Teh One Who Knocks
01-06-2014, 08:32 PM
FOX Sports
Shortly after Phil Dawson's game-winning field goal beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Colin Kaepernick might have been thinking about celebrating with his teammates or getting warm, but the one thing on his mind during a postgame interview with FOX Sports was revenge for a 10-9 loss to the Panthers at Candlestick Park in Week 10.
"That we owe them," Kaepernick said, "for the first time they came to our house."
Usually a terrible quote with the media (when it comes to talking about football, at least), Kaepernick then echoed similar sentiments about getting another crack at the Panthers when he met with reporters at his postgame press conference. The fact he was looser than usual in talking about getting the chance to see the Panthers again was an indication it's so on between these teams this week.
The 49ers are hot, having won seven games in a row. But the Panthers will remember the way they harassed Kaepernick in November, sacked him a career-high six times — the most he'd been sacked before was four — and held him to 16 yards rushing on only four carries.
The difference now is Kaepernick has Michael Crabtree at his disposal. Crabtree still isn't in top form but he's close enough. In Green Bay on Sunday, he won 1-on-1 matchups on his way to eight catches for 125 yards. That means the Panthers likely won't be able to focus on Kaepernick the way they did in the regular season because there's another weapon in the passing game to defend.
With the way they're playing and with Crabtree on the field, the Niners like their chances in this rematch. That was evident in what Kaepernick said on Sunday. Look for it to continue this week with an extremely confident bunch that knows momentum is on their side again.
Shortly after Phil Dawson's game-winning field goal beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Colin Kaepernick might have been thinking about celebrating with his teammates or getting warm, but the one thing on his mind during a postgame interview with FOX Sports was revenge for a 10-9 loss to the Panthers at Candlestick Park in Week 10.
"That we owe them," Kaepernick said, "for the first time they came to our house."
Usually a terrible quote with the media (when it comes to talking about football, at least), Kaepernick then echoed similar sentiments about getting another crack at the Panthers when he met with reporters at his postgame press conference. The fact he was looser than usual in talking about getting the chance to see the Panthers again was an indication it's so on between these teams this week.
The 49ers are hot, having won seven games in a row. But the Panthers will remember the way they harassed Kaepernick in November, sacked him a career-high six times — the most he'd been sacked before was four — and held him to 16 yards rushing on only four carries.
The difference now is Kaepernick has Michael Crabtree at his disposal. Crabtree still isn't in top form but he's close enough. In Green Bay on Sunday, he won 1-on-1 matchups on his way to eight catches for 125 yards. That means the Panthers likely won't be able to focus on Kaepernick the way they did in the regular season because there's another weapon in the passing game to defend.
With the way they're playing and with Crabtree on the field, the Niners like their chances in this rematch. That was evident in what Kaepernick said on Sunday. Look for it to continue this week with an extremely confident bunch that knows momentum is on their side again.