolonged funk.
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