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Aaron Rodgers knows legacy depends on Super Bowl win for Green Bay Packers

Green Bay Packers free safety Darnell Savage, right, defends a pass intended for San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel during the first half in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sept. 26. (AP file photo)

Aaron Rodgers understands time is running out on his hopes of winning a second Super Bowl title with the Green Bay Packers.

The 38-year-old quarterback’s latest postseason run begins Saturday night as he tries to beat the team that has served as the three-time MVP’s biggest playoff nemesis.

Rodgers owns an 0-3 playoff record against the San Francisco 49ers, though he’s beaten them in the regular season each of the last two years. The top-seeded Packers (13-4) and 49ers (11-7) face off again Saturday night in an NFC divisional playoff game at Lambeau Field.

“I think football mortality is something that we all think about,” Rodgers said. “And we all think about how many opportunities we’re going to be afforded moving forward, and each one is special.”

Since stumbling to a 3-5 start, the 49ers have won eight of 10 while showing a knack for delivering away from home. They secured a playoff berth by rallying from a 17-0 deficit to win an overtime road game with the Los Angeles Rams, and followed that with a 23-17 wild-card victory at Dallas.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers claps on the sideline against the Lions during on Jan. 9 in Detroit. (AP file photo)

Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo says San Francisco’s slow start caused the 49ers to adopt a playoff mentality ahead of schedule.

“Putting that pressure on your team early, it creates a mindset,” Garoppolo said. “It creates an atmosphere in the locker room of a sense of urgency that we have to win now and we have to make some plays.”

The Packers beat the 49ers 30-28 on the road back on Sept. 26, with the 49ers erasing a 17-0 deficit to take the lead in the final minute before Rodgers drove Green Bay into position for Mason Crosby’s 51-yard field goal as time expired.

But the 49ers can lean on their successful postseason history against Rodgers’ Packers, including a 37-20 victory in the NFC championship game two seasons ago.

“This is a special opportunity,” Rodgers said. “We’re not going to make it bigger than it is. We’ve gotten this far being level-headed and even-keeled and not rising a roller coaster of emotions and we’re going to keep on doing the same thing.”

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DYNAMIC DEEBO

Deebo Samuel has added another role to his do-everything season.

The dynamic receiver and runner showed off his prognostication skills last week. After San Francisco intercepted a pass, Samuel told coach Kyle Shanahan to get him the ball and he’d score. Shanahan called for a handoff on the next play, and Samuel took it 26 yards for a TD.

“I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve never, ever, ever been around a football player that called his own shot,” 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel said.

Samuel has 1,880 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns this season, including the playoffs.

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STAYING DISCIPLINED

Green Bay’s most obvious concern is slowing down a 49ers rushing attack. Elijah Mitchell and Samuel combined to run for 168 yards against the Cowboys.

The Packers say they also must watch out for what linebacker De’Vondre Campbell referred to as the “eye candy.” Campbell was referring to various shifts and pre-snap motions that Shanahan uses to get defenders looking the wrong way.

“The way he designs his plays, the motions, and all the different kinds of shifts and all that kind of stuff, he gets everybody’s eyes wandering,” Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark said.

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INJURY UPDATES

Packers offensive tackle David Bakhtiari (knee) and cornerback Jaire Alexander (shoulder) are questionable and wide receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling (back) is doubtful. The Packers are expecting wide receiver Randall Cobb (core) and offensive tackle Billy Turner (knee) back from injuries that knocked them out for the latter part of the regular season.

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