Blake Martinez is the X-Factor in Packers' Upset Bid Against 49ers

This year's NFC Championship will see the Green Bay Packers travel to the west coast to face off against the 49ers at Levi's Stadium on Sunday. Green Bay will be looking to avenge their horrid showing on the road against San Francisco back in Week 12 in which they were thrashed 38-7. Matt LaFleur's side never really settled into things, and were unable to overcome a 23-0 deficit at halftime.

We all know that Kyle Shanahan LOVES to run the football. With that in mind, linebacker Blake Martinez sniffing out danger in the middle of the Pack's defense will be central to Green Bay's chances.

Martinez was woefully exposed in the passing game when these teams met earlier in the season. Shanahan, per Pro Football Focus, threw at the Stanford product a whopping six times in coverage -- that accounted for nearly a third of Jimmy Garoppolo's 20 pass attempts in the game.

For the sake of football aficionados in Wisconsin, we sincerely hope that LaFleur and the rest of the Pack's coaching staff spotted this blatant mismatch while reviewing film. If Martinez is tormented again through the air, Green Bay can flush their Super Bowl hopes right down the toilet.

That, of course, can be prevented if Martinez and the Packers' defense are effective at stopping the run. He needs to have himself a great game if the visitors are going to pull off the upset, period.

If the likes of Tevin Coleman, Matt Breida, and Raheem Mostert are finding holes, that will set up play action for Garoppolo, which will spell trouble for Green Bay.

Martinez is positioned smack in the middle of LaFleur's defense. If he comes up big, his team will, too.