NFL Playoffs 2014 Predictions and Preview: 49ers Look to Return to the NFC Championship but Must Get Past the Panthers
After pulling off a victory in the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field last weekend against the Green Bay Packers, the San Francisco 49ers (12-4) head to Charlotte, NC to face the Carolina Panthers in Sunday's early NFC Divisional Playoff game.
San Francisco QB Colin Kaepernick made a key first down play late in the game, facing a third-and-8 on the Packers' 38-yard line, scrambling out of the pocket to avoid the Packers' blitz, moving the chains to set up 49ers K Phil Dawson's 33-yard field goal to defeat Green Bay 23-20 as time ran out on the clock.
Kaepernick went 16-for-30 against the Packers, attacking Green Bay's defense both by land and air, throwing for 227 yards - including completing eight pass to WR Michael Crabtree for 125 yards and a 28-yard touchdown pass to TE Vernon Davis as well as rushing for another 91 yards.
The 49ers are on a seven-game win streak, including last week's win in chilly Green Bay, with Kaepernick averaging 231.7 passing yards, compiling a 101.7 passer rating, 11 touchdowns, only two interceptions, and averaged 6.7 yards per carry when he rushed with the football.
San Francisco's defense has been an excellent compliment to the team's offense, ranked fifth in the league in total defense, fourth against the run, seventh against the pass, and third in points allowed for the season. The 49er defense had some success against Carolina QB Cam Newton's during their Week 10 match-up, holding Newton to 169 yards and no touchdowns despite losing 10-9 to the Panthers.
Newton had a solid season throwing for 24 touchdowns to just 13 interceptions, completing 61.7 percent of his passes, and compiling a quarterback rating of 88.8, while rushing for 585 yards and six rushing touchdowns, propelling him into his first career postseason appearance.
The Panthers are on an eight-game win streak and have won 11 of their last 12 games, earning a home-field playoff game and first round bye, after starting off to a 1-3 record for the fourth year in a row.
"For reasons we all know, having home-field advantage is very exciting," said Newton. "We're going to need our fans more than anything. I don't think our fans get a lot of credit for the support that they give us."
The Panthers' playoff appearance was helped by a hard-hitting defense that ranked second in the NFL in total defense allowing only 301.2 yards per game and second in points allowed with 15.1 ppg, while leading the league with 60 sacks. The defense made Kaepernick's life miserable in their Week 10 game, with Carolina DT Dwan Edwards, DE Charles Johnson, and LB Luke Kuechly all able to get to Kaepernick and sack him throughout the day. Kuechly and fellow LB Thomas Davis have a combined 179 tackles and six sacks.
"Our defensive ends can't get too far past the quarterback or he takes off and it gives him huge lanes," said Edwards, who sacked Kaepernick twice in Week 10. "It's important that everyone stays in their lanes and when someone does get out of their lane we have to cover that up quickly."
Prediction: Kaepernick and the 49ers showed a lot of grit winning on the road in Green Bay but the Packers defense is no where near is good as the Panthers, who punish ball carriers under head coach Ron Rivera's aggressive system and create turnovers (fifth in the league in interceptions for the regular-season). While Kaepernick and 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh have the advantage in the experience department, making to last year's Super Bowl and coming up short against the Baltimore Ravens, the Panthers have proven they have a defense that can keep Kaepernick in check, helping push the Panthers into their first NFC Championship game since 2005.
Television
You can catch the San Francisco 49ers-Carolina Panthers NFL Divisional Playoffs round at Saturday, 1:05 p.m. EST on Fox.
Live Stream (online)
Live stream coverage can be seen on NFL RedZone.
Live Stream (Radio)
Live stream coverage can be heard on NFL Audio Pass and Sirius XM Radio.
Live Score
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