49ers vs. Packers: End zones painted red for 2013 NFL playoffs

The San Francisco 49ers are closing in on kickoff, with their game approximately five hours away. We'll have to sit through Ravens-Broncos first at 1:30 p.m. PT, but at least it's game day!

Game day also means the return of red end zones (h/t @TaylorPrice49 for posting this on Instagram). The 49ers have made it a tradition to pain the end zones read for their home playoff games. It can seem like a subtle addition to outsiders, but for 49ers fans, we know it represents the start of playoff action.

Even Jim Harbaugh only learned about it when he joined the team last year. In his final press conference of the week, Harbaugh was asked about his favorite part about playing at Candlestick Park. His response?

"The mystique, it's a home field advantage for us. I really feel like our fans, especially, understand playoff time. And they paint those end zones red, there's kind of a locking of the gates. And I feel like there's 60-70,000 people that are on our side, fully on our side. It creates a tremendous home field advantage for us."

It'll be rockin' and rollin' at Candlestick later today as the 49ers look to advance to the NFC Championship Game. The 49ers returned to the playoffs last year and will look to build on it this year in front of a raucous home crowd.