Be still my heart. Coming down to the wire here. The Niners, looking to keep the quest for 6 alive, have looked unbeatable and unwatchable like clockwork. Every 3 weeks they lay a fresh turd after coing up roses for 2 weeks. Inconsistency is their only constant. The D has been dominating until it hasn’t. The offense has been record-breaking and TV-breaking. The run game is here and gone. The passing game remains an enigma no matter who is behind center.
Green Bay on the other hand seems to be riding the wave of solid football, going 10-2 in their last 12 games after a 2-3 start. They appear to be peaking at the right time despite their loss to Minn on the road to knock them out of the 2 seed. Aaron Rodgers is Aaron Rodgers. Outlandish numbers (4,295 / 39 / 8), and some of his throws last weekend were flat crazy. Throwing lasers on the run for 35 yards, the usual. They even seems to have discovered a diamond in the parking lot with the addition of RB DuJuan Harris.
Still, GB has a defense that really isn’t all that impressive. They give up yards in the air and they give up yards on the ground. Their WRs are banged up, and they give up a lot of sacks. The Niners at least got the break they needed. They were pretty gassed after that marathon NE game, and staggered down the stretch. The effectiveness of Justin Smith remains a question, and the run game is something that needs to get going early to provide a lift to the play-action passing game.
But still and all, I like the Niners chances. I think the Niners can get to Rodgers with their base pass rush. Disguise a blitz here and there to force a turnover or 2. I think the offense should be able to get the job done vs Green Bay’s D.
Forty Niners Forever 
Green Bay has a tough time playing physical football. They don’t tackle, and they don’t have any kind of a power run game. The only thing the Packers have is a passing attack. One dimensional teams don’t win Super Bowls. When the Packers won the Super Bowl they had a great D line and rookie secondary players who were dynamite. That doesn’t mean the 49ers automatically win, but the Packers are all flash with their passing game. And yes, it’s flashy. But football is more than just a passing attack.
The one area that I’m concerned with is the turnovers. You don’t see the Packers fumbling the ball often. I doubt we’ll have the same five or six turnovers we got last year from the Saints. But then again, the car salesman probably hasn’t gone up against the likes of Willis, Bowman, Goldson and Whitner. I could see the car salesman coughing it up.
Final edition. Prognosticators we got: Niners Divisional Playoff Game VS Packers. Our peerless pigskin proctologists predict VS the Cheeseheads: Who you gonna call?
Chuck: 34-14 Niners. Dennis is pissing his pants already regarding Green Bay. This one should be better than the last one. 34 -17 or some shit like that. Rodgers is the easiest guy to face of the QBs left in the playoffs not named Matt Ryan. He won;t be able to throw under the constant pressure.
Grumpy Guy: 49ers 27, Packers 24. Nail biter time. Question is, can we get that pressure this time with Justin at less than 100%? Aldon looked very ordinary with Justin on the sideline. We’re rested… ready? We’ll see. We looked horrible following the bye this year. I think we win, but I’m far from convinced it will be easy.
barleyfreak: 38-34, Niners. I keep reading that we need ball control to keep Rodgers off the field to win this Sat. That sounds well and good, but my gut tells me that we won’t keep him off the field. In fact, unless Justin Smith has miraculously healed, I see us getting abused by Rodgers and his WR corps. This is not the same team we faced in week one. But I still think we win. The key is David Akers. Just seeing if you’re paying attention. The key is Kaep. Despite those saying that we can’t win a shootout with Aaron Rodgers, I think that is going to be the only way we DO win. We’re going to have to score points because I think our D is vulnerable right now. But I think we will. 38-34, Niners.
Nipper: Niners win big time.
Phil: 31-24 Niners. I’m with you Nip. Niners win big: pressure Rodgers with disguised blitzes, heavy dose of Gore and James, hurry up offense and downfield passing couple times a quarter, run out of the option. GB has only seen two (2) option plays all season! No fuck ups on STs. Del Mar’s gonna have a lot of company wetting his pants with the freakin’ Pack coming to da Stick next Saturday…
Leo the Great: 35-21 GB. Got a real bad feeling about the 49ers. A reduced Justin Smith, no Manningham, kicking game mess, …thought it was funny to hear Bowman say they got the defense squared away against AZ…HAHA…facing that chump QB? ARE YOU FUCKING SERIOUS> GB 35 SF 21
Irish Kevin: 17-13 Niners. I hope to god that Harbaugh watched that game (the BCS Championship) and took pointers from Alabama!! Throw your opponent on the ground and keep them there!! If the Niners try to score only when needed this is going to be a long game. Niners 17 – GB 13. I just don’t see Harbaugh taking chances with throwing the ball down the field.
Spitblood: 42-6 Niners. What happened the previous bye? That’s right. Ultimate Saints domination. And that’s what I’m projecting now…… Niners 42, Packers 6. No joke. We’re gonna crush ‘em. All the turnovers our D creates won’t be squandered by Alice Smith, AND the New England game taught Kaep about putting good teams away
Flavor: 26-16 Niners. I’ve got no qualms about talking some shit on my favorite Niner blog. I’ll say the Niners win 26-16…. Smith’s likely underwhelming contribution to this game is a fantastic reason to take GB on the $ line. But I won’t be doing that because only the fakest of fake Niner fans would predict a loss for their team in a playoff game……..
shaman138: 35-28 Niners. I see this one being virtually identical to last year’s Saints game, where SF gets ahead early and shuts down Rodgers, but Rodgers is dynamic enough to stay in the game and make it a shoot-out. Kap & Co. will be able to score on Green Bay’s half-assed defense and I think they’ll be able to pull away with the game in the 4th quarter. I’m calling SF over GB 35-28.
Winder: 41-34 Niners. Our DB’s are gonna have to play their best game this week GB has 3 top WR’s that all catch balls in the middle. It will probably be the most active Willis and Bowman have been in a while. We HAVE to figure a way to get to Rodgers. I think we should run a no huddle offense for the most part and KEEP all penalties to a minimum(hear that db’s and ol-men) 41 – 34 Niners
12th man: Niners will send Green Bay Packing 31-27
snarkk: SF 31, GB 27. I’ll go with the Niners to win v. the Pack, but it ain’t going to be EZ. Pack is better than they were week 1. Rogers is in sync, and loaded for Bear, plus he wants to show the SF org that they F’d up by not takin him #1. Which, they did. I figure the Niners will win this by no more than a TD. They’ll stop the run, but Rogers can get the throws done against anybody. Kap and gang will need to score at least 28, which seems hard to do for them. Plus, the D needs 2 takeaways, minimum. If we cough up 2 turnovers, we’re history. Hear that, Ginn? Fair catch, dammit. If the game comes down to an SF field goal, I’m heading for the scotch bottle…
Alleykat: Niners 27-20. Kat’s ready with his “Stone Cold Locks ” Phil!! And that Benmore Scotch & Stoogie work well together as i go 8-0 after this weekend! Niners 27-20 over the Packers…Key to the game.Finish off drives!!! Gotta score TD’s not Freaking FG’s in the RedZone. Got to get in Rogers face and make his life miserable.Vernon Davis is gonna be a major key to me,as they will double Crabs alot IMO.LMJ another huge factor if they try and shut down Gore with 8 in the box.
phil: Playoff prognosticatin’ a’plenty. If not now then when? NOW, gotta be now!
Chuck’s call is actually 34-17 Niners over GB
NoFear49er: As for the score of our game competition: GB 24-20. I’d love to be wrong and we end up stomping on the Packers but just don’t see it with Justin Smith proving the better player on the d-line with half an arm inside. That means he must punch with his right arm and control with his left. Think they don’t know that? Funny that no one is crying about Justin being put in danger of further damage to his arm. Especially those screaming about Shanahan and RG3.
Actually, I AM very worried about that. Think I said as much back a while. I’m somewhat relieved by Fangio stating he will pull him out of he is not right. Winning one game and then losing a key player for a full year is one shitty bargain.
I wrote a Niner thread at my blog just to get us properly geared up for the game later today.
oneflapdown77.com
Let’s get this shit done.
I read your blog piece and as a brother die hard Niner fan I feel ya bro.
right back at ya
Just nine hours until kickoff. Anyone else started drinking?
I haven’t stopped since last night Dennis.It’s been one “Hell of a Bender Run”
Did you guys see how cold it is in Denver today? The inclement weather is trying to reduce Peyton Manning to Nate Davis. He’s wearing a glove on his throwing hand today. Nate Davis? He’s the QB for the Amarillo Venom in the Lone Star Football League. You can’t make that shit up.
Are you worried?
When was Denver’s last home game? Wasn’t it cold then?
27-24 Niners. I expect it to be a close game with the deciding factor being a forced turnover late in the game which we capitalize on and go ahead for the win. Out on a limb specifically, yes, but if happens, someone owes me dinner! Lets do this!
Hope yer right Chico
twin posted this fantastic video on my blog.Whatever your feelings are about ASmith it’s impossible to not be a Niner fan and get emotional throughout the vid.
I don’t know how any 49er fan, a true fan, not watch that and know A Smith was destined to take the Niners to a SB! If Colin loses the game today, Harbaugh’s reputation as a great coach is going to take a huge hit!! His credibility will be shot, IMO.
You gotta be shittin’ me. The vid spends 30 seconds blaming Alex Smith’s years of sucking and dragging the team down on the HCs and ‘begins’ in 2010. I didn’t see anything about our “Smith-powered” offense setting records for the kicker in there. Or our passing power rankings. It’s a bullshit overblown glorification of a guy who’s had some tough breaks but generally has not been a very good pro QB.
That’s the same kind of drooling tribute blindness I see the left-wing wackos putting out about the Kenyon, their savior.
Great reKap of the 49ers rise over the last two years. I personally think the turning point was the Eagles’ game. Everyone stepped up and the team started to see it was better than people thought. As for Alex Smith and the idea that if Kaep doesn’t win it’s on Harbaugh, that’s the privilege of being a head coach – you get to declare who’s the starter. Harbaugh has credibility enough to take him through a controversy, but fans know Smith can’t win a Super Bowl (some fans), and that Kaep is still young.
Are there still fans who think Alex Smith can win a Super Bowl? Must be the same ones who wanted him > Peyton Manning.
BTW, Manning was named to his sixth All-Pro Team today. (43/50 votes). “But we’re better off with Alex.” That’s pure comedic genius. I only dream of being that funny…
Dennis and Spit if the Niners lose…whether today or next week is Kappy still your guy? And why is he still your guy? Don’t just say yes, and not back it up with some proof he is far better than Alex!
4 hours to game time and our prognosticators are turning into proctologists. Win and all is well. Lose and it will be hell
“I’m Cosmo Kramer, the Assman!”
OK, and now the moment you all haven’t been waiting for…my picks for the divisional round.
BAL @ DEN Broncos are riding an 11-game win streak — all by at least seven points. Manning has a personal 9-game winning streak vs the Ravens. I believe 2 of those 3 streaks remain intact…Manning and his Broncos continue winning, but I think the weather keeps this game relatively close and low scoring. 21-17. Did we sign Peyton Manning yet?
SEA @ ATL Everyone knows the Falcons have been “one and done” artists in the playoffs. That’s all they heard throughout the regular season (it’s meaningless unless you win a playoff game) and during the bye week. I think they come in with a huge chip on their shoulder and silence their critics. And besides, Matty “Stinks on Ice,” Roddy White and Julio Jones were on most of my FF teams. No complaints. 27-13 Falcons.
HOU @ NE The only reason the Texans won their Wild Card game was because they got to play the Bengals. Total ineptitude on their part. That was one ugly game to watch. The Pats (winners of 9 of their final 10 games. Who did they lose to?) already took HOU out to the woodshed once. Nothing like a second molestation to give ya more time on the couch with your shrink. 38-20 future POTUS.
GB @ SF Well well well, look what we have here. I won’t bore you with the storyline, as fans you should already know it. I’m usually a “bells and whistles” kind of guy when it comes to football, but I simply think this game boils down to the Niners being dominant in trenches on both sides of the ball. Our big guys > their big guys. 31-21 49ers.*
* Pick made by my split personality, Golden Gate Fields Dennis. As we all know, Del Mar is forbidden to pick the Niners to win.
4 hours BEFORE da game you chime in? AND call for da Niners?! You ARE in playoff form my friend
Phil, I’ve had my game face on since GB > MIN and our matchup was set. It’s perfect football weather out here in SF. I heard the forecast game time temp. was 49 degrees. That was the same kickoff temp. in SB XIX when we beat the shit outta the fish. I believe in omens. Especially that little Damien kid. Bastard child.
Check!
DEN won the toss and elected to defer? Did they forget they have Peyton Manning at QB?
Von Miller just beat Michael Oher like a redheaded stepchild on that 3rd dn.
DEN punt return for a TD!!! Who needs Peyton Manning?
Denny the weather didn’t slow down Hoilday on that return
Torrey Smith just beat Champ Bailey like a RENTED redheaded stepchild. Ballgame on.
No call on the PI resulted in a PK 6. The OVER is looking good.
This is Manning the playoff wonder?
That wasn’t Manning’s fault. The calls are clearly going the Ravens way early on. And just WTF is that ref? Never heard of ’em.
Waaah!
Yep. Manning is a wonder. How’d ya like that TD throw? Money.
Ah okay nice drive and TD pass
Have you guys seen the new Pizza Hut (shitty pizza) commercial? The young kid is a dead ringer for Kap as a teenager.