FG sends 49ers past Packers 23

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- A week after stunning the Chicago Bears with a last-minute 48-yard touchdown pass to win the NFC North, quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the Green Bay Packers are looking to use that momentum and their heightened offensive confidence to create some playoff magic.

On Sunday afternoon at Lambeau Field, the Packers will host the San Francisco 49ers in an intriguing showdown in the NFC's wild-card round.

The pregame buzz in Green Bay has centered on the weather forecast, with temperatures projected to be near 10 degrees below zero by night's end with wind chills approaching minus-50, according to the National Weather Service.

That seemingly would give the Packers a bit of home freeze advantage. But the 49ers seem built for the elements thanks to a tough defense and a consistent running attack and they entered the afternoon with plenty of confidence after rolling over the Green Bay defense in each of their last two meetings. In the season opener in September, quarterback Colin Kaepernick threw for 412 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-28 win in San Francisco as the 49ers rolled up 494 total yards and also got a big game from receiver Anquan Boldin (13 catches, 208 yards, one TD).

In last season's playoffs, the 49ers met even less resistance, barreling their way to a 38-24 win with 579 total yards. Kaepernick's versatility was again a huge factor as he rushed for 181 yards and two scores while also passing for 263 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

But the Packers hope Rodgers' return can energize an upset bid. After missing seven games with a fractured collarbone, the Packers quarterback went 25-for-39 for 318 yards, including two TD passes and two interceptions in last week's 33-28 defeat of the Bears.

Rodgers' most memorable throw, of course, was his 48-yard touchdown pass to Randall Cobb on fourth-and-8 with 46 seconds left, a magical moment that propelled Green Bay into the postseason, even after they had only won twice in Rodgers' absence.

Twitter @danwiederer