December 8, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) follows through after handing the football off during the second quarter against the Seattle Seahawks at Candlestick Park. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 19-17. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
If anything can snap Colin Kaepernick out of his recent funk, it could be this weekend's visit from the Green Bay Packers.
Kaepernick has directed the San Francisco 49ers to victories in all three starts against the Packers, including a pair of postseason wins in 2012 and 2013. Not only has Kaepernick scorched Green Bay, but he has done so with two of the best performances of his career.
"We have a lot of respect for Colin," Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy told reporters during a conference call Wednesday. "He's had a lot of success against us in the past."
Indeed he has. Kaepernick submitted a stat line for the ages in the 2012 playoffs, accounting for four touchdowns and setting the all-time record for rushing yards by a quarterback with 181. He also had his best passing day in the 2013 season opener versus the Packers, throwing for 412 yards and three touchdowns.
"Obviously, we've had some issues with him in the past and they've gone back to their read-option and so scheme-wise, he definitely stresses you," McCarthy said. "He can make all the throws. He's a big, athletic guy. He's a different type of quarterback to prepare for."
However, Kaepernick is coming off perhaps the worst game of his career in last week's 47-7 throttling at Arizona. He threw for a mere 67 yards and was picked off four times, including two returned for touchdowns in the first six minutes, but insisted the wretched performance did not rattle his psyche.
"I have confidence in myself as far as being able to go out and help this team win," Kaepernick said. "What other people think of how I play and how I go about things really isn't something I worry about."
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