Niner Noise
FanSided

San Francisco 49ers: Top 10 games of the decade

By James Jones

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Defensive tackle Justin Smith #94 and linebacker Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers wait for a play against the New York Giants in the third quarter on October 14, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 26-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CA - OCTOBER 14: Defensive tackle Justin Smith #94 and linebacker Patrick Willis #52 of the San Francisco 49ers wait for a play against the New York Giants in the third quarter on October 14, 2012 at Candlestick Park in San Francisco, California. The Giants won 26-3. (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /
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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick #7 of the San Francisco 49ers runs the ball against nose tackle B.J. Raji #90 of the Green Bay Packers (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

No. 7: Packers @ 49ers: NFC Divisional Playoff — Jan. 12, 2013 

What would become one of the greatest games a quarterback has ever produced in the regular or postseason did not start out as such for Colin Kaepernick. The 49ers’ newly anointed quarterback of the future had an interception, returned for a touchdown by cornerback Sam Shields on his second pass attempt in the team’s divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

After the ill-advised throw, Kaepernick settled down and began the task of putting the 49ers back in the NFC Championship game for the second year in a row. Beginning with the following possession, as the quarterback led an 80-yard drive which finished with him ripping off a 20-yard run to the end zone and a 7-7 tie.

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While his performance through the air may have been enough to leave the field with a win, it was his legs which gave the Packers defense hair-pulling fits. Kaepernick set an NFL record by rushing for 181 yards.

It was the most rushing yards from a quarterback in any game in NFL history.

The signature play of the game came with 7:17 left in the third quarter and the two teams knotted at 24-24. The 49ers had been running the read option with much success all night, and this snap would be no different.

Kaepernick took what appeared to a designed quarterback keeper, faked a handoff to running back LaMichael James and took off. Two Packers linebackers bit on the fake focusing their attention to James, and Kaepernick left the pocket off left tackle and went 56 yards, untouched to the end zone and a 31-24 lead.

San Francisco would never look back.

As noted above, this was not merely a rushing clinic, as he also went 17-of-31 for 263 yards and two touchdowns. It was a stellar performance, encompassing all facets of being a professional quarterback. It seemed after the game the right choice was made in making Kaepernick the starting signal-caller earlier in the season.

Little did we know how short-lived that relationship would be.