Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers were too strong for the Packers on Saturday night. (Photo: Harry How, Getty Images) SAN FRANCISCO — This was judgment time for the Colin Kaepernick experiment. The long-legged quarterback of the San Francisco 49ers passed his first playoff test in grand style with a display of record-breaking running and resilience after setbacks and big-play passing. Kaepernick's 181 rushing yards for two touchdowns set a record for rushing yards by a quarterback in an NFL playoff game as he led the 49ers to an 45-31 victory in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs against the Green Bay Packers. On 14 carries, Kaepernick also set a 49ers team playoff record for the most rushing yards ever at any position. The 6-5, 230-pounder, in his second pro season and eighth start of his career, also threw for 263 yards and two touchdowns as the 49ers advanced to the NFC title game for the second year in a row. They will face the winner of Sunday's Seattle Seahawks-Atlanta Falcons game. BOX SCORE: 49ers 45, Packers 31 In the process of upstaging Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, the top-rated career passer in NFL history and a Super Bowl MVP, Kaepernick lived up to the expectations Coach Jim Harbaugh had for him when he put him in control of the offense midway of the regular season. Kaepernick got the job while incumbent Alex Smith was sideline by a concussion, and he never relinquished it. Smith had led the 49ers to the NFC title game last season. Kaepernick offered a potentially bigger upside with his running and passing. He delivered it all against the Packers despite having his second pass of the game intercepted and returned 52 yards for a touchdown by Packers cornerback Sam Shields. Demonstrating his resilience after the interception, Kaepernick led the 49ers 80 yards for a touchdown on their next series. The score came on his 20-yard scramble. With the 49ers trailing 21-14 in the second quarter, Keapernick nullified his own 15-yard run with an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for spiking the ball in the direction of a defender. Bouncing back again, Kaepernick hit Michael Crabtree with a laser-like 20-yard touchdown pass. At the end of the first half, long-striding Kaepernick had runs of 19, 18 and 9 yards to set up a 36-yard field goal by David Akers that gave the 49ers a 24-21 halftime edge. Akers, who spent the past two weeks competing for his job with Billy Cundiff after a season of struggles, was cheered by the Candlestick Park crowd that had booed his 2-for-4 performance to end the regular season. But the biggest roar came in the third quarter when Kaepernick ran a read option, tucked the ball under his arm and broke loose on a 56-yard touchdown run that snapped a 24-24 tie. The run pushed Kaepernick past the previous record for playoff rushing yards by an NFL quarterback: 118 by Michael Vick when he was a member of the Atlanta Falcons in 2004. Kaepernick finished with 17 completions in 31 pass attempt. Running back Frank Gore also had a big night for the 49ers, rushing for 119 yards and a touchdown. Rodgers hit 26 of 39 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, the latter with 57 seconds left and the outcome no longer in doubt. With Smith throwing for two touchdowns in the first week of the season, the 49ers won 30-22 in Green Bay. Kaepernick went far beyond that in his coming-out party in the NFL postseason. The goal in going with Kaepernick over Smith was for the 49ers to get beyond the NFC title game. Kaepernick lost 2 yards on his final kneel-down, but he set the table for the 49ers to advance beyond what they accomplished in 2011. Like this topic? You may also like these photo galleries:
Source : http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2013/01/12/49ers-packer-divisional-playoffs-colin-kaepernick/1829667/
Colin Kaepernick, 49ers thrash Packers 45-31
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) scores a touchdown during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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Green Bay Packers wide receiver James Jones (left) makes a catch against San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver (29) during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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Green Bay Packers running back DuJuan Harris (26) runs the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers safety C.J. Spillman (27) dives for the ball after a dropped punt catch by Green Bay Packers wide receiver Jeremy Ross (10) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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Green Bay Packers running back DuJuan Harris (26) is congratulated for scoring a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (far left) scores a touchdown against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) passes the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs the ball past Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Erik Walden (93) and inside linebacker Brad Jones (59) for a touchdown during the third quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) runs the ball against Green Bay Packers outside linebacker Clay Matthews (52) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers defensive end Justin Smith (94) walks off the field after the 49ers intercepted the ball from Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (not pictured) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) is pressured by San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers tight end Delanie Walker (46) attempts to make a catch against the Green Bay Packers during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. The play was ruled no catch. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers kicker David Akers (2) kicks the ball out of the hold by punter Andy Lee (4) during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers outside linebacker Aldon Smith (99) rushes Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) as tackle Marshall Newhouse (center) blocks during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) scores a touchdown during the second quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) hands the ball off to running back DuJuan Harris (26) during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Randy Moss (84) catches a pass in front of Green Bay Packers cornerback Sam Shields (37) during the first quarter of the NFC divisional round playoff game. Robert Hanashiro, USA TODAY Sports
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San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Michael Crabtree (15) warms up before the NFC divisional round playoff game against the Green Bay Packers at Candlestick Park. Cary Edmondson, USA TODAY Sports
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General view of Candlestick Park during the national anthem before the NFC divisional round playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Green Bay Packers. Kirby Lee, USA TODAY Sports
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