REC: 84 | YDS: 1,424 | AVG: 17.0 | TDs: 14
By Mark Malone
Special to ESPN.com
Antonio Freeman is more likely to make the critical big play Sunday because the receiver situation in Green Bay is such that there's not really anybody outside of Freeman who Brett Favre really has confidence in.
The Packers' passing game will be designed by formations and motion variations to create matchups for Freeman. And given the way the 49ers secondary has played for the most part all season, I think it's a good bet Freeman will come up with probably multiple big plays in this game.
Freeman doesn't get his due, but I think he's one of the best big-play receivers in the game. The Green Bay offense helps, but he has all the tools. He's fearless over the middle because he will take a shot. He runs good disciplined routes, he has more than adequate speed. He has very good hands, and with Freeman you don't need to throw the ball to a perfect spot. He will make plays for you on balls that aren't really accurate.
We get caught up with guys like Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice sometimes, but you have to put Freeman right up there with the best.
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REC: 67 | YDS: 1,097 | AVG: 16.4 | TDs: 14
By Merril Hoge
Special to ESPN.com
Terrell Owens is a receiver who can physically beat you. You can't play press man-to-man coverage against Owens because he's too big. There isn't a cornerback or safety in the league who can handle him physically. He's just too strong.
Owens also has enough speed that, if you miss coverage on him or gauge wrong, he'll beat you down the field. If you play off Owens, it plays right into what the 49ers like to do. They like to get the ball into his hands, which is why they use those short routes because he's probably the most difficult receiver in football to tackle.
Jerry Rice has been so great for so long, but now Owens is the 49ers' big-play threat. Teams will still double-team Rice and show enormous respect for him, but Owens has been the receiver who's creating the most problems for teams. He's more physical than Rice.
About 99.9 percent of the league would rather have Rice catch a slant pass and tackle him instead of Owens. Rice did it for years, but he's not the physical player Owens is.
Owens is a great heir apparent to Rice. He's equivalent to Rice like Steve Young is equivalent to Joe Montana. There are some different dynamics. Rice is a very disciplined receiver at running routes. Owens only will get better at that because he's had a great mentor in Rice.
Rice is the standard and there is no higher standard in the league. I don't know if he can ever exceed it, but Owens has the potential to equal it.
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