Kaepernick, 49ers run Packers out of playoffs

NFC Divisional Round
January 12, 2013 - 8 p.m. - FOX
Candlestick Park
San Francisco, California

Packers 31 - 49ers 45

It's possible Colin Kaepernick is still running with the football.  The 49ers quarterback rushed for a quarterback-record 181 yards and two touchdowns.  Kaepernick also threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns as the Packers were knocked out of the playoffs for the second consecutive year in the Divisional Playoff round.

Photo credit: 49ers.com

The 49ers offense and Kaepernick ran a popular play in college called the "read-option" all night against the Packers defense and we didn't have a clue on how to defend it.  As a team, the 49ers rushed for 323 yards.  As a team, the 49ers had 579 yards of total offense.  Dom Capers defense was hammered and the squad had zero answers to even slow the 49ers down.  The 49ers set a team playoff record with their 579 yards on offense.  An absolute embarrassing day for the Packers defense.  Without a game next week, this poor defensive effort will be the talk of the entire offseason unfortunately.

Believe it or not, the Packers actually led in this game, twice.  On the fourth play of the game, Kaepernick threw an interception to Sam Shields and Shields took it 52 yards to the house for a touchdown.  The Packers led early and things looked like it could be our day.  The 49ers preceded to tie the game about four minutes later and the momentum was lost.  The second and final lead for the Packers came after Dujuan Harris capped off an 80-yard drive with a 18 yard rushing touchdown.  From that point forward, the 49ers unleashed their unstoppable read-option plays that left the Packers defense scratching their heads in embarrassment.

The Packers had two crucial turnovers in this game that basically gave the 49ers fourteen free points.  In the second quarter with the Packers leading 14-7, the defense forced the 49ers to punt.  Punt returner Jeremy Ross muffed the return and the 49ers recovered on the Green Bay 9-yard line.  A touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree three plays later would tie this football game.  On the next Packers possession, Aaron Rodgers threw a deep ball to Jordy Nelson that was intercepted by the 49ers Terrell Brown at the San Francisco 13-yard line.  Brown returned the interception to the Green Bay 48-yard line.  The 49ers would capitalize on the turnover as Kaepernick threw a 20-yard touchdown to Michael Crabtree giving the Niners the lead.  The defense didn't play well at all in this football game, but the offense didn't really help the defense out a whole lot.

Aaron Rodgers threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns.  Rodgers also had one interception and was sacked only one time.  Dujuan Harris ran well in the first half as he rushed for 58 yards on eleven carries and scored a touchdown.  James Jones had a good game catches four balls for 87 yards and touchdown.  Greg Jennings caught a touchdown late in the game in garbage time in what could be his last game wearing a Packers uniform.  Donald Driver, who played a little on special teams in this playoff game, also probably played his last game wearing a Packers uniform.

The season is over.  It's going to be a long offseason.  The season ended with an embarrassing defeat.  Some major changes need to be made on the defensive side of the ball.  In particular, Dom Capers, the defensive coordinator.  Our defense has been shredded several times in the last two seasons with him calling the defensive plays.  I'm not afraid to say, but it's time for a change.  Capers continues to fail to make necessary adjustments in games.  Or maybe he just doesn't know what adjustments to make.  Either way, it's time for a change in Green Bay.  Will it happen?  Probably not.  But it should happen.

Till next season... #gopackgo