Today at 1:05 p.m. ET, the San Francisco 49ers (12-4 regular season) and Carolina Panthers (12-4) go head-to-head in NFC Divisional Playoff action live from Bank of America Stadium in North Carolina. The game can be live streamed here. San Francisco fans can hear all of the action on KSAN 107.7 The Bone while Carolina fans can do the same on 1110 WBT.
Colin Kaepernick looks to build on his stellar playoff resume that saw him lead the 49ers to an NFC Championship last season and an unsuccessful Super Bowl appearance while Cam Newton makes his long-awaited postseason debut with a trip to play the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Championship hanging in the balance.
Kaepernick was 243-for-416 (58.4%) in the regular season with 3,197 yards for 21 touchdowns and eight interceptions while Newton went 292-for-473 (61.7%) for 3,379 yards with 24 scores and 13 picks.
San Francisco looks for their eighth win in a row against a team that they struggled against in the regular season where Kaepernick went 11-for-22 for a season-low 91 yards with an interception in a 10-9 home loss on Nov. 10.
"We owe 'em," Kaepernick, who threw for 227 yards and ran for 98 during a 23-20 wild-card victory at Green Bay on Sunday, told ESPN.
Using Michael Crabtree (eight receptions for 125 yards) as a primary weapon, Kaepernick improved his postseason record to 3-1 with a 28-yard pass to Vernon Davis in the fourth quarter that was key in the team winning.
Crabtree, who wasn't healthy the first time these teams clashed, had 19 receptions in five games for the 49ers for 284 yards and a score while Davis appeared in 15 games and garnered 52 catches for 850 yards and 13 scores.
The Panthers defense led the NFL with 60 sacks and finished second by giving up 301.2 yards and 15.1 points allowed per contest in the regular season, and will look to once again frustrate Kaepernick.
"I expect the young man to come out and play well," said Panthers coach Ron Rivera, according to ESPN. "All you have to do is watch the way he has played down the stretch."
Newton knows all eyes will be on him in his first taste of the postseason, but doesn't want to think too much.
"You don't want to be overthinking things," Newton said via ESPN. "I have yet to experience a playoff game, but I know the atmosphere will be hectic to say the least."
Newton likely have receiver Steve Smith (knee) back after he missed the regular season finale against Atlanta Falcons. Smith had 64 receptions for 745 yards and four scores in the regular season.
49ers running back Frank Gore increased his postseason scoring streak to four games with a touchdown last week and will try to extend it to five against the Panthers. Gore finished the regular season with 276 carries for 1,128 yards while reaching the end zone nine times.
With a trip to the NFC Championship Game hanging in the balance, the 49ers and Panthers take the field against each other this afternoon in North Carolina.
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