the who dat nation invades the worst stadium in professional sports...the unstoppable force meets the immovable object. first the visitors...

New Orleans Saints: 13-3, 5-3 road (AFC South Champion)
34.2 PPG (2nd in the NFL)
21.2 PA (13th in the NFL)

9th Playoff appearance
1 Super Bowl Championship

2011 Posteason:
WC: Win vs Detroit 45-28

























Why the Saints will win:

The most prolific offense in a long time will feast on a secondary that despite 2 pro bowlers is quite weak.

49ers red zone offense is beyond pitiful.

Alex Smith is the opposing QB. He cannot match Brees score for score

Sean Peyton knows his ****.





and the home team

San Francisco 49ers: 13-3, 7-1 home (NFC West Champion)
23.8 PPG (10th in NFL)
14.3 PA (2nd in NFL)

24th Playoff appearance
5 Super Bowl Championships

2011 Posteason:
WC: Bye





















Why the 49ers will win:

It has only taken one year, but Jim Harbaugh may very well be the best head coach in the NFL.

For all his stats, Brees has not faced a defense like the 49ers. The front 7 of San Francisco has 3 first team All Pros and is among the greatest of all time, and will pressure Brees all game.

The 49ers have already beaten a 5k passing yard QB this season, holding the Lions to 19 points.

This game SHOULD be in New Orleans and Saints should be the team coming off the bye. 2 of their 3 losses came against the Rams and the Bucs.

Alex Smith does not turn the ball over anymore. For all his historical fail, he has finally started to play like a respectable QB under Harbaugh, and has not turned the ball over since the last play of the half against Baltimore on Thanksgiving (22 quarters)


gogogogoogogogogogog

gotta bust the fred beasley jersey out for this one, lets go frank gore

Saints is the biggest free money ever.



actively rooting for 49ers tho

49ers open at +3.5. I'm wrong 76% of the time but I really like SF. Saints aren't the same team on the road and the 49ers should control the clock and shorten the game as long as they continue to not turn the ball over. Maybe picking Alex Smith over Drew Brees in a playoff game is part of the reason I only win 24% of my bets, though.

Lol pacific time

IRM mildly trolling his own team is pretty funny.

49ers one tiiiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmme!!!!!

Plz prove offense sells tickets, defense wins championships!

This is not going to be an easy romp for the Saints.

If it's +3.5 it's probably a stayaway for me though. I was hoping people would go nuts for the Saints and push it up past +5.

wow just 3.5 seems like vegas wants no money. was thinking 6 - 6.5

49ers actually have a defense, but nowhere near the offense to keep up with the saints...won't be that close imo

saints 38
49ers 17

no = saints

Not even the best head coach in his family

I know. Tom Crean is a lot better.

oh you

can't imagine (i hope not, anyway) anyone honestly believes john > jim

John is pretty good, though, as far as NFL coaches go.

Jim looks great this year but we'll wait and see. Dick Jauron went 13-3 with the Bears once, weird **** happens sometimes when you only play 16 games a year.

Tangent: suppose the Colts (forced by the timing of the mega-roster bonus) release Manning and he can sign where he pleases. (Supposing also that he is medically cleared to play.) If his primary concern is getting another ring (and not max money) the 49ers are the perfect spot for him, right?

I just posted this in the other thread, figure its applicable here...




Saints have now covered 9 straight games:


week 10: NO(-9) 27, Tb 16
week 11: NO(+1) 26, Atl 23
week 12: NO(-7) 49, Nyg 24
week 13: NO(-9) 31, Det 17
week 14: NO(-3.5) 22, Tenn 17
week 15: NO(-7) 42, Min 20
week 16: NO(-6.5) 45, Atl 16
week 17: NO(-7) 45, Car 17
Today: NO(-10.5) 45, Det 28

The Saints have not played a team in that stretch that presents anything close to the challenge @SF does.

I can't imagine(i hope not anyway) anyone honestly believes they can evaluate these 2 coaches enough to compare them based solely upon what we as fans see.

No line released yet for the game?

Well Packers week 1 was a challenge

As for facing an elite defense, you're right

oh assani

It's at 49ers +3.5 or +3 depending where you look.

For comparison, SF over that same stretch.....

week 10(win): SF(-4) 27, Nyg 20
week 11(win): SF(-10) 23, Ariz 7
week 12(loss): SF(+3.5) 6, Balt 16
week 13(win): SF(-14) 26, Stl 0
week 14(loss): SF(-3.5) 19, Ariz 21
week 15(win): SF(-3) 20, Pit 3
week 16(win): SF(-1) 19, Sea 17
week 17(loss): SF(-12.5) 34, Stl 27

On what we do know, I don't see how anyone can say John > Jim.