9ers only gave up 3.5 YPC, and 20 pass TDs and 2 running TDs, I guess something has to give.

Saints playing so differently on the road makes me really like the Niners chances. I hope The Stick is a big mud pit and tons of wind from the bay

Jamarcus Russel GOAT qb right?

With Kevin Kolb a close second ldo

Should be a great game, it's a fascinating matchup. If SF is all wide-eyed and overamped by their first playoff game they'll get smoked. But if they play their usual defense, special teams, ball control offense & turnover margin, that combined with the bye, HFA & outdoors on grass will be enough.

Niners, 23-21.

def agree on ivory

harbaugh needs to have the sprinkler system on 24/7 and not cut the grass

Saints 24
49ers 21 (on 7 Akers FGs)

+1

Use that pick on an impact defensive player and NO is clearly better than GB and NE instead of about equal imo.

I'm not sure if you meant to imply "while playing with the Saints", but Bush ran for nearly 1100 yards in only 15 games this year. As great as the Saints offense is, I think they wasted Bush's talents and I wouldn't be surprised if hes a top 10 RB next year on the Dolphins. The Dolphins finally figured out how to use him near the end of the year and he put up 100, 103, 203, and 113 yards rushing in his last 4 games.

So because NFL execs aren't right 100% of the time you think that in any way proves that they aren't >>>> random 2p2ers at analyzing talent???

Meh, if I'm not mistaken Ingram was really ****ing good when healthy this year. Wouldn't call it a huge waste or however you worded it.

Ingram pick was still bad. Not as bad at the Julio Jones trade up.

Some 49'er ticker holders were able to sell their seats for nearly $5,000 each.

Delaine Walker isn't ruled out of Saturday's game per Harbaugh and his press conference. He is a pretty good TE and if he plays that will really help out, but the dude broke his jaw in week 17. I don't see it happening

tell him to man up

jason snelling played the last 3 quarters of the game yesterady with a broken jaw

I'm trying to bet $50 on the 49ers somewhere. I'm a fish at sports betting, where can an American place an online bet? Anyone want to book ITT on honor system and paypal?

If so, you gotta explain how the "line" works so I know what to expect.

Yeah, of course that's what I meant. I also find it highly unlikely that Sean Payton couldn't figure out in five years how to properly use Reggie Bush, and much more likely that he wasn't healthy often enough or properly motivated for whatever reason.

Saints offense efficiency was #1 at end of 2009, #11 at end of 2010, and is #3 this year.

The question is why was there the 2010 drop?

I don't think it's due to the 2011 personnel >>>> 2009 personnel

Drew Brees didn't have his best season in 2010.

Lots of injuries in 2010; Brees also with an unusually high number of INTs

lolol jim harbaugh presser

donk writer: something something about the spread
harbaugh: oh you mean the line?
donk: yeah
harbaugh: i mean i dont really pay attention to that
donk: well taht just seems like something that would be in your wheelhouse for motivating players
harbaugh: ok

[in the writer's defense, i remember in the giant's post-game celebration from the pats game this year tom coughlin starts off saying: "9 point underdogs! can't win! ha!"]

Regardless of rank, they are still better than they were in 2009. They are only 3rd this year because we happen to have 3 historically elite offenses in the same season.

Aside from Sproles stats being >>>> Reggie. Reggie was a fumbling machine, and likely cost the Saints 3-4 games on his fumbles alone during his time here. Sproles hasn't fumbled all season. Stats also support that the Saints were better when Bush wasn't in the lineup. Call it the system or whatever, but Reggie wasn't particularly very good in a Saints uniform, and Sproles has fit into the "Reggie" role far better than Reggie ever did it.

2011 personnel is > 2009 and 2010 personnel.

Injuries and Brees playing hurt in 2010 explains a lot.

Harbaugh usually gives 3 word answers... he was good today... talking about the saints offense, "I sleep like a baby, wake up every hour crying." He is going to have the niners very prepared imo...

CANT WAIT.. GO NINERS!

I'm a big Niners fan but I think the Saints should be easy favorites here. Most of our defensive strength is in turnovers and stopping the run. Well there's a chance for turnovers but that didn't stop the Saints in either of their last two games, and Brees can just chuck it 50 times for 400 yards. The wins against Detroit, New York, and Philly were all lucky to varying degrees in different ways, I honestly don't think we were much better than a coinflip in those games, though two were on the road. We're definitely capable of winning but we'll have to hold the Saints to 24 points or less somehow, and play more aggressively on offense (as in, DON'T keep calling a run on 3rd and long, please).