A huge turning point in last years Playoff game was the Ross fumble. Rodgers and the offense was keeping up w/ them. It was looking to be a shootout and we finally got a stop. Then they get the fumble and score instantly.

Having some free time I went to look at film of the 9ers.

On defense they are very basic, they play P.Willis and N.Bowman free behind the line of scrimmage, their assignment is to read the play and react. They are not very strong towards the sides.
If you have a smart QB (we do) then reading what #52 and #53 do is the key to get yards against the defense.
Screens can be very effective if they attack the line or a total failure if they drop in coverage.
If Rodgers manages to read what those two linebackers will do then they will be defending with 9 players almost in every play.
A flea flicker can be a very good weapon because #52 and #53 react inmediately to running plays leaving the middle of the field totally empty.

On the offense I found something very curious. You need to have all the defenders standing, when defenders get to the ground Kapernick -I don't know exactly why- reacts calmly and executes good plays. If all the defenders are standing he usually seems confused and the play gets broken.
So don't get down!

Linebackers need to perform randomly to confuse Kapernick if they bite to the run or drop in coverage just too quickly he will promptly execute the antidote play, when the linebackers are in-between the play usually gets broken.

Kapernick is also very very effective against 3 rushers, I think we would need to rush 4 or 5 in every play.

This is a very difficult game but I was surprised to find that the defense of the 9ers is very simple, maybe that is why it is also very effective but against a smart QB it can be a problem. Andrew Luck and Drew Brees did very well against this defense.

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QB Ratings

Outdoor Temp <40 F
Rodgers - 85.2
Kaepernick - 134.6


Windy conditions
Rodgers - 75.0
Kaepernick - 129.1

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It has been said, but I do think it will be our run defense that needs to step up this game. We are different in that we can now run the ball and people need to respect our ability to run. If we can even out the time of possession I wouldn't be surprised if we pull out the win. If our run D shits the bed I can see us getting blown out.

Gore likes to run right behind Iupati, that's the area where we need to be careful.

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But the Packers are going to have a huge advantage because of the weather! [duh] [sarcasm]

Bizarre weather is also good for the weakest team. So I do think weather is going to help us. It makes everything more random.

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Remember back in the Holmgren days when he got the mudders for running backs aka Levens and Bennett and the receivers weren't your speed demons but possession type. Go forward to our current team and we have Lacy and Starks and the same possession type receivers.

Also looking back to 1996 we opened against the 49ers on a muddy field ( had a turf sale after) and then played Carolina then come to this year could history repeat that we play 49ers then Panthers ? Yes I know we would still have to play one more game until the Super Bowl but I found it interesting.

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They were discussing this on numbers never lie and they said Rodgers was the best cold weather qb by qbr that has played in atleast 3 games of under 30 degrees.

I don't know where Kevin found his facts.

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The 49ers defense isn't as scary as you may think, here are some stats from their last 2 games


Matt Ryan 37/48 348 yards 2 Tds 2 Ints ( one was the fluke off the recievers hands returned for a TD when Atlanta was going for the win)

Carson Palmer 28/49 407 yards and 2Tds and 1 int


So I feel Rodgers is a better qb then them to so I could see a big day for him, something like 378 4 tds and 1 int

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