:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/6492995/159366527.0.jpg)
The San Francisco 49ers beat the Green Bay Packers, 45-31, in the NFC Divisional playoffs on Saturday night at Candlestick Park.
The game was ultimately decided by Colin Kaepernick. Going into the night, many would have guessed that statement meant San Francisco would be going home. Instead, Kaepernick was a one-man band, accumulating over 400 yards of total offense including 183 rushing yards, the most ever by a quarterback in a playoff game.
As written about by the Packers' SB Nation blog ACME Packing Company, Kaepernick spelled doom for Green Bay.
The turning point was a 56-yard touchdown run by Kaepernick on the following 49ers drive, gifted to him when Erik Walden committed inside and took his eyes off his assignment completely on a read option play. Kaepernick got to the edge uncontested, then took off down the field for a massive touchdown run. It was a back-breaker for the Packers, who never got back into the game.
Over at Niners Nation, the mood is obviously more excited. With Kaepernick delivering along with a dominant offensive line and a defense that was good enough, anything seems possible for San Fran.
The star of this game was Colin Kaepernick. That's a pretty Captain Obvious statement, but one worth making. Kaepernick set a franchise playoff rushing record, while also setting an NFL record for rushing yards by a quarterback in ANY game. Kaepernick finished with 183 rushing yards and two touchdowns, to go along with 263 yards and a pair of passing touchdowns. There were concerns early after he threw a pick-six two minutes into the game, but the young QB bounced back in a big way. If there were any doubts about Kaepernick before, he answered them on one of the biggest stages against a normally decent defense.
For the second consecutive year, the 49ers are going to the NFC Championship, and are now awaiting the winner of Sunday's game between the Atlanta Falcons and Seattle Seahawks.