The Green Bay Packers and San Francisco 49ers kick off the 2013 season with one of the better matchups of Week 1, a rematch of last year's NFC Divisional Round game.
NFL picks and predictions, Week 1: Packers vs. 49ers
The Packers and 49ers face off in a rematch of last year’s playoff game. Have the Packers figured out how to stop Colin Kaepernick?
Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports
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The 49ers steamrolled the Packers in that game and went on to appear in the Super Bowl due to a strong defense and the emergence of Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick ran wild over the Packers last January and is entering the season as the unquestioned starter after starting 2012 on the bench.
Green Bay won the NFC North again last year, and they will be looking for revenge for last year's playoff rout. The Packers will be debuting rookie Eddie Lacy at running back, hoping to revive a running game that has gone stagnant in recent years. The offensive line is a concern again, too, after the team lost left tackle Bryan Bulaga to a torn ACL.
The 49ers are almost unanimous favorites in this game. Out of the 10 ESPN panelists who submitted their Week 1 picks, all 10 are picking San Francisco to win. Over at CBS Sports, six out of nine experts are taking the 49ers -- although a majority of them expect the Packers to cover the 4.5-point spread.
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