AMERICAN FOOTBALL San Francisco 49ers 45 Green Bay Packers 31:There were 22 players on the field, dozens more on the sideline, more than 69,732 fans at Candlestick Park and millions watching from home.
But for much of Saturday night’s playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and Green Bay Packers, it seemed as if they all revolved around a single, shining star: Colin Kaepernick.
Kaepernick, justifying Novembers decision by San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh to hand the team’s championship aspirations to an untested, strong-armed second-year quarterback, dominated the field with long scrambles and pinpoint throws.
He set records, kept the Packers’ defence as off-balance as a slowing top, and outplayed the reigning NFL most valuable player, Aaron Rodgers. And on a cool, clear evening that may stand as the coming-out party for San Franciscos next great quarterback, he led the 49ers to a 45-31 victory and a spot in the NFC championship game.
“Just a guy playing football,” said 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree of Kaepernick. “Man, he’s making it happen . . . he’s a playmaker.”
The 49ers will play the Falcons in Atlanta or host the division-rival Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park next Sunday.
Kaepernick completed 17 of 31 passes for 263 yards, with two touchdowns and an early interception that was returned for a touchdown to open the game’s scoring. But he was at his most damaging when he ran, his 56-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter broke a 24-24 tie and the Packers’ spirit.
Sustained a concussion
Now Kaepernick, after only seven regular-season starts stands one victory from joining Joe Montana and Steve Young as the only quarterbacks to lead the 49ers to the Super Bowl.
After the game, as he heaped praise on his teammates, Kaepernick was asked if he should be categorised as a passer or a runner. “I don’t like to be categorised,” he said.
The 49ers reached last year’s NFC championship game behind the cool efficiency of quarterback Alex Smith. But midway through this season Harbaugh worried that Smith was the weakest link and when the quarterback sustained a concussion in November, Kaepernick stepped in and dazzled.
Harbaugh had seen enough and kept Kaepernick in the starting role, despite Smith’s 6-2 record and position as the league’s top-rated passer.
As if to build drama, Kaepernick’s second pass on Saturday was intercepted and returned 52 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Sam Shields, giving Green Bay a 7-0 lead.
But the young quarterback quickly led the 49ers 80 yards, ending with a 20-yard scramble for a touchdown.
Harbaugh noted that Kaepernick has led the 49ers on a scoring drive immediately after each turnover this season.
“That’s a rare quality,” said the coach. The game quickly morphed into a duel between quarterbacks, an odd and unexpected intersection of two men raised in California.
Draft snub
But when the 49ers held the first overall choice of the 2005 draft, they picked Smith over Rodgers. Rodgers fell through the draft until he landed with Green Bay as the 24th pick.
The San Francisco snub has driven him, but it ceases to define him after winning the Super Bowl two seasons ago and becoming the leagues most valuable player in 2011.
Rodgers completed 26 of 39 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, with a single interception.
But Kaepernick’s ability to enthrall was astonishing.
On a play in the third quarter at Green Bay’s 24-yard line, Kaepernick threw a pass so hard that it barely had any arc, landing in the receiver’s hands in the end zone.Rodgers was in a game of catch-up and with Kaepernick in control, he never had a chance.
– New York Times
