Asked about the strategy he employed in his record-setting performance against the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Divisional Round, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick channeled his inner Wee Willie Keeler.
"Run where they're not," Kaepernick told reporters ahead of the 2013 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons.
The 25-year-old, second-year player out of Nevada seemed to be everywhere that the Packers' defenders were not last weekend as he rolled up 181 rushing yards on just 16 carries. Using the read option out of the pistol formation to devastating effect, Kaepernick seemed to be touched by defenders just a handful of times. Rounding out his epic outing, Kaepernick threw for 263 yards (more than Aaron Rodgers). All told, the dual-threat quarterback account for four touchdowns, two rushing and two passing.
Despite entering the postseason as the No. 1 seed in the NFC with a 13-3 record, the Falcons find themselves a home underdog in the conference title game thanks in large part to the staggering dominance of Kaepernick. One week after Rodgers couldn't keep up with him, Matt Ryan will attempt to do the same.
After leading his team on a thrilling, game-winning drive in the final minute to survive the Seattle Seahawks, Matty Ice has shown he won't shrink from the moment. With Roddy White, Julio Jones and Tony Gonzalez running routes for him, Ryan may have the weapons to survive a shootout with these suddenly scintillating 49ers.
"It's different. A lot of times we'll face a Calvin Johnson and an OK receiver on the other side. You face Brandon Marshall and an OK receiver on the other side. These guys, you're facing Roddy White and you look on the other side, it's Julio Jones. It's not an OK receiver. It's another elite receiver," San Francisco cornerback Carlos Rogers told The Associated Press ahead of the game. "Then there's an elite tight end, a Hall of Fame tight end. It's different facing them guys."
Including the postseason, Ryan is 34-6 at Georgia Dome entering this game. Will he and the Falcons be able to pull off the upset and celebrate with their home fans? Or will the 49ers keep on Kaepernicking right to Super Bowl XLVII?
Stay tuned for live updates throughout the game: