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One of the major concerns for the 49ers as they prepare to take on the Green Bay Packers Saturday is the kicking game. For a team that has such a sound defense, three points can go a long way, and more times then not playoff games are decided by a last second field goal. As David Akers has regressed this season, the team signed Billy Cundiff to evaluate the teams kicking options, yet with the game less then a week away there has still been no decision made. This in camp battle doesn't figure to have a winner declared until right before the game, but with no clear favorite, the best option for the team is to deactivate Akers and go with the new guy.
With the Packers up first, the San Francisco 49ers will have a very difficult opponent to get past in order to make a trip back to the NFC Championship Game. Although the key to success in the game will start and end with stopping the Green Bay Offense, the 49ers will still need to score the ball, and that falls on the shoulder of Colin Kaepernick. The reason for Jim Harbaugh switching to Kaepernick in the middle of the season was for the first year starter to take them to the Super Bowl, and it's time for Colin to make his coach look like a genius.
When it was announced that Minnesota Vikings' quarterback Christian Ponder would be unable to play in the wild card match-up between Green Bay and Minnesota, the Packers booked their flight to San Francisco. Green Bay dominated their undermanned opponent, setting up what stacks up to be one of the best game of the playoffs, and a battle that could very well determine the NFC representative in the Super Bowl.
The perception around 49er Nation is that the team needs to get Vernon Davis back into the offensive flow if they want to have a chance at the Super Bowl. The is not completely accurate though. In fact his decrease statistically is actually a good thing as it points to a more balanced attack for a team that was one dimensional a year ago.
Although they have plenty of internal things to shore up before the take the field on January 12th, the 49ers will have a close eye on the two NFC match-ups this weekend. No team presents an easy match up moving forward, but it would benefit the 49ers for the Redskins and Vikings to emerge victorious.
Other then being able to play at home, by securing the No. 2 seed in the NFC, San Francisco gave themselves an extra week to rest up before their first playoff game. The time off is just as important as home field advantage as the 49ers are nursing several injuries and will hope that the extra week will be enough to get back Justin Smith in time. Even if Smith is able to tough it out, the team needs to make sure that the best thing for both Smith and the team is for him to play.
David Akers wrapped up a regular season that he would like to forget. Unfortunately, with the playoffs around the corner and a team that needs contributions from all phases, the team can't forget. The result is that with time to prepare for their eventual playoff game, San Francisco is working out kickers to make sure that specials teams is not again the downfall of this team in the postseason.
In a 16 game, 17 week season, a football team goes through a lot up ups and downs. San Francisco's regular season was no exception, luckily with more good then bad, and completed a remarkable journey finding themselves right where they were a year ago. The reason for the teams trip back to the playoffs is the man on the sideline, Jim Harbaugh.
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