NFL teams
KC Joyner, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Kaepernick can carry the Niners

NFL

In the Jim Harbaugh era, the San Francisco 49ers have followed a certain formula for success: dominant defense, a strong power running game and a mixture of intelligent game management and occasional big plays from their passing game.

That formula has worked to the tune of a 37-11-1 regular-season record, three consecutive NFC Championship Game appearances and one Super Bowl appearance.

As much as the 49ers would like to lean on that same formula in 2014, their prescription for success this season is more likely going to revolve more around quarterback Colin Kaepernick. There are a number of factors that indicate this team is only going to go as far as Kaepernick can take them -- and the metrics show us that Kaepernick has the ability to once again put this team into a conference championship game or Super Bowl.

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