(By Daisy Barringer)

Last night I dreamed the 49ers/Packers game was being played at Kezar Stadium. Despite the small size of that place, I was somehow very far away, unable to see much. I was also extremely high up and there was the implied danger that if I stood up to check out the action, I would plummet to my death.

Still… That didn’t stop me from watching Green Bay drive down the field in the first fifty seconds of the game to kick a field goal. At which point those Frisbee-catching dogs came out, one of which ran up to me so that I learned his secret: He’s not that good at catching Frisbees; his owner just covers his tongue with glue.

It’s been like this all week. Anxiety dream after anxiety dream about the 49ers’ biggest game of the year. Green Bay travels to San Francisco to face the 49ers in the Divisional Round of the playoffs. The winner advances to the NFC Championship game. The loser goes home. FOREVER. (Fine, for the rest of the season, but it might as well be forever.)

It appears as though the world thinks Green Bay has this in the bag. Golden Boy Aaron Rodgers will finally get his revenge on the Niners for not picking him in the draft (GET OVER IT, AARON). People think our defense is tired. We’re too injured. That Kaepernick will falter under the pressure. To which I say: just watch. ‘Cause we’re going to prove all of the haters wrong.

Is there something different about this year’s 49ers team? Definitely. Last year we were the underdog. There was something magical in our season because so much of it was unexpected. This year we were front-runners. Sure, we still didn’t get many highlights on SportsCenter, but people knew to watch out for us. And that changed the dynamic of the team and of the players. But I truly believe that the team that’s going to come out on the field tomorrow will have the energy, determination, and edge that got them to the NFC Championship game last year. I truly believe that the team that comes out onto the field tomorrow is going to win. (Knocking on wood. Knocking on wood.)

So how’s that gonna happen? Let’s take a look.

The Good:

• Home field advantage. There will be Packers fans in the stands tomorrow, for sure. Those crazy people travel anywhere and everywhere to see their team play. But they’re in OUR house. And it’s our job to shut them up. I look forward to doing so. (By scoring first and often, not by being mean. Even though ohmygod, I want to be mean.)
  
• Michael Crabtree. He’s having the best season of his career and he’s Kaepernick’s number one target. I don’t know much (anything) about coaching, but I’d love to see Kap come out and throw to him early and often. The Niners need to score first. It can come quickly or it can come on a long drive that eats up the clock. They just need to put points on the board before Green Bay does.
  
• And when Crabtree isn’t available, there’s Randy Moss, Vernon Davis, Delanie Walker and a bunch of other guys who will be ready and eager to make first downs. I’d love to see VD shine in this game. He hasn’t been getting the ball much since Kap took over for Alex Smith, but all he needs is the opportunity.
  
• Oh, and FRANK! Gore deserves a Super Bowl ring. He just really, really does. I expect his heart, determination, and awesome skills to be front and center tomorrow. And when he needs a little break, I’m looking forward to seeing LaMichael James take it down the field.
  
• The Niners are coming off of a bye whereas Green Bay had to play last weekend. There’s always a ridiculous argument about whether or not the bye is a good thing, but I think we can safely say that the Niners absolutely needed the week off to rest and study. No matter how you spin it, Green Bay is more fatigued and more banged up. That’s a good thing.
  
• Niners D. Have they looked a little tired in the last couple of games? Maybe. I’m not really in the mood to say anything bad about these guys because I love them and support them. And if they were tired, now they’ve had rest. I expect the Packers’ receivers to have a hard time getting open, for their run game to be close to non-existent, and to see Aaron Rodgers laid out on his back at least three times.
  
• Huey Lewis and the News are singing the National Anthem. Enough said.

The Bad

• Aaron Rodgers. Look, I’m not going to pretend the guy isn’t amazing at what he does. He’s pissed that the Niners didn't draft him? Hell, there have been times that I was pissed the Niners didn’t draft him. The Niners MUST eliminate the deep threat and keep all of those traitors coming to watch him from Chico silent in their seats. Aaron Rodgers once famously said that he wasn’t as disappointed that he wasn’t going to be a 49er as the Niners would be that they didn’t draft him. I can’t wait to watch him eat his words.
  
• Justin Smith. The good news is that he’s going to start. The bad news is that he’s definitely still injured. Though Donte Whitner claims he thinks Justin will be at 95 percent and I hope he’s right, the fact of the matter is that Harbaugh and Fangio are not going to pull a Mike Shanahan/RGIII and allow Smith to stay in the game if he’s not being as effective as possible. Hopefully it’s not even an issue though because we need him in there. He’s a leader on the field and his ability to pass rush and pursue are unparalleled. Plus, Aldon (who is also injured…sigh) really needs him out there to help him with those sacks.
  
• David Akers. Listen, was Billy Cundiff a better option for kicking field goals? Probably not. I mean, the guy missed a 32-yard attempt last year that would have sent the AFC Championship game into overtime. Am I stoked that Akers is going to be kicking for us? Not exactly. But that's the decision Harbaugh made and “In Harbaugh We Trust.” Of course, the irony (I never know if I’m using that word right) in all of this is that there is only one kicker in the NFL who is actually worse than David Akers. And that guy kicks for Green Bay. The key here for the Niners is scoring touchdowns when they’re in red zone. (Don't you love it when I state the obvious?) They need to get touchdowns and not rely on field goals. Simple as that.

• It’s the Packers. Fact of the matter is: this is a good team. Beating them isn’t going to be easy. We’re dealing with the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Clay Matthews, Charles Woodson… And we’re dealing with a team who has beat the 49ers in 4 out of 5 playoff match-ups. But oh, was that Terrell Owens catch the last time we met up glorious. I was watching on Sanibel Island in Florida in some empty resort bar. The only other people in there were a father and his young son. They were rooting for the Packers. When T.O. caught that ball, I may have told a child to “suck it.” One of the best days of my life.

The Rest of It

I could go on forever talking about this game. Fact of the matter is: both teams are good. Both teams have a chance to win. And both teams are going to come out hard and fast and chomping at the bit. It’s going to come down to who makes fewer mistakes and, most of all, who wants it more.

I know we want it more. I mean, it’s all I want. It’s all any Niners’ fan wants. I’ve been harder than usual on the team this year, particularly Harbaugh. I still don’t like that he benched Alex. I never will. But I believe in him. And I believe in Kap. And I believe in this entire team. After all, I’m a Niners fan. Being faithful is what we do.

Watch San Francisco vs. Green Bay tomorrow at 5 p.m. on FOX. Check our list of where to watch with the Niners Faithful around town. Or even better, buy a ticket and come to The ‘Stick, wear red, and get loud.

GO NINERS!