Call it that fire in the belly.
Or that sense of urgency.
What you ascribe 'it' as, the Green Bay Packers will surely need 'it' if they want to advance and continue on their trek to New Orleans.
The Pack will travel to San Francisco to take on the 49ers at Candlestick Park on Saturday, January 12.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m. and will be carried on the Fox network and WTMJ radio.
The Packers, in the words of wide receiver James Jones, have to simply: "be us."
That is easier said than done, to be sure, especially against such a formidable and well-coached team as the San Francisco 49ers.
But it is completely doable.
Even on the road.
The 'us' that Jones references is the identity of this edition of the Pack.
This identity is the one forged from the fires of adversity, injury and one controversial call that will live in perpetuity.
Whatever spark that was lit in the second half against the Minnesota Vikings in the regular season finale has to be fanned and turned into a raging inferno.
Offense.
Defense.
Special Teams.
The Pack is at its healthiest all season and it couldn't have come at a more opportune time.
Having to play in the Wild Card game seems to have re-energized that 'it' factor.
From here on out, nothing is taken for granted.
No such thing as resting on one's laurels.
The only laurel that counts is the Lombardi Trophy and everybody knows it.
It's just like the Green Bay team of 2010, aka Super Bowl XLV Champions.
Only completely different.
Every team has that something that clicks.
The emergence of the running game with DuJuan Harris and Ryan Grant has been huge.
There is just enough balance to keep the Niner 'D' guessing.
Having all the wideouts healthy allows Aaron Rodgers to stretch the field and either run it or dump passes off to the above-mentioned RBs and John Kuhn.
On the defensive side of the ball, a healthy Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson and Mike Neal coupled with the improved play of Brad Jones and Erik Walden have really turned the ship around.
Consider the troubles the 15-1 Packers defense had just a year ago.
The improvements to the roster have made it a much less lopsided affair.
Green Bay's 'D' has to be credited with the job it did against the Vikes last Saturday.
As for the Niners, San Fran's QB Colin Kaepernick could be call Aaron Rodgers Lite.
He was prepared when the head coach Jim Harbaugh turned the reins over to him some weeks ago.
Kaepernick makes plays with his feet and has a strong arm that can be taken anything but lightly.
Frank Gore doesn't put up Adrian Peterson type numbers but is as punishing a running back as there is in the game.
If Ryan Pickett, B. J. Raji contain Gore like they did AP last week; they should be fine.
Defense, particularly through the middle, is what the Niners bring to the table.
Justin Smith, albeit a slightly hobbled version, must be kept away from A-Rod.
Linebackers Aldon Smith and Patrick Willis won't make that assignment any easier.
The no-huddle and an ever-moving pocket should keep Rodgers upright and will give him the ability to prevail.
Jermichael Finley, who has strung together some great games with his drive-extending receptions, will keep Willis busy and help ease the pressure up front at the same time.
This game is what NFL playoff football is all about.
Two good teams with a lot of strengths and not many weaknesses.
The team that does the best job of exploiting the latter while hanging onto the spheroid should come out on top.
The Packers (despite losing at the end in Minnesota) have been sharper and is getting the nod from most pundits.
You won't get an argument here.
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