NFC Divisional round: Packers vs. 49ers

SB Nation blog: Acme Packing Company | Niners Nation

Game Date/Time: Saturday, Jan. 12, 8 p.m. ET
Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA
TV Schedule: FOX
NFL odds: 49ers -3
NFL picks: Packers, 30-27

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Niners Nation: Harbaugh talks Packers, kickers and mullets

The Niners and Packers were two of the teams most people thought would make the NFC's final four teams, but they both took pretty different roads than expected to get here.

The Niners lost Alex Smith to a concussion, paving the way for Colin Kaepernick to take the reins of the offense. Kaepernick led the Niners to a romp over the Bears and the rest is history, as he never coughed up the starting role even when Smith came back healthy.

The Packers fell two games behind the Bears in the NFC North despite beating the Bears in week two, and stormed back to take the division lead in Week 15, a lead they never relinquished. Randall Cobb stepped up as a reliable weapon alongside James Jones when Greg Jennings and Jordy Nelson missed time throughout the season, keeping the Packers' offense moving.

This is the open thread for this NFC matchup. As always, Open Thread Responsibly (TM).