It's not everyday that a head coach replaces a quarterback that led his team to the brink of the Super Bowl, but back in November, that?s exactly what Jim Harbaugh did out in San Francisco. So far the move to play the crafty Colin Kaepernick (and his tattoos), a QB that Harbaugh drafted, has worked out - in the regular season that is. Now you have a rookie on the field to face a much healthier Green Bay defense for the right to play in the NFC Championship, and so the jury is still very much out how that all works out in a big spot. The 49ers have to reach the Super Bowl to validate the move, it?s that simple. Alex Smith and his superb QB rating was rolling along before suffering a concussion against the Rams, beating three playoff teams, including these Packers, in the process - why mess with success? Well, the coach thinks the rookie, who can rattle defenses with his ability to make plays with his feet and his arm, gives his offense a better chance to win the whole thing. It?s hard enough to find a QB to lead you that close to a Super Bowl, even harder to find two, and so Harbaugh?s assertion better be correct - you don?t get too many chances at these things.
Meanwhile the Packers also have something to prove. They have the best quarterback in the league under center, and they are also feeling the heat to win now. Aaron Rodgers is too good to have just one ring (as another well known GB QB finished with), and their fans, having been through that once already, know that Super Bowl windows never stay open for long. The good news is that Clay Matthews is going to be seen more on the field today than in commercials, having returned from a hamstring injury. Of course it never hurts to have a cornerback like Charles Woodson harassing San Francisco receivers - he made it back into the lineup in time to warm up against the Minnesota Vikings last week, who without their starting quarterback, never really got a chance to test Green Bay?s secondary. Did you know that despite Aaron Rodgers dominance, Green Bay don't have a 1000-yard receiver? I guess he does spread it?around?quite well...?
This was supposed to be the all-world match-up for the NFC Championship last season, until Eli Manning and his New York Giants got in the way last year - will it be worth the wait? Candlestick Park will host the contest, and that?s worth noting, because the field is usually a factor, and the 49ers do well there in the playoffs there, boasting a 19-7 record overall at the old park that could be hosting its final postseason game.
Kickoff is coming soon, and there's a bit of time to register your thoughts via twitter @lengeldavid
or by email at david.lengel.freelance@guardiannews.com
Please stand by...
Source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013/jan/13/playoffs-divisional-weekend-packers-49ers-live
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