Packers-49ers press box notes

PACKERS TO FACE 49ERS IN NFC DIVISIONAL PLAYOFF GAME

Green Bay (12-5) will take on the San Francisco 49ers (11-4-1) in an NFC Divisional playoff contest tonight at Candlestick Park, the third straight season that the Packers have advanced to the divisional round of the playoffs.
The Packers are the lone NFC team to advance to the divisional round each of the past three postseasons (2010-12). The last time Green Bay accomplished that feat was when the team did so in five straight seasons (1993-97).
Green Bay beat division-rival Minnesota, 24-10, at Lambeau Field last Saturday night in an NFC Wild Card contest. The 10 points allowed were the fewest given up by the Packers in a playoff game since they allowed 10 at San Francisco on Jan. 11, 1998.
The Packers improved to 30-17 all-time in the posteason with the win, a .638 winning percentage that ranks No. 1 in NFL history (min. five games).
Tonight will be a matchup of two of the winningest teams in postseason history. Green Bay ranks No. 3 in league history with 30 wins (Dallas and Pittsburgh, 33 each), while San Francisco ranks No. 4 with 26 playoff victories.
This will mark the sixth time the Packers and 49ers have squared off in the postseason. That is tied for the second most for Green Bay against one opponent behind only the Packers’ seven playoff meetings with the N.Y. Giants.
The Packers have won four of the five previous meetings against the 49ers in the playoffs, including two of three at Candlestick Park. Including playoffs, Green Bay has won 13 of its last 15 games against the 49ers.
The clubs last met in the postseason in an NFC Wild Card contest in the 2001 season (Jan. 13, 2002) at Lambeau Field, a 25-15 Green Bay win. Prior to that, the teams met in four consecutive postseasons (1995-98).
The playoff meeting in the 2001 season was the last time the teams played where each had 11-plus wins. In that contest, both teams entered the game with 12-4 records.
This will be the second meeting between the two clubs this season, with Green Bay having hosted San Francisco in the season opener, a 30-22 49ers win. This will be the third time in the history of the series (1996, 1998) that the teams have met in the regular season and the postseason.
The Packers have won three consecutive playoff games on the road, their longest road winning streak in franchise postseason history. Green Bay has a 3-1 road record (.750) in the playoffs under Mike McCarthy.
Since the start of the 2010 postseason, Green Bay has won 14 of its last 19 road contests, a .737 winning percentage that ranks No. 2 in the NFL over that span behind only New England (12-4, .750).
Since 2011, the Packers rank No. 1 in the NFL with a 26-6 record (.813) in the regular season. San Francisco ranks No. 3 in the league over that span at 24-7-1 (.766), trailing only Green Bay and New England (25-7, .781).
Since 2011, Green Bay ranks No. 3 in the NFL with a scoring average of 31.0 points per game. San Francisco is No. 1 in the league over that span in scoring defense at 15.7 points per game.

POSTSEASON SUCCESS

The Packers have won two straight NFC North titles for the first time since 2002-04, when the team captured three consecutive divisional crowns.
This season’s NFC North title marks the Packers’ 20th division crown in franchise history.
With the Week 15 win at Chicago, Green Bay clinched its 28th postseason berth in team history and its 15th appearance in the last 20 seasons.
The Packers have made the playoffs in each of the last four seasons and five of the last six, the only NFC team to accomplish those feats.
Green Bay currently ranks No. 3 in NFL history with its 28 playoff appearances, trailing only the N.Y. Giants (31) and Dallas Cowboys (30).
The Packers’ 15 postseason appearances in the free-agency era (since 1993) are the most of any team in the NFL.
Green Bay improved to 30-17 all-time in the postseason with a win over Minnesota this past Saturday. The Packers’ .638 winning percentage in the postseason ranks No. 1 in NFL history (min. five games), ahead of Pittsburgh (33-21, .611) and Baltimore (11-7, .611).
The Packers rank No. 3 in NFL history with the 30 playoff victories, trailing only Dallas and Pittsburgh (33 postseason wins each).

WHAT TO WATCH FOR ...

The Packers have averaged 30.7 points per game over its last six contests. They have held their opponents to 20 points or less in nine of their last 11 games.
In their last four games, the Packers have scored TDs on 15 of 17 red-zone trips (88.2 percent).
Green Bay has turned the ball over five times over its last six games. The Packers have a plus-5 turnover ratio over that span.
In four games against San Francisco under Head Coach Mike McCarthy (2006, 2009-10, 2012), Green Bay has turned the ball over just one time.
The Packers have been flagged for 10 penalties over their last three games.
In the last three games against the 49ers, the Packers have converted on 25 of 46 third-down opportunities (54.3 percent).
QB Aaron Rodgers ranks No. 1 in NFL postseason history (min. 150 attempts) with a career passer rating of 105.4. He has posted a 100-plus rating in five of his seven playoff starts. He ranks No. 4 in NFL playoff annals in completion percentage (66.0) and No. 3 in interception percentage (1.58).
In four career postseason starts on the road (3-1 record), Rodgers has completed 94 of 135 passes (69.6 percent) for 1,213 yards and 10 TDs with three INTs for a 113.0 passer rating. That road rating ranks No. 1 in NFL postseason history (min. 100 attempts).
Rodgers has posted a 100-plus passer rating in each of his last four games. He has connected on 101 of 147 passes (68.7 percent) for 1,272 yards and 11 TDs with zero INTs for a 120.3 passer rating over that span.
Rodgers has not thrown an interception in five consecutive games and has not thrown an INT in 177 consecutive passing attempts.
In three career starts against the 49ers, Rodgers has completed 83 of 119 passes (69.7 percent) for 945 yards and seven TDs with one INT for a 109.4 passer rating.
Over the last three games, WR Greg Jennings has 19 catches for 226 yards (11.9 avg.) and three TDs. Jennings needs six receptions to set the career franchise record for most catches in the playoffs. Jennings currently has 44 career receptions, five shy of No. 1 Donald Driver (49).
In four career games against the 49ers, Jennings has caught 21 passes for 332 yards (15.8 avg.) and three TDs. That includes two 100-yard games and five or more receptions in all four of those contests.
FB John Kuhn is the only NFL player to score at least one TD each of the last four postseasons (2009-12). With six career postseason TDs, Kuhn is tied with RB Dorsey Levens for No. 2 in team playoff history behind only WR Antonio Freeman (12 TDs).
LB Clay Matthews has registered at least one sack in each of the last four games, recording six sacks over that span. He ranks No. 2 in franchise history with 6.5 sacks in the postseason (seven games), trailing only DE Reggie White (8.0 in 14 games). Matthews is tied for No. 4 among active players with the 6.5 career playoff sacks, trailing only LaMarr Woodley (11.0), Terrell Suggs (10.0) and Dwight Freeney (9.0).
K Mason Crosby has made six consecutive field goals in the postseason dating back to 2010, a franchise playoff record.

PLAYOFF CAPTAINS

As per team tradition, the Packers alternated game captains each week during the regular season. For the postseason, the team elected captains.
Players elected captains were WR James Jones and QB Aaron Rodgers (offense), LB Clay Matthews and DB Charles Woodson (defense), and CB Jarrett Bush and LB Jamari Lattimore (special teams).

WEARING THE STRIPES

Tonight’s officiating crew includes referee Jerome Boger (23), umpire Darrell Jenkins (76), head linesman Kent Payne (79), line judge Mark Steinkerchner (84), field judge Scott Edwards (3), side judge Greg Meyer (78) and back judge Dino Paganelli (105). Alternates include Walt Anderson (66), Tom Symonette (100) and Keith Washington (7).