Here we are, poised on the biggest game around these parts in 9+ years, and the comparisons to the 1981 team are a bit eerie. Beyond the fact the Niners are playing in the same dump of a stadium while some other teams have gone through 2 stadiums (hello Detroit) in that time frame is only the beginning. Starting with the owner, you have in Jed York a similar figure to you Eddie DeBartolo. Both are young upstarts who didn’t bring a hell of a lot of experience other than being the son of a very wealthy dad. Eddie got the Niners because his father was not allowed to own a hockey team and a football team at the same time. Jed got the Niners from his dad because Dr. John was an inept buffoon who charged the team for every bottle of water they drank, dismantled one of the greatest dynasties in sports, and let the stadium bond that Eddie fought so hard to get die on the vine.
The 1980 Niners posted a 6-10 record amidst guarded hope that the team was at least heading in the right direction under Bill Walsh. The 2010 Niners posted a 6-10 record amidst the crumbling regime of one Aluminum Mike Singletary. Walsh came in as an offensive wizard who made his bobnes under legendary Paul Brown. Harbaugh came in as an overachieving quarterback who willed his teams to improbable victories, and as a coach is being heralded as an offensive visionary who has done well in developing quarterbacks like Josh Johnson, Andrew Luck, and now Alex Smith. The 1981 season, very much like the 2011 season, started with a lot of questions, and a bit of hope. The 1981 draft provided the 49ers with a brand-new defensive backfield (minus Dwight Hicks). The 2011 draft provided the 49ers with a bunch of depth at important positions (RB, CB, O line), a starting FB, and a pre-eminent pass rusher. A huge key to the success of both teams.
Both teams started their seasons tentatively. The 1981 Niners lost to Detroit and Atlanta to post a 1-2 record out of the gate. At that point in the season, it was like, well, they could go 8-8. Wait til next year. This year’s Niners won a fairly pedestrian game against Seattle, and lost a close one at home to Dallas. At the time, I thought, well, we’ll be 8-8, but it might win the division. Let’s just keep seeing incrememtal improvement, and wait til next year.
The 1981 Niners then reeled off 7 straight wins. Along the way, beating powerhouses like Washington, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. The 2011 Niners did them one better and won 8 straight, beating playoff teams like Cincy, Detroit, and the NYFGs. Both teams finished strong to end the year at 13-3 and vastly exceeded the expectations of a hungry fan base. This team is playing with a highly rated defense and an underrated offense. The 1981 Niners were a highly rated offense with an underrated defense.
In 1981, the 49ers were the surprise #1 seed. This year, the surprise #2 seed. Forget Tim Tebow, tomorrow will be the next step to see if this truly is a magical season (and yes, even with a loss tomorrow, the season was an unmitigated success) for the 49ers that leads them and their fans to Super Bowl XLVI.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
Playoff picks, folks.
Niners over NO 31-20
NE over Tebows 34-18
Giants over GB 31-30
Balt over Hou 17-14
NO has a lot going against them. Outdoors, grass, travel, short week, zero road playoff wins, facing a tough run defense, facing a rested and ready team.
NE does what they did last time, and that’s run away with the game.
I think the Giants pull the upset. GB is weak on their O line, and NY’s D line is brutal. See A lot of sacks for Rodgers.
Balt? Don’t know, don’t care much. Neither team thrills me at all.
Does anyone want to compile the Divisional round picks for all the members & teams like chuck did last time? Twinfan? Anybody? If so Phil calls for:
Niners, NE, Giants, Texans.
Yeah maybe I worship Tebow (? naw you fuckin crazy?) but I aint stoopid….
I say Niners 34, NO 24
SF over NO …Niners D is too much for Saints on the road…35-28
NE handles the Jesus team easily: 38-21
Ravens over Tex. in a tight one–17-14
Packers break out in 2nd half after a close first half against NYG–42-28
From Bleacherreport:
” ” ” The Saints leave for San Francisco Thursday night, which means Thursday’s practice was really a Friday practice if this was a normal NFL week.
And that means Lance Moore (hamstring) didn’t practice all week long, according to Jeff Duncan of the New Orleans Times-Picayune.
Unless Houdini makes him appear, the slot receiver looks unlikely to face the 49ers despite some optimism early in the week. Linebacker Jonathan Vilma (knee) also didn’t practice Thursday, but he did earlier in the week and seems almost certain to play.
Safety Roman Harper (ankle) returned to practice in a limited fashion, which is a great sign he will play at less than 100% after he missed practice on Thursday. Harper is a huge part of the Saints’ run defense and blitz packages, both of which will be key against the 49ers on Saturday.” ” ”
If Vilma and Harper are gimpy, that’s good news for the Nines.
BLEEP the SAINTS!
49ers over the Aints 27-23
NE over Broncs 34-10
Hou over Balt 20-14
NYFG’s over GB 29-28
Saints can look forward to a brutal Defense from the 49ers, and a very physical running game from Frank Gore, and then when they get tired Crabtree or Williams takes a Alex Smith pass to the bank.
I made my pick last week- 27-17 Niners.
Also like GB, Baltimore,Patriots.
twin there’s something perfectly symbiotic with us hitting “post comment” at just about the exact same time after only a couple of people have posted here in the last few hours. That’s a sign of something. Of what, I’m not sure. We’ll see tomorrow.
Good coaches win………
Great coaches…………..
cover………..
Even weirder, check your E-Mail…
Ok, I’m kicking down my picks here, mostly because I want Phil to revise my Niner game pick.
Keeping in mind that good coaches win but great coaches cover, I’ll start with…….
1) Niners beating New Orleans: 24-21 (I had them scoring more points in the first prediction but I’ve thought this through and I see both these teams scoring in the low/mid 20’s).
2) New England beats Denver 35-31. I was half way tempted to take Denver because their defense is good, New England’s D sucks, plus there’s the whole God thing to handicap …..but I’m just going with Denver to cover.
3) Giants beat Green Bay 41-31. I just think the Giants are the most balanced team left in the playoffs (Offense/defense). Eli’s been there before and cold weather means nothing to them. My bias is against shitty defenses (see my Den/NE prediction above) and Green Bay has a defense that’s as shitty as they come. New England’s is just about as bad if not worse. If it wasn’t for Tebow I’d predict a huge upset in New England tomorrow. Hmmmmm…..God could make up for his poor play. I’m leaning towards changing that prediction at the end of this post. We’ll see………
4) Baltimore beats Houston 17-10. I don’t care one whit about this game but I like that extra half point plus Houston’s D is pretty good and Flacco is just…..uninspiring. Ray Lewis is an old man. I’m betting Houston and will celebrate their loss with a win for me (by that glorious half point)…….
Well, I’m at the end of the post and I’m leaving the Denver prediction the same. God told me to stop blogging and go take care of my daughter. He didn’t say anything about The Bronco’s winning tomorrow so I’m leaving #2 the same!
Have fun tomorrow gents, Stock the fridge full of whatever suites ya and get the pizza delivered around game time. We got ourselves a playoff game to consider……….
GOD just told me the Broncos are toast!
Agree, not sure if it’s God or good old common sense tho,,,
Gotcha covered Flav. Great comments!
49ers and Harbaugh will get their revenge on that “SCAB” HC Sean Payton.Harbaugh can’t stand that “SCAB” for crossing the picket line back in 87.Added bad blood in the preseason game by blitzing Alex every play.
Harbaugh and his coaching staff “Walk on Water”
49ers will put the hurt on this fuckin team and send them back to their Bubba Gump Shrimp Boats led by Capt “SCABBY” Peyton and his band of crawdads.
Final 49ers 27-23
End of the road for Tebow and the God Squad.Cause he’s up against the “Devil” Bill Bellichik and Tom Brady with 2 weeks to prepare,forget about it .
Final in a Blowout Patriots 45-10
Ravens way to much playoff experience.and at home to lose to a rookie QB Yates.
Final Ravens 24-3
Green Bay…NY Giants….Toughest game to call.Giants are peaking ,lots of weapons Manning,Cruz,Nicks,Jacob,Bradshaw etc.And as much as i want a NY win so the 49ers would get the championship game.Just feel The defending champs Packers and Rodgers who is better then Manning
prevail…Final Packers 35-21.
Ravens way to much playoff experience for the Texans
F
Colin Cowherd of the Herd on ESPN is picking the Niners, in fact some of the sports analysts he had on his show this morning are picking the Niners. They are saying nobody is looking at the Niner defense, only looking at what Brees has done this year.
Lots of scoring updates for the Niners v Saints in order received:
UPDATED AGAIN
38-31 Niners phil “Defend/beat the blitz; pressure Brees. Pray for rain, water the field”
27-17 Niners twinfan “…there’s no way the Saints should be favored”
31-20 Niners chuck “If NO can keep Brees protected well… that’s where it can get ugly”
21-17 Saints robd “ok . now i KNOW i’m not the only one drinking tonight !”
34-24 Niners Kevin “My money is on the Niners” **Revised** from 38-24 do believe
24-21 Niners Flavor “good coaches win but great coaches cover” **Revised** from 37-31 9ers
33-31 Niners snarkk “Niners win a classic. Let’s get the Giants here for the NFC Title game”
26-24 Niners barleyfreak “I’m bipolar on this one… My final BP reading 140 over 90
BAC around 1.13
35-28 Niners shaman 138 “Niners D is too much for Saints on the road”
27-23 Niners NinerDog “Let them talk about Brees, but afterwards they will be talking about the 49ers.”
27-23 Niners Alleykat “49ers will put the hurt on this fuckin team and send them back to their Bubba Gump Shrimp Boats led by Capt “SCABBY” Peyton and his band of crawdads”
I’m missing the prediction from Nipper? Nipper, nipper stop nipping on that bottle and kick down man. Or pass the fucking bottle dude. Del Mar? Berger? Kick down yer predictions gentlemen.
We have a statistical dead heat between barleyfeak and Alleykat for funniest comment:
“I’m bipolar on this one… My final BP reading 140 over 90 BAC around 1.13″ barley
or:
“49ers will put the hurt on this fuckin team and send them back to their Bubba Gump Shrimp Boats led by Capt “SCABBY” Peyton and his band of crawdads” Alleykat
Earlier robd had the lead but a couple a late entries are neck and neck going to the wire.
Entries posted before the 1: 30 KICKOFF WILL BE INCLUDED
30-23 Niners Nipper “4th Quarter shootout, fans go insane”
24-21 Niners Chico
24-21 Niners Chuck Posted on Grant’s Inside 49ers blog
17-16 Niners Grant “Low scoring game:
One hour to kickoff, I’ll be back.
Much like Kevin (below) Del Mar and Berger may have been hitting their stockpiles a little early. Gentlemen? You still conscious??
HOLD THE Presses! We got some late weaseling going on. Yeah chuck cuts the score following the crowd:
” The Santa Rosa Press Democrat just posted my dad’s Saturday column where he predicts the winner of the Niners-Saints game. He predicts the Niners to win 24-21. I agree with him that the Niners will win, and I agree with his reasons. But I say the game will be lower-scoring – I think the Niners will win 17-16.” Grant Cohn… Naw it’s gonna be 9-4 Niners jeeezus
Well okay, it’s all hype till the kick off. Drop ’em gentlemen, whatever. For the record (someone is axctually noticing this??) I called first and foremost for a NO/GB shootout 38-31. Shoot out that’s what we’re gonna get. Bank it.
NO/ 49er shoot out rather 38-31. Defensive struggle? Right
Here’s why I say high scoring: right away NO finds they cant’ run. They pass, we intercept, we score. It’s bombs away and NO scores after that. Repeat several times going into da 4th Q with the score 21-21. Brees gets cute one time too many we INT and score again. 28-21. NO on sides kick botched we recover and FG results. 31-21. Brees connects finally they score on long bomb= 31-28. INT again of desperate Saints. Culliver this time, runs for TD. 38-28. Somehow NO gets another 3 on a FG before the clock expires. And before the clock expires and before THEY EXPIRE, the Saints go marching the fuck OUT.
The ’81 Niners won on D and so will we + special teams who will give us 6. In ’81 28-27 WAS a shoot out and we’ll get that here. Minus JOE’S 6 turn overs… Think this will be like Cincy on da road? On a dry field? Against the best offense? AT HOME? Yes if we disfigure Brees and knock him out early we won’t have to rev the O. Otherwise yer gonna see the San Francisco Forty Niners offense, led by one Alex Smith, out score the Dallas Cowboys. Uh, their stand ins the NO Saints by sheer aggression, talent and a whole lotta wanna. This team of destiny will be jacked sky high to fuck the Giants or GB in the NFC Champs.
Phil will be screaming in yer face “I told you so” first 14 point lead we get. So get ready gentlemen!
Okay……. 30-23 Niners!
First half will be a snore……action like bombs away in the fourth quarter! Fans will howl away like mad banchees!
Ok Got it Nipper
As this week progressed I have felt better about this game. But it WILL be close. Good thing I am so calm, cool and collected. Game face on. Focused. Jacked. Confident. Sober — for now.
Niners, 26-24.
Patriots, 31-16
Ravens, 27-13.
Giants, 34-28
24-21 Niners.
Philippine Fan, I grew up in Santa Rosa. Lived there from 1962 to 1981. Back in the day that was where the Raiders had spring training.
Right Kevin. I lived in Marin/Rohnert Park ’72-’91 and Raiders were there for part of that time. Niners in Rocklin
Ok so reading stats, NO D gave up the most big pass plays than any other team, 14 of them. Will Harbaugh exploit that at least a few times? Or wil he stick to the run and throw in a few passes?
Oh the big pass plays are 40 yards or better
Alex couldn’t complete a 40+ yds pass play if you gave him the first 38 and 1/2.
Dennis, how are ya?? You do know that YAC is in there??
Where is your score prediction?? I know you are betting the house on the Niners!! So whats it going to be today? Jack, Markers Mark, Jameson? All of the above?
Groan…are you going to do your act even as we look forward to our first playoff game in nearly a decade. Would it really be too much to let it go for a day?
You are only encouraging him with that groan!
Gimme a fucking break, he has never needed encouragement.
Enjoy whatever your game is, DTD. The stage is yours.
My kitchen counter has an international theme, Jameson, Jose, Stoli, and J Walker.
Kev, you’re the Boutros Boutros-Ghali of booze.
Me? I’ve been sicker than Alex’s 40% completion rate inside the RZ all week. This Clydesdale can only handle Budweiser today.
Hey man there you are. Sick? Bummer. Feel better and see ya soon on here.
Prediction for us Del?
Donald trump is an ass. He goes out on a limb and picks 3 favorites to win today. Dumbass.
yeah, that “Dumbass” with a net worth of $2.9 billion is a boob.
He could buy and sell you and me like Tupperware at a Flea Market.
No one here has yet to pick the Saints to win? You left that honor just for me. That was mighty white of you. This game is going to make me feel ever more sick than I already am. They should start the IV now; 0.9% saline, 99.1% Budweiser. Lactated Ringers.
31-20 Saints.
41-20 The Golden Boy, Tom Brady. I like him more than Tebow and Romo combined. He’s gonna be President of the United States some day. Be nice to him now…
27-13 The *other* Harbaugh. The NFL might as well put this game on QVC. Nobody is gonna buy that shit.
34-27 Pack. I had originally pick the G-Men, but they’ve become the “wiseguy’s” pick of the week. I’ve been down the path of the wiseguy pick too many times before to realize — you’ll just end up looking like a wise ass who just lost money.
Fini.
It’s rob and you 4 Saints rob=21-17
Get well Doomin, unfortunately you are picking the wrong team. Come on Dennis go all in on the Niners, eating crow at the end of the day is only going to make you more sick!!! Go Niners!!!
WTF do we always defer when we win the coin toss?
Ah, yes. Faith in the defense, not so much in our QB.
We better start TACKLING that little shit Sproles, or it’s gonna be a looooong day.
If the Saints lose Graham, that would be huge.
Yeah no shit Chuck he is the one Saint reciever who scared me the most.
Defense!!!
That’s the way we do it. Fumble
Hell Yeah¡!! What a Hit by Whitner!!!!!!
First turn over excellent, I wonder if they would have gone for it on 4th down??
large, NASTY men have shown up to represent San Francisco today…….
That sucks
I don’t fault Alex for getting sacked there but there were nine fucking guys on the line. He has to recognize that and get rid of the ball or audible that play………..
and Dennis, you’ve got no idea how happy I am that all four of your picks contradict directly with my four picks. Thank you!
LOL that’s good
Lucky not to lose that Smith fumble. I guess God had just got off the phone with Tebow, and had the time to shine some light our way…
ALDON!!!
I got just ONE word De-goddamnfuckin-fense
This just in: Aldon Smith ain’t too shabby.
Detroit was not able to do that!! I hope The D gets into Brees head
Take that Dennis
Fuck yes.
Aldon Smith is just relentless going after Brees,his wingspan and speed is just awesome to watch
Sweet Vernon!
GREAT pass by Alex to VD. The Saint’s missed tackle didn’t hurt either…
VD!!!!!!! Takin it to the house….
I must admit, Alex looks extremely sharp early. Hope it continues…
Only stat we don’t have double the saints is TOP Tied in 1st downs 4. Lead in rushing, passing
I am a pretty loud, big dude. I coach my daughter’s basketball team, and at the game this morning the refs asked me to lower my voice because it was distracting the team playing next us. Katie actually laughed out loud on the court when they made this request. She’s used to having a big loud dad. She’s at the other end of the house right now and she just came out to tell me to keep it down. Apparently, I’ve taken it up a notch for this game…….
Naturally!
How bout Crab??
C.J. Spillman has been great all year on STs. Even a few games where he had to play safety, he excelled there as well.
ha, this is so fucking awesome…….
There’s my first pick due to saints discovering they cannot RUN
I am telling you the media gave the Niner D no respect!!
Fuck Yeah……Eat shit Brees .Goldson baby!!!!
Helluva read by Dashon. Need to punch it in here…
Two TD passes Dennis!!
Alex has looked fantastic. Jesus Christ must secretly love him more than Tebow. 😀
Outstanding audible. Fuck you national media.
First quarter is almost over. Saints projected point total for game: 0
On pace for Niners winning game 56-0.
Loving this……
1st still and we have our first 14 point lead so in yer face
Low scoring? Yeah for the saints
Huge 7 points there over the 3.
We are punching these bitches in the mouth. I couldn’t even go get a beer without our D forcing another turnover……
Another fing fumble by DA WHO DAT = the saints, yayayayhhahahahah
Saints self destructing and lovin it.
Defense, special teams, Offense, it is all clicking right now
Kurt Warner slobbering all over Brees, take a bite outta this! Not a word on the 49ers.
Defense gonna win this Dennis? What ya say?
Dennis–I’m going to say this now since I can’t imagine a better quarter later on in this game. And if we lose, I will post a huge mea culpa.
But you will bow down and suck the motherfucking pole of this collective blog if we keep this up. We’ve had to put up with your drivel all season long. After we win this game and you complete a season of being wrong about everything Niner-related, I hope you can man-up, do the right thing, and say “guess what dudes, I was wrong.”…….
And maybe Tebow will walk on water? Sure…
Only are coaching staff “Walks on Water” Phil.
Flav, I hope I continue to be wrong for another 9 quarters of Niner football…
thata boy.
Check that, make that 11 quarters. I must have p/u the Shaq math when he was talking about making 18/39 foul shots and said it was over 50%.
That shoulda been a delay of game. At least it woulda given us another shot for the EZ.
It was stupid not to call a TO there. At least Harbaugh tried to
and how awesome is Harbaugh’s ploy of declaring 3 O-lineman as eligible receivers over and over? Is that even legal? Haha.
Flav, I can’t remember your stance on David Shaw playing for the FG with 3 TOs in his holster, 52 secs on the clock AND the best college QB to walk on dirt since Christ walked on water. Harbaugh wouldn’t have lost that Fiesta Bowl to Okie St. I think we all thought Harbaugh would make a difference this year, but NOBODY could fathom how immense it would be.
Jimbo is fanfuckintastic.
Who’s got it bettet then us? NOBODY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Whew hooo
Aldon Smith should be in on every down an hunt that fucker Brees till he buries him halfway into the turf…….
This Just IN: Our fucking entire team is really fucking good…….
Probably over turn this. Knee was down
Sean Payton can throw all the challenge flags he wants. Go ahead and take this one, pussy. Next time throw one of your players panties instead of a challenge flag. We are punching these bitches straight in the mouth today. They don’t know what’s hit ’em.
Niner D pissed over no respect from saints and everyone else
Sproles already hurt as is Thomas the other RB, he’s out since Whitner said hello at the goal line
haven’t sat down yet. did grab a beer. keep the foot on the throat boys.
I posted that earlier in the week, put their foot on their throat and apply pressure
great minds think alike?
Come on D stop them
NO TD. Ho hum, low scoring…..uhhuh
Ok, so we all knew that NO has a great offense, weren’t going to keep them out of the EZ all day. Now the Niners need to march down the field and score again. A TD that is.
Shit. Goodwin’s out. That means Snyder to center, and hello Chilo.
Not good play calling there IMO
big series for the defense
They cannot go 3 and out, and give it back to Bree’s with that much time on the clock.
WTF is Chuck today? Did he go to the game? Good for him.
Wassup Niner fans.
Come on D, don’t let them score
So far following my script:
“Here’s why I say high scoring: right away NO finds they cant’ run. They pass, we intercept, we score. It’s bombs away and NO scores after that. Repeat several times going into da 4th Q with the score 21-21. Brees gets cute one time too many we INT and score again. 28-21. NO on sides kick botched we recover and FG results. 31-21. Brees connects finally they score on long bomb= 31-28. INT again of desperate Saints. Culliver this time, runs for TD. 38-28….”
The Niners’s coverage has been excellent all day. Even that TD pass to Graham had to be perfect. Secondary is holding their end…
Holy Shit, new ballgame god dammit.
I don’t know what to do about that shit. More pressure on Breese
That pass had to be money, and Brees was money.
“You’re so money and you don’t even know it.” —Trent, Swingers (1996)
fans have to keep the energy and noise UP. Saints are gonna get their points, we are playing great defense. Keep it up.
Ok cannot go 3 and out with 4 minutes left. The niners need some first downs here
Nice pass Smith to Davis
Have to put a drive together here. Are we might trail at half.
WTF Crabtree, catch the damn ball
Not good
Great timing for Crabtree to forget how to catch a football.
2minutes too much time!! D needles to step up
Drive killer.
why wasn’t that intentional grounding? because he didn’t mean to throw it?