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Packers’ season ends with 45-31 loss to 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO–The Packers’ season ended in Candlestick Park on Saturday night, in a 45-31 loss to the 49ers in the divisional round of the NFC playoffs.

In a game that gave birth to a new star in the NFL, the Packers surrendered a playoff-record 183 yards rushing to second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who was making his first postseason start. Kaepernick rushed for two touchdowns and passed for 263 yards and two touchdowns, all of that after having thrown an interception that was returned by Sam Shields for a touchdown on the 49ers’ first possession of the game.

The major problem Aaron Rodgers and the Packers offense faced was a ridiculously lopsided time of possesssion disadvantage that left the Packers with little more to do but stand on the sideline and watch Kaepernick emerge as a postseason star.

San Francisco running back Frank Gore rushed for 119 yards and a touchdown, and the season ended for the Packers much as it started in a loss to the 49ers in which the visitors dominated time of possession with a powerful rushing attack. Then, under starting quarterback Alex Smith, it was thunder. Kaepernick has added lightning to that rushing attack and the 49ers will play the winner of Sunday’s Seattle at Atlanta game in next weekend’s NFC title game.

The 49ers blew the game open in the second half, pushing a 24-21 lead to 45-24 with 3:34 to play.

Rodgers finished the game having completed 26 of 39 passes for 257 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.

Packers trail 49ers, 24-21, at halftime of playoff game

SAN FRANCISCO–The Packers trailed the 49ers, 24-21, at halftime of tonight’s NFC Divisional Round playoff game at Candlestick Park..

Packers cornerback Sam Shields gave the Packers a great start by intercepting a Colin Kaepernick pass and returning it 52 yards for a touchdown on just the first possession of the game.

Kaepernick, in his first postseason start, fought off the mistake to move the 49ers 80 yards in eight plays and tie the game with a 20-yard touchdown run.

Back stormed the Packers on their own 80-yard touchdown drive, which required seven plays and ended with running back DuJuan Harris scoring on an 18-yard run up the middle.

The Packers made a mistake they might come to regret when Jeremy Ross fumbled a punt at his 10-yard line and the 49ers recovered at the 9. Three plays later, Kaepernick completed a 12-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Crabtree.

Midway through the second quarter, a long pass by Aaron Rodgers for Jordy Nelson was intercepted by the 49ers’ Tarell Brown, who returned the ball 39 yards to the Packers 48. Kaepernick converted a key third-and-long play with a 15-yard run, and then followed that with a 20-yard pass over the middle to Crabtree for a touchdown and a 21-14 lead.

Rodgers rallied the Packers down the field to tie the game. It was, yet, another 80-yard drive. This one needed six plays. Rodgers found wide receiver James Jones over the middle for a 20-yard scoring strike that tied the game at 21-21.

Troubled kicker David Akers booted a 36-yard field goal on the final play of the first half, capping an 11-play, 62-yard drive.

Kaepernick overcame his bad start to complete 11 of 23 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns. Rodgers was held to five completions in 10 attempts for 96 yards and one touchdown. Kaepernick leads the 49ers with 107  yards rushing and Harris leads the Packers with 47.

The 49ers have dominated time of possession, 21:47-8:13.

Sideline Pass: Behind-the-scenes photos from #GBvsSF

Check out these behind-the-scenes photos from Saturday evening’s NFC Divisional playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park.

Packers players, coaches and staff get off the team charter at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) Friday afternoon

Packers WR Jordy Nelson, director of player development Rob Davis, QB Graham Harrell, QB Aaron Rodgers and G/T T.J. Lang exit the team plane

Seats in Candlestick Park before fans started filing in

The view from the press box at San Francisco’s Candlestick Park

The Packers huddle up on the field before the game

49ers linebackers warm up prior to the game

Packers WR Greg Jennings and QB Aaron Rodgers get ready before kickoff

Donald Driver is active; Packers-49ers NFC Divisional playoff gameday inactives

The following players have been declared as inactive for tonight’s Green Bay Packers-San Francisco 49ers NFC Divisional playoff game at Candlestick Park. Packers WR Donald Driver is active.

Green Bay Packers
11 WR Jarrett Boykin
20 RB Alex Green
31 CB Davon House
58 LB Frank Zombo
84 TE D.J. Williams
91 DT Jordan Miller
99 DE Jerel Worthy

San Francisco 49ers
3 QB Scott Tolzien
6 K Billy Cundiff
30 S Trenton Robinson
33 RB Jewel Hampton
63 DT Tony Jerod-Eddie
66 G Joe Looney
93 NT Ian Williams

Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews named second-team All-Pro

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers and LB Clay Matthews have been named second-team All-Pro by the Associated Press for 2012.

The annual All-Pro team features one player at each position voted as the best for that season. No Packers made the first team, which included Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Texans DE J.J. Watt as unanimous selections.

Broncos QB Peyton Manning made the first team, with Rodgers the second-team pick at QB. The first-team choices at Matthews’ position of outside linebacker were Denver’s Von Miller and San Francisco’s Aldon Smith.