Divisional Round Preview: Packers VS 49ers

In Week 1, the 49ers beat the Packers 30-22. The starting QB for the 49ers was Alex Smith. He had over a 100 passer raiting before he got injured. That's when things got interesting. QB Colin Kapernick ha started every game since Kaepernick took over as starting QB. Green Bay on the other hand rolled over Minesota easily, 24-10 and held Vikings RB Adrian Peterson under 100 yards.

Here are the keys of the game for the Packers:

• 49ers OLB Aldon Smith has murdered QB 20 times this season. The Packers allowed the 2nd most sacks during the regular season and could have trouble containing this 49ers D-Line anchored by Justin Smith. If Aldon blows past LT Marshall Newhouse, Rodgers could be in for a long day. However, Rodgers scrambling ability to get out of the pocket or help his OL protect him is absolutly sensational. If Rodgers shakes off Aldon Smith, he will need to get past Patrick Willis, NaVarro Bouwman, Carlos Rodgers, and Dashon Goldson to hit his open man.
• The running game of Green Bay has came to life. If they get at least 90 yards a game, with a combination of Starks, Harris, and Green, Rodgers will excell at his playaction fakes if his OL holds up this 49ers DL. The play-action will help guys like TE JerMichael Finley or even FB John Kuhn to get 4-12 yards.
• The Packers secondary has gotten better, but is still a little rusty. Young CB's Casey Heyward and Sam Shields have been imprvoing week by week. IF Shields and Heyward can hold 49ers WR's Randy Moss and Michael Crabree, Kaepernick will have to force it to TE Vernon Davis, where Green Bay will do a great job guarding him, considering there one of the best teams at getting the underneath WR or TE, with speedy LB Desmond Bishop and Erik Walden. This forces Kaepernick to stay in the pocket, where hes terrible or go oustide and scramble, where he's most dangerous. If Clay Matthews disrupts Kaepenicks rythem, the 49ers offense is doomed
• The Packers should use there 5 WR sets to get guys open. Cobb, Jennings, Nelson, Jones, and sometimes Driver, and Finley are fast and get quick releases off the press to get open. If any of these guys get open every time in the middle of the field, Rodgers will find more guys open. The weapons he has is pretty much no match for any opponent, except the Seahawks and the 49ers. However using Randall Cobb in the slot puts more pressure on the 49ers defense than ever, Cobb burns every defender he runs with in the slot, and could help Rodgers find open recievers with probably a saftey/LB and a CB on him , during those plays

Here are the keys of the game for the 49ers:

• Aldon Smith needs to take advantage of an oppurtunity against the Packers OL (31st in the NFL in sacks allowed). He motored through the Bears J'Marcus Webb and the rest of the OL with 5 sacks back in week 12 or 11. Newhouse is similar play to Webb who isn't very good. Smith should have a bug day Saturday Night against Newhouse
• The play of the 49ers WR have been pitiful. They finished the regular season on a bad note on offense and need to get TE Vernon Davis more involved with this offense. If Davis catches the passes thrown to him, he will have a big day. This helps freeing WR Michael Crabtree 1-1 with either Shields, Williams, or Heyward, pretty favorable matchups. Crabtrees size helps him post up against  Packers CB's.
• The 49ers secondary will be the most important for them because of Green Bays passing attack on offense. Goldson, Whitner, Brown, and Rodgers need to play at 100% to stop this great passing attack

My Bold Predictions of the game:

• The 49ers DL and LB's will hold the Green Bay offense to 38 rushing yards, forcing Rosgers to throw more. Rodgers will be very careful with his passes, but won't throw over 300 yards, he'll throw a pick in the 2nd quarter, before settling into his game
• Aldon Smith's presence willl force double or even triple teams, making gap blitzes for the 49ers easy to use. ILB NaVarro Bouwman will help put the pressure on, forcing Green Bay's O-Line to have to adjust to the right side, putting 1-1 matchups with Willis and Brooks to get sacks.
• Kapernick will throw 2 picks, lose a fumble and be a non factor in this game
• Frank Gore will rush for 24 carries for 118 rushing yards and a touchdown
• Randall Cobb will have a great game catching 9 passes for 99 yards
• Kicking is going to be huge. Mason Crosby and either David Akers or Billy Cundiff need to make there field goals to put up needed points on the board
• My prediction: Packers 20-49ers 17, this is gonna be close, it's all up to Mason Crosby making his FG's and the play of this defense.