The Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers meet in the NFL playoffs once again following their clash in the 2012 season in the Divisional Round.
This year they face off in the Wild Card round at Lambeau Field in expected freezing conditions in Green Bay.
Last season the 49ers destroyed the Packers as quarterback Colin Kaepernick used the read-option offense to run all over Mike McCarthy's side's defense, racking up 181 yards in the ground along with two rushing scores, while Frank Gore had 119 yards and a score himself.
Jim Harbaugh's side used the momentum from that game to reach the Super Bowl, where they were defeated by the Baltimore Ravens. However, their dominance over the Packers continued in their 2013 season opener.
Kaepernick was again the thorn in the side of Green Bay, but this time he used his arm to fire his side to victory throwing for over 400 yards and three touchdowns, 200 of them going to receiver Anquan Boldin who had a huge day on his debut.
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If the Packers are to progress, they have to find a way to nullify the running threat of Kaepernick first as this season he has preferred to use his feet whenever possible after finding his first read in the passing game unavailable.
The passing game may be affected by the freezing conditions which may help the 49ers' physical style of football. The Packers have to set the edge in the running game much better than they did last season as they lost contain far too easily that allowed Kaepernick and Gore to find space over each side of the line.
That will be easier said than done without linebacker Clay Matthews, so Nick Perry and Mike Neal will have to step up against one of the best offensive lines in the NFL to win the physical battle Green Bay have been often been accused of losing.
Winning the battle in the trenches will force the game into the arm of Kaepernick, who has been inconsistent of late throwing in the pocket, where the Packers may get their chances to turn the ball over provided they can cover the receiving trio of Vernon Davis, Michael Crabtree and Boldin.
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Aaron Rodgers proved last week how vital he is to the Packers, as with the game on the line he evaded the rush of the Chicago Bears and fired to Randall Cobb to send his side into the post-season with the victory over Marc Trestman's side.
Although he didn't have his best performance against the Bears, it's moments like that that the Packers will need the 30-year-old for, and he could have some joy against the 49ers' secondary with the majority of his weapons around him and running back Eddie Lacy running between the tackles.
Rodgers is more than capable of winning the game on his own, but if his defense can keep the game close and alleviate the pressure on him, he can produce those moments of magic to fire his side into the last four of the NFC playoffs.
Simon Sinclair
