49ers Head to Second Straight NFC Title Game
By Nick Ostiller
With a strong arm that allowed him to pick the Packers apart from the pocket and speedy legs that helped him break free for big gains, Colin Kaepernick did a little bit of everything in a record-setting, sensational playoff debut - and Aaron Rodgers just couldn't keep up.
Kaepernick passed for 263 yards and ran the San Francisco 49ers right back to the National Football Conference Championship Game with a 45-31 win over Green Bay in an NFC divisional game Saturday night.
Kaepernick rushed for a quarterback playoff record 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw two scoring passes to Michael Crabtree.
"It feels good. We're one step closer to where we want to be," Kaepernick said. "I feel like I had a lot to prove. A lot of people doubted my ability to lead this team."
One of those doubters is Santa Clara junior Andrew Metzger. Although a 49ers fan, Metzger isn't quite ready to crown his team and its quarterback just yet.
"As much as we'd like to say that Kaepernick's an elite quarterback, he's still young and, as we saw in the beginning of last game, he's still gonna have postseason jitters," said Metzger. "I don't think that's just gonna go away after winning one game."
Despite it being just one game, Sunday's performance was one for the books as Kaepernick ran for scores of 20 yards and 56 yards on the way to topping the rushing mark of 119 yards set by Michael Vick in 2005 against St. Louis.
San Francisco had 579 total yards with 323 on the ground, scoring the third-most points in the franchise's storied playoff history.
"Our offensive line did an amazing job today," Kaepernick said. "They shut everybody down inside. Our receivers, our tight ends, blocked great outside, and our running backs were running hard, so it made it easier on me."
Crabtree caught touchdown passes of 12 and 20 yards in the second quarter and wound up with nine receptions and 119 yards for the Niners.
San Francisco advanced to back-to-back NFC title games for the first time since reaching three in a row following the 1992-94 seasons.
Students around the Santa Clara campus, many of whom are 49ers fans, relish the chance to watch their local team go deep into the playoffs for a second straight season. Even students who are not from the area, such as Washington native Kelli Ryan, are showing support.
"If I had to choose a second loyalty, it'd be the 49ers," said Ryan, whose Seattle Seahawks were eliminated from the playoffs on Sunday by the Atlanta Falcons.
Had the Seahawks advanced, they would have played San Francisco this weekend, putting Ryan in a dilemma of who to support. But, as it played out, Seattle lost and the 49ers will be playing the Falcons on Sunday instead. This matchup makes life a bit easier for Ryan.
"I guess I'll join the masses and cheer for the team from my second home," she said.
The 49ers, who have lost two of their last three road games, will travel to Atlanta to take on a Falcons team that boasts a 7-1 record at home this season. Santa Clara junior Luca Signore feels that San Francisco can meet the challenge this weekend, but isn't as confident about what lies down the road.
"I think the Niners have a decent chance after their game against the Packers," said Signore, "but if they meet the (New England Patriots) in the Super Bowl, they'll have their work cut out for them."
Metzger shared similar sentiments about the 49ers' upcoming task. He said, "I think they've got enough talent. It's just it's gonna come down to who coaches the best."
Contact Nick Ostiller at nostiller@scu.edu or call (408) 554-4852. The Associated Press contributed to this report.