Candlestick Park lit up for the second round of the playoffs, where Colin Kaepernick and the 49ers hosted Bay Area-product Aaron Rodgers and the Packers.

The Packers got out to a fast start, as Sam Shields intercepted Colin Kaepernick's second pass attempt and took it to the house to give Green Bay a 7-0 lead.

Colin Kaepernick made up for his early mistake by taking it himself for a 20-yard TD run to tie the game, 7-7.

One of his two first-half touchdowns, Michael Crabtree caught a 12-yard bullet from Kaepernick for a score in the second quarter.

Michael Crabtree hauled in his second TD of the first half, earning some yards after the catch in the process.

<p>James Jones hauled in this unreal grab to continue the drive that eventually led to a TD catch and a 21-21 tie game in the second quarter.</p>

<p>After the Packers tied the game at 24 in the third quarter, Kaepernick did it himself, taking a 56-yard run to the painted area and giving the 49ers a 31-24 lead.</p>

<p>The Kaepernick-to-Crabtree connection was alive and well Saturday night.</p>

<p>Frank Gore was called upon to control the game on the ground in the final quarter, and he tacked on a TD for good measure to ensure a 49er victory.</p>

The 49ers defeated the Packers 45-31 to advance to the NFC Championship for the second year in a row.

Jim Harbaugh took a risk when he started Kaepernick over Smith midway through the season, but he was rewarded on Saturday with another trip to the NFC Championship.