Colin Kaepernick Will Be Key To 49er Playoff Win Over Packers

With the Packers up first, the San Francisco 49ers will have a very difficult opponent to get past in order to make a trip back to the NFC Championship Game. Although the key to success in the game will start and end with stopping the Green Bay Offense, the 49ers will still need to score the ball, and that falls on the shoulder of Colin Kaepernick. The reason for Jim Harbaugh switching to Kaepernick in the middle of the season was for the first year starter to take them to the Super Bowl, and it's time for Colin to make his coach look like a genius.

• Jan 8, 2013

49ers More Prepared For Playoffs This Time

These days, Jim Harbaugh's team is a playoff-tested bunch of veterans determined to make this a special postseason run that goes one step further - to the Super Bowl.

• Jan 8, 2013

5 Matchups For SF Vs. GB That Are Different From Week 1

Each team features a different look in some form or another on offense, defense and special teams. Injuries, personnel moves and season-long development have fostered both positive and negative changes.

• Jan 7, 2013

Greatest X-Factors In Packers Vs. 49ers

X-factors will ultimately decide who triumphs between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers. Everyone knows Aaron Rodgers will rack up passing yards. Everyone knows Patrick Willis will rack up tackles.

• Jan 7, 2013

Tickets For 49ers – Packers Playoff Game Sell Out In Minutes

Tickets were sold online beginning at 10 a.m. Monday and were sold out in less than three minutes for the 49ers divisional round matchup with the Packers, team director of public relations Bob Lange said.

• Jan 7, 2013

Akers, Cundiff Both Could Be On 49er Playoff Roster

Coach Jim Harbaugh said there's a "good chance" both kickers will be on the roster for Saturday's NFC divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers, though he didn't specify whether each would be among the 46 active players but did say "that's conceivable." Harbaugh indicated one of the two has already earned a lead for the job but wouldn't say who it is.

• Jan 7, 2013

Daily Madden: Rodgers A Big Test For 49ers Defense

After beating the Minnesota Vikings, the Green Bay Packers head to San Francisco to meet the 49ers on Saturday in the Divisional Playoff game. "The Packers this year haven't been as good or as strong," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew.

• Jan 7, 2013

Daily Madden: Should RG III Have Stayed In The Game?

Playing with an injured knee, Redskins quarterback RG III was visibly limping but stayed in the game until the knee buckled in the fourth quarter in Washington's loss to Seattle Sunday. Should he have been taken out of the game earlier?

• Jan 7, 2013

KCBS Sports Fans: Not Just Shanahan To Blame In RGIII Fiasco

Like many football fans, I was looking forward to the last of the four first-weekend NFL playoff games. That matchup between the fast-improving Seattle Seahawks and the Robert Griffin III-led Washington Redskins looked pretty juicy.

• Jan 7, 2013

The Stage Is Set: 49ers Will Take On Packers For Trip Back To NFC Championship Game

When it was announced that Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Christian Ponder would be unable to play in the wild card match-up between Green Bay and Minnesota, the Packers booked their flight to San Francisco. Green Bay dominated their undermanned opponent, setting up what stacks up to be one of the best game of the playoffs, and a battle that could very well determine the NFC representative in the Super Bowl.

• Jan 7, 2013

Packers Head To SF For Niners Rematch After 24-10 Rout Of Vikings

After Green Bay routed Minnesota 24-10 Saturday night, it set up a trip to San Francisco. The 49ers beat the Packers at Lambeau Field to open the season.

• Jan 6, 2013

Vernon Davis' Lack of Production Means Offensive Balance

The perception around 49er Nation is that the team needs to get Vernon Davis back into the offensive flow if they want to have a chance at the Super Bowl. The is not completely accurate though. In fact his decrease statistically is actually a good thing as it points to a more balanced attack for a team that was one dimensional a year ago.

• Jan 6, 2013

49ers Will Have Close Eye On Wild Card Weekend, But Will Be Confident Regardless of Opponent

Although they have plenty of internal things to shore up before the take the field on January 12th, the 49ers will have a close eye on the two NFC match-ups this weekend. No team presents an easy match up moving forward, but it would benefit the 49ers for the Redskins and Vikings to emerge victorious.

• Jan 5, 2013

Daily Madden: What's Wrong With Akers?

David Akers and Billy Cundiff began their kicking competition at the 49ers practice facility Thursday as the team prepares for next weekend's playoff game.

• Jan 4, 2013

Madden's Wildcard Preview: Can The Packers Stop Peterson?

The Packers lost to the Vikings in Minnesota Sunday. But the rematch in Saturday's NFC wild card game is at Lambeau Field. John Madden told the KCBS morning crew that the Packers will need more than home field advantage to win the game.

• Jan 4, 2013

CBS Local Predictions Wildcard Week

• Jan 4, 2013

Nothing But Good News From Practice As 49ers Wait On Next Opponent

As the 49ers sit back and wait for the rest of the NFC to duke it out in the first round of the playoffs, they can continue to focus on getting healthy and figured out what to do with David Akers. Although there is still a lot to be determined, both of these issues are being addressed, and the team will have a little over a week to determine what direction they want to go in the kicking department, and the status of Justin Smith.

• Jan 4, 2013

49ers Welcome Extra Week To Heal Up, Hope Justin Smith Will Be Ready

Other then being able to play at home, by securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC, San Francisco gave themselves an extra week to rest up before their first playoff game. The time off is just as important as home field advantage as the 49ers are nursing several injuries and will hope that the extra week will be enough to get back Justin Smith in time. Even if Smith is able to tough it out, the team needs to make sure that the best thing for both Smith and the team is for him to play.

• Jan 3, 2013

Daily Madden: The 49ers Need Competition At The Kicker Spot

Troubled by the inconsistency of field goal kicker David Akers, the 49ers signed former Redskin Billy Cundiff to compete with Akers.

• Jan 2, 2013

San Francisco 49ers Turn Attention To Kicking Game Woes

David Akers wrapped up a regular season that he would like to forget. Unfortunately, with the playoffs around the corner and a team that needs contributions from all phases, the team can't forget. The result is that with time to prepare for their eventual playoff game, San Francisco is working out kickers to make sure that specials teams is not again the downfall of this team in the postseason.

• Jan 2, 2013