It's All Up To Aaron Rodgers To Beat The 49ers

Because of the extreme cold expected on Sunday, maybe minus 3 or minus 4 at mid-game, the Packers playoff game against the 49ers could be an odd one. Both quarterbacks are going to struggle with their accuracy, all the players will be moving a step slower, and holding onto the ball is going to be an issue. It's hard to predict a game like this one.

Leaving the weather out of it, the key to the game is going to be QB Aaron Rodgers. The defense has been a wreck all season and now LB Clay Matthews is out (again) with a re-broken thumb. QB Colin Kaepernick has torched them good in his last two games and the defense has gotten worse since their last meeting. Additionally, the 49ers prefer to run (417 pass attempts on the season vs. 505 rushing) and the Packers' run defense has been in shambles over the last half-season. The 49ers are going to move the ball.

Here's Rodgers's stats over his last three meetings against the 49ers, QBR from ESPN:

Game Date	Comp/Att	Yards	TD	INT	QBR
09/09/12	30/44	303	2	1	54.0
01/12/13	26/39	257	2	1	68.3
09/08/13	21/37	333	3	1	70.0

He has gotten better against them in each of their last three meetings. That 2012 season opener in Lambeau was a really frustrating one, when he struggled to get the offense going for the first three quarters. This season's opener in San Francisco, when Kaepernick threw for over 400 yards and WR Anquan Boldin had his best game of the season (208 yards), the Packers took the lead with just over 8 minutes to play on an Eddie Lacy touchdown run. That was Rodgers's best game against the 49ers and they were in it until the 4th quarter.

Now he needs to do a little better. Avoid turnovers, put up a better game than last September, and the Packers can win.