SAN FRANCISCO — Colin Kaepernick did the passing and running, and Aaron Rodgers just couldn’t keep up.
Kaepernick outplayed the reigning NFL MVP and former Super Bowl champion in a record-setting playoff debut and led San Francisco right back to the NFC Championship Game with a 45-31 victory over the Green Bay Packers in an NFC divisional game Saturday night.
Kaepernick rushed for a quarterback playoff-record 181 yards and two touchdowns and threw two scoring passes to Michael Crabtree.
“It feels good. We’re one step closer to where we want to be,” Kaepernick said. “I feel like I had a lot to prove. A lot of people doubted my ability to lead this team.”
The second-year pro was making just his eighth NFL start. No doubting Jim Harbaugh’s big midseason gamble switching quarterbacks now.
Rodgers finished 26 of 39 for 257 yards with 2 touchdowns for the Packers (12-6).
Kaepernick ran for scores of 20 and 56 yards on the way to topping the rushing mark of 119 yards set by Michael Vick in 2005 against St. Louis. Crabtree caught touchdown passes of 12 and 20 yards in the second quarter and wound up with nine receptions and 119 yards for the Niners (12-4-1) in the NFC divisional match up.
San Francisco had 579 total yards, with 323 on the ground, scoring its third-most points in the franchise’s storied playoff history.
“Our offensive line did an amazing job today,” Kaepernick said. “They shut everybody down inside. Our receivers, our tight ends, blocked great outside, and our running backs were running hard, so it made it easier on me.”
Frank Gore and Anthony Dixon each added 2-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter for the No. 2 seed NFC West champions, slim favorites on their home field in a rematch of Week 1. They added to their memorable night by setting a franchise postseason record for yards rushing, 119 of those by Gore to complement Kaepernick.
Kaepernick topped Vick’s mark with the 56-yard keeper on an option play in the third quarter. That gave Kaepernick 163 yards on 12 carries, also setting a 49ers franchise record for the postseason.
Kaepernick joined Jay Cutler in 2011 and Otto Graham in both 1954 and 1955 as the only players with two rushing and two passing touchdowns in a playoff game.
David Akers kicked a 36-yard field goal moments before halftime to give San Francisco a 24-21 lead at halftime after Green Bay tried to ice the struggling veteran by calling timeout before his kick.
Mason Crosby’s 31-yard field goal tied the game at 24 midway through the third quarter, then Kaepernick took over again. San Francisco’s defense handled the rest.
Kaepernick had 11 carries for 107 yards rushing by halftime.
The strong-armed Kaepernick brushed off an interception he tossed on the fourth play of the game that Sam Shields ran back 52 yards for a touchdown, then took control with his passing to his favorite go-to guy - Crabtree - and with his quick-burst ability out of the pocket.
Kaepernick bounced back from the early interception and again after a second quarter taunting penalty in which he threw the ball down in the face of safety M.D. Jennings (Arkansas State) after being hit by Jennings and Erik Walden. Center Jonathan Goodwin grabbed Kaepernick in an effort to settle him down after his 15-yard run was negated by the 15-yard flag.
Sports, Pages 24 on 01/13/2013