Colin Kaepernick after scoring a 56-yard TD. (Larry Muchowski)

SAN FRANCISCO–

The 49ers are heading back to the NFC Championship game after a 45-31 romping of the Packers.

Green Bay scored first, after Colin Kaepernick threw a pick-6 during the opening drive of the game.

But, Kaepernick recovered quickly and led the 49ers downfield on the next possession – scoring a TD on a 20-yard run.

San Francisco and Green Bay traded places up until halftime, when beleaguered kicker David Akers connected from 36-yards out. Akers’ field goal put the 49ers up 24-21 going into halftime, and San Francisco never let go of that lead.

Kaepernick, a Turlock native, turned in a record-setting performance. Kaepernick broke Michael Vick’s playoff rushing record for a quarterback with a 56-yard TD run. He finished the game with 181 rushing yards and 2 rushing TDs, along with 263 passing yards and 2 passing TDs.

Veteran running back Frank Gore also had 119 yards and a rushing TD for San Francisco. It was the first time in NFL playoff history that a team had two 100-yard rushers in a game.

Wide receiver Michael Crabtree accumulated 119 yards on 11 catches, along with 2 TDs.

San Francisco lost to the New York Giants 20-17 in last year’s NFC Championship game.

The 49ers will now face whoever wins tomorrow’s Seahawks-Falcons game. San Francisco will only play at home again if the Seattle wins.