SAN FRANCISCO —
When Colin Kaepernick went back to throw, he found open receivers. When the Green Bay Packers had it covered, he scrambled for back-breaking gains. When Kaepernick and the San Francisco 49ers mixed in the read option, the Packers had no chance.
A week after holding 2,000-yard rusher Adrian Peterson in check, the Packers were run over and sent home from the playoffs with a 45-31 loss Saturday night.
"We just didn't have an answer,'' linebacker A.J. Hawk said. "We couldn't find a way to get off the field on third down. We couldn't find a way to get off the field ever, really. He did a great job if he pulled it down to run. On passing plays, he did a good job of getting it down field. Also, when they were running that option play, we couldn't get it stopped.''
The Packers (12-6) came into the game brimming with confidence after holding Peterson to 99 yards in a 24-10 win last week that set up a rematch of a week one meeting with the 49ers. That confidence only increased after Sam Shields returned an interception 52 yards for a touchdown on the opening drive.
That would end up being about the only bright spot during a historically bad night for the Green Bay defense that gave up the most total yards (579), yards rushing (323) and second-most points in the playoffs in franchise history.
Only one other team has run for at least 320 yards and four touchdowns in a postseason game, with Chicago accomplishing the feat in a 73-0 win over Washington in 1940. Those Bears didn't have a quarterback who could paralyze a defense with the read-option and scrambles the way Kaepernick did in gaining 181 yards, a record for a quarterback in the regular season or playoffs.
"You can't let him out of there,'' defensive back Charles Woodson said. "It's that simple, it seems. You get good rushes on a guy like that and he finds that one hole, that one gap. When he takes off, he's out of there. It seems like it's 10 yards a pop every time he sneaks out of there. When that happens it's hard to defend.''
Kaepernick scrambled for a 20-yard score in the first quarter. Then he set the rushing record for a quarterback in the playoffs when he faked an inside handoff to Frank Gore and raced untouched for a 56-yard score that gave San Francisco a 31-24 lead late in the third quarter.
"We didn't handle the read option very good and we didn't handle the quarterback getting out of the pocket,'' coach Mike McCarthy said. "You may not have noticed, but we did have a spy on him at times.''
It just didn't matter.
Then the power running took over from there with Gore and Anthony Dixon each running for short scores that turned the tight game into a blowout.
It was another example of how San Francisco is a completely different team than the one that beat the Packers in Green Bay in September with the elusive Kaepernick having replaced Alex Smith at quarterback. The Packers seemed unprepared for Kaepernick's zone-read plays and scrambles, and they now will have all offseason to figure out how to handle them in the future.
"The one thing it does is it kind of makes you a little bit indecisive in what you want to do,'' Woodson said. "You want to shoot in there, but he may hold the ball and take it outside. If you go outside, he might give it to the running back and take it up the middle. It's one of those things that makes you play flat footed a little bit.''
They even struggled when the Niners went to the air, allowing Kaepernick to throw for 263 yards and two first-half touchdowns to Michael Crabtree.
"To win a game, you need to make a team one dimensional, take away the run and make them beat you throwing,'' Hawk said. "That was our plan coming in but it didn't work out. It's crazy to end the season so abruptly like this but we know that's how it works in the playoffs.''
That all proved to be too much for even last year's NFL MVP Aaron Rodgers to overcome. He threw for 257 yards and two touchdowns, but also was intercepted once and couldn't keep up with Kaepernick.
Sports
NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF: Packers' defense gashed in 45-31 loss to 49ers
- Sports
-
-
Verdigris’ Hanslovan commits to ORU
One of the biggest decisions of her upcoming senior year is finally behind Verdigris High School soccer standout Caitlyn Hanslovan.
The four-year letterwinner and three-time Class 4A state champion forward announced Tuesday that she will commit to playing NCAA Division I soccer at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa. -
RSU's Loy earns third-straight Academic All American honor
Rogers State senior outfielder Katrina Loy was named to the Capital One Academic All-America College Division Softball Third Team as announced by the College Sports Information Directors of America.
-
Area players earn All-Region baseball awards
The awards keep piling up for Verdigris High School graduate Blake Battenfield.
After being named to the Oklahoma Coaches Association All-State Large East team earlier this week, Battenfield and numerous other players from Rogers County earned OCA All-Region accolades.
Battenfield was joined by his teammate, Ryan Hurd, who was a senior outfielder/shortstop for the three-time Class 3A state champion Verdigris Cardinals. -
NEO softball season ends in Utah
Sophomore pitcher Maggie Ham struck out 12 batters to lead the No. 1 seed Butler (Kan.) Community College Grizzlies to a 5-2 victory over No. 4 seed Northeastern A&M College Friday afternoon in a loser's bracket elimination game of the NJCAA Women's Division 1 National Softball Tournament at the Canyons Complex.
-
OBU sends 41 to NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships
Forty-one Oklahoma Baptist track and field athletes make the trek to Marion, Ind., next week for the NAIA Outdoor Track and Field National Championships.
-
Megan Byford lands Tulsa women's basketball coaching job
Tulsa Head Women's Basketball Coach Matilda Mossman announced today the appointment of Megan Byford as an assistant coach for the Golden Hurricane. Byford comes to Tulsa from the Oklahoma State coaching staff.
-
Tulsa's Manning adds walk-on from Wichita
The University of Tulsa Head Coach Danny Manning announced the addition of preferred walk-on Riley Kemmer for the 2013-14 season.
-
Danny Manning Basketball Camp set for June 3-6
There is still time to register for Danny Manning Basketball Summer Day Camp and Parent-Child Camp. The Day Camp runs from June 3-6, and the Parent-Child Camp takes place June 14-15, both at the Donald W. Reynolds Center on the campus of The University of Tulsa.
-
Tulsa's Teeters shatters school record in 100-meter dash
Freshman John Teeters shattered the Tulsa school record in the 100-meter dash en route to qualifying for the semifinals during the first day of the NCAA West Prelims at Mike A. Meyers Stadium.
-
SLC TOURNEY: ORU's Bowen dominates Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Drew Bowen carried a no-hitter into the 7th inning and added to his storied postseason résumé as third-seeded Oral Roberts University knocked off second-seeded Texas A&M-Corpus Christi, 6-1, on Thursday afternoon at the 2013 Southland Conference Baseball Tournament.
- More Sports Headlines
-
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse
Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored
Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse
American Held in Grisly Czech Murders
Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer
UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested
Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying
Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military
Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day'
Jersey Shore Open for Business
Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington
New Wheelchair Lift Promises More Access
First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo
Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse
Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys
