By Jason Perone

Colin Kaepernick ran for a quarterback-record 181 yards against the Packers in the playoffs.

Well, Green Bay Packers fans, game day is almost here!  The last time the Packers played in a meaningful game, it was in San Francisco and against the 49ers.  It’s only fitting that Green Bay returns to the scene and really test how much this year’s team has improved.

Both teams have undergone changes since that last matchup.  The Packers have gotten a bit younger and added more to their defensive front in that of first round pick Datone Jones and with the return of veteran Johnny Jolly.  They also added another potential diamond in the rough at cornerback in that of fifth-rounder Micah Hyde.  With Casey Hayward ruled out for this week’s game, Hyde could see some spot duty at defensive back.

The 49ers are without stud receiver Michael Crabtree (torn Achilles) and will rely on newly-acquired veteran Anquan Boldin, to fill in.  San Francisco also lost a key piece of their secondary with hard-hitting safety Dashon Goldson moving on to Tampa Bay in free agency.  They looked to veteran cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha and rookie Eric Reid to fill that void.

With all of those changes, let’s look at some of the key factors that will play a role in the outcome of Sunday’s game.

Packers 49ers

SAN FRANCISCO -- All summer long, M.D. Jennings and Jerron McMillian waged a close competition to start at free safety next to strong safety Morgan Burnett.
In fact, the Green Bay Packers never actually declared a winner between the two.
It’s a moot point now because both will start against the San Francisco 49ers after Burnett’s recurrence of a hamstring injury landed him on the inactive list.
Burnett played every defensive snap for the Packers last season. He pulled his hamstring in the Aug. 23 preseason game against Seattle. He missed the preseason finale at Kansas City but returned to practice last week only to reinjure his hamstring late in the week. He was listed as questionable.
Linebacker Brad Jones, who also was listed as questionable because of a hamstring injury, is active and will start.
Here’s the Packers’ full inactive list:

• CB Casey Hayward (hamstring)
• S Morgan Burnett (hamstring)
• LB Nate Palmer (coach’s decision)
• LB Sam Barrington (coach’s decision)
• G Lane Taylor (coach’s decision)
• TE Brandon Bostick (coach’s decision)
• DE Josh Boyd (coach’s decision)

Jerron McMillian, Green Bay Packers safety: