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info — Tue, 18 May 2010 03:41:11 +0000

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Alex Smith managed the San Francisco 49ers to…

weosparkons — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 09:08:34 +0000

The 49ers have gone beyond expectations and predictions. Who imagined, after eight consecutive losing seasons, they’d finish the regular season with the second-best record in the NFL? Who dared think they would have the top defense against the rush?

A bye in the first round of the playoffs? That’s for teams like the old Niners or the new Packers, except these Niners reached that pinnacle — and it is a pinnacle as well as an advantage — while the Saints and Steelers, Super Bowl entrants the previous two years, did not.

Yet, the complainers are not silenced. They don’t like the red-zone offense, the inability to score touchdowns from close in and needing to accept field goals. That gripe is legitimate.

And the complainers don’t like the way Alex Smith plays quarterback. They contend he is a manager, not a winner. Oh? Is that why the Niners were 13-3?

A manager? They said the same thing about Trent Dilfer, the Santa Cruz resident, who, before he became ESPN’s best analyst, played his final seasons with the Niners. Dilfer merely managed the Baltimore Ravens to victory in Super Bowl XXXV.

Isn’t one of the keys to life being a good manager, understanding how to maximize one’s strengths, how to react in times of difficulty? Whether it’s someone in charge of the country, in charge of a billion-dollar business or in charge of a sports franchise, he or she better know how to manage. Dilfer knew. Alex Smith does.

Alex isn’t Joe Montana. There, the ultimate criticism. Nor is he Steve Young, Terry Bradshaw or Tom Brady, either, and the success of Brady, a sixth-round draft pick makes us wonder how the personnel experts make their judgments.

Even Montana was a bit of an accident, in the 1979 third round, after Bill Walsh saw him throw to James Owens, San Francisco’s choice in the second round.

Alex isn’t Joe Montana. We have that straight. Alex is the efficient leader of a team that has surprised everyone, except perhaps Alex and the man who believed in him, Jim Harbaugh.

After Matt Flynn broke all those passing records New Year’s Day for the Packers, when he started in place of Aaron Rodgers — merely the best current quarterback — the question appeared. Is Rodgers that good? (Answer: yes) Or is it just the system? (Answer: no).

The system matters, and as you remember, the few games Montana was out and Jeff Kemp or Steve Bono would take over and the Niners would keep winning, the skeptics made the same point: Player or system? It’s both, of course.

Montana was special. Still he flourished because of the way Walsh wanted his quarterback to perform, with agility, quick reads, accurate passes instead of particularly long ones.

Now Smith is succeeding because of the way Harbaugh, a former quarterback himself, utilizes a system which gets the best from Smith. Yes, that’s known as managing.

We are caught up with the individual, the star. But football is very much a team game, and the Niners, from place kicker David Akers to punter Andy Lee, are a winning team.

They rarely fumble and almost never throw an interception. That’s managing — and playing — at the highest level, which is the whole idea.

Art Spander has been covering Bay Area sports since 1965 and also writes on www.artspander.com and www.realclearsports.com. Email him at typoes@aol.com.

49ers vs. TBD

WHEN: Jan. 14, 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Candlestick Park

TV: Fox (KTVU, Ch. 2)

RADIO: KNBR (680 AM), KSAN (107.7 FM)

Leave your comments on the news below.

San Francisco 49ers should give up the farm for…

Christoph Titz — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:27:14 +0000

Watching Andrew Luck pick apart Oklahoma State’s ball-hawking pass defense in the Fiesta Bowl without star receiver Chris Owusu and tight end Coby Fleener had to secure his position as the all-but-certain No. 1 pick in April’s NFL draft.

Now imagine Luck re-united with Jim Harbaugh and playing for the 49ers? Sure, it will take an enormous offer to lure Luck away from the Indianapolis Colts, who secured the top pick with an abysmal 2-14 season. But Indianapolis could be open to trading the top pick because selecting the Stanford quarterback would likely mean a parting of the ways with Peyton Manning.

While Manning still awaits medical clearance to play following three neck surgeries and is due a $28 million roster bonus on March 8, the soon to be 36-year old-quarterback remains the face of the Colts’ franchise and is revered by team owner Jim Irsay.

Of course, smart football decisions regularly trump sentiment (see: 49ers trading Joe Montana or Packers cutting ties with Brett Favre), but if the Colts truly believe Manning will make it back, why not fill other more pressing needs with the two first-round picks or more you could get for Luck?

Which brings us back to the 49ers.

While Harbaugh remains Alex Smith’s greatest supporter and openly talks about plans to re-sign his free-agent-to-be quarterback, Smith has yet to appear in a playoff game where careers are ultimately made or broken.

A serviceable offense has been good enough to return the 49ers to prominence. It will take more than that to rekindle San Francisco’s football glory. If Smith struggles to match throws with the likes of Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers, 4949 Centennial Blvd. in Santa Clara will be buzzing with contingency plans for the 2012 season, and it should start with Luck.

KGO (810 AM) Sports Director Rich Walcoff can be heard weekdays from 5 to 9 a.m. on the KGO morning news. He can be reached at RichWalcoff@gmail.com.

That’s all for today.

San Francisco 49ers earn their much-needed bye

EmpildOptitty — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 22:05:45 +0000

Those last few minutes of Sunday’s game, as their fingernails turned to powder holding onto a one-touchdown lead, meant everything to the 49ers.

Meant earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs.

Meant that they don’t have to line up for a playoff game next week while eight other NFL teams do.

Meant that all the 49ers players with injuries — some of whom were inactive here against the St. Louis Rams and some of whom gamely pushed through their pain to play — will now have a much-desired extra week to recuperate.

Meant that coach Jim Harbaugh will no longer have to search for adjectives when asked how important the eventual 34-27 victory was.

”How bad did we need the bye week?” Harbaugh said afterward, repeating a question, sounding almost irritated that it had been posed. “I can’t quantify it. We needed it bad, needed it very bad, needed it really bad … you can plug in whatever you want.”

OK, thanks for the offer. We’ll plug in the word “acutely.” How’s that sound? The 49ers needed acutely to win Sunday.

”It’s a big deal,” said 49ers tight end Justin Peelle, who filled in admirably for the ailing (jaw injury) Delanie Walker. “It doesn’t guarantee anything. But it’s a step toward where we want to go.”

Most important, it was not a step backward — although for a few furious minutes in the fourth quarter, a backward fall seemed more than a remote possibility. The

Rams, after falling behind by three touchdowns with 6:30 left in the game, demonstrated their professionalism by mounting a comeback almost out of nowhere — in front of the perhaps 15,000 moderately loud customers who were still left inside the Edward Jones Dome.

The flurry all happened within 13 seconds, thanks in part to 49ers mental lapses — a Rams touchdown, then a recovered onside kick, then a pass-interference flag, then another Rams touchdown. Suddenly, the 49ers were ahead by only seven points.

But at that point, Harbaugh’s team remembered that this was not 2009 or 2010. The players remembered to stay disciplined. This group of 49ers deserves credit for so many things. But it has often been the largely unnoticed decision or subtle play, the discipline to stay with the program laid out by Harbaugh and his staff, that has counted the most.

For instance: Have you wondered why quarterback Alex Smith has thrown just five interceptions in his 16 starts, half as many interceptions as in 2010 when he started only 10 games? It is because of decisions such as the one he made with 3:53 remaining, when the 49ers faced a third-down play as they were nursing their one-touchdown lead, trying to run out the clock.

In other words, Smith desperately needed a first down. But when he dropped back and saw nothing available, Smith chose to take a sack — even though it meant the 49ers would have to punt the ball away and leave the game in the defense’s hands. In previous years, Smith would have recklessly forced a pass and wound up with an interception. He would have scrambled wildly and fumbled away the ball.

”Potentially in the past, I might have tried to make something happen,” Smith conceded. “But the play wasn’t there to be made. And with our special teams and defense … I made the decision I did.”

Thus, Smith allowed himself to be hauled down by the Rams, 7 yards behind the line of scrimmage. The 49ers punted, and their defense did indeed hold the Rams, stopping St. Louis on a fourth-down incomplete pass. It was broken up by defensive backs Reggie Smith and Tramaine Brock, who stayed — that’s right — disciplined in their coverage. The 49ers offense then rushed for a first down before Smith took a knee as the clock expired.

”These are long, physical seasons,” said a relieved Smith. “To get a bye is big.”

And here’s one way to look at it: The 49ers received their bye exactly because of those last few minutes Sunday. The Saints and 49ers finished with identical 13-3 records. But the tiebreaker for the No. 2 seed turned out to be wins and losses within the conference — and the 49ers had one more conference victory than the Saints.

Where did that crucial extra victory take place? Let’s check the records. In October, New Orleans lost to the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers didn’t lose here Sunday.

Thirteen games in the win column is a difficult number for any team to reach in the NFL. Before we get too deep into playoff-matchup speculation, we should pause and salute the achievement. The last time that the 49ers won 13 regular-season games was in 1997. Wide receiver Michael Crabtree was in fourth grade. Team owner Jed York was in high school. Harbaugh was playing quarterback for the Indianapolis Colts. That’s a long time ago.

The 49ers were not pleased with how they almost blew Sunday’s game. That’s understandable. But on a day when they were without two or their top three wideouts and one of their top two tight ends, Harbaugh and offensive coordinator Greg Roman were as creative as ever with their personnel. The banged-up 49ers defense, with an obviously limited linebacker Patrick Willis (hamstring), gave up a season-high 27 points in regulation but stifled the Rams when it mattered most. And a fake field goal on special teams worked brilliantly.

Who’s got it better than the 49ers?

Only the Green Bay Packers, who are the No. 1 seed in the NFC bracket.

But Sunday’s victory put the 49ers in the best possible position to reach the conference title game.

To paraphrase their coach, the 49ers needed to be in that position — needed it bad, needed it really bad, needed it very bad.

And now, they get to plug in where it all goes from here.

Contact Mark Purdy at mpurdy@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5092

That’s all the news for today.

Jim Harbaugh “Coach’s Notebook: January 2”…

goloyahher — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 09:52:00 +0000

The San Francisco 49ers played a tough game against the St. Louis Rams on January 1 and came out with a 34-27 victory. The 49ers were already heading towards the playoffs but that victory locked up the two-seed in the NFC for them, handing them the luxury of a first-round bye and time to rest some players.

As far as Jim Harbaugh is concerned, this probably isn’t going to be a vacation of any sorts. He and his team will watch film on teams they could possibly face and prepare themselves by facing each other during this week at practice, since they don’t know who they are playing yet.

In Harbaugh’s weekly press conference, he made a few important points and answered some questions that reflected exactly how he felt about the win and the playoffs.

Media: Late in the season, your team had been on a three for 20 slump in the red zone. You’re 6-8 in scoring touchdowns in the last three games. Is that encouraging going in to this playoff game?

Jim Harbaugh “It is. We had hit a little bit of a slump there, three or four weeks back. But, I think it’s been improving and that’s encouraging.”

The red zone offense was something that had been lacking prior to the last three games, but Harbaugh knows that teams go through slumps. It’s not something that he was going to lose sleep over, but I’m sure it is something he addressed with his team. There is never a more crucial time to remain efficient in the red zone and that time is drawing near when the 49ers head into their first playoff game in nearly a decade on January 14. Knowing that, Harbaugh will have his team ready for anything they have to face.

M: Any things you guys will do the same (referring to Jim Harbaugh talking to his brother John Harbaugh)?

JH: “Yeah, there will be some similar things. Basically, we’re on a similar schedule. Some things, like I said, we both have a bye this week. Compared notes, some things are the same, some are different.”

As a fan, I have to admit it’s pretty cool to see that Jim is able to reach out to his older brother John despite essentially being in competition. There is a possibility that these two teams meet in the Super Bowl, especially with both teams being two-seeds in their respective leagues and having first-round byes. John has been to the playoffs before with the Ravens and Jim has to feel more confident that he can reach out to his brother for some advice in his first go as an NFL head coach.

M: You always hear about playoff experience. This team kind of reminds me of the 1981 Super Bowl team: 13-3, you’ve got a bye, virtually no experience on the roster in the playoffs. Underrated or overrated, playoff experience?

JH: “I think it’s good to have experience. It’s good to have been there before. I’m not overrating it or underrating it.”

Continuing down the course of having experience and this being Jim Harbaugh’s first year, he knows that experience is important. Talking to his brother can only offer him so much in terms of experience. The 49ers being there and playing in the playoffs is the only way to gain experience and for this group of guys, very, very few of them have playoff experience. Not to mention Jim Harbaugh is in his first year as an NFL coach, meaning that this is new territory for many of the 49ers. Hopefully everything the 49ers have been able to do all year to win games with be amplified in the playoffs—including their bond as a team.

David is co-founder of wrapupp sports blog where they post fresh content daily and present sports blogs and sports opinions – all with a West Coast bias. Growing up in the Bay Area, David is a huge supporter of all the local sports teams; the Giants, Athletics, Warriors, Sharks, 49ers, and Raiders. His one fault, admittedly, as many of his friends and family would say, is his love for the Los Angeles Lakers. Growing up, Magic Johnson was his favorite basketball player and he fell in love with the team. He chalks it up to, “Not knowing any better”. Now his love for sports has turned just as academic as it is intuitive and he follows most all sports all over the nation.

You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp

Sources:

49ers.com. Coach’s Notebook: Jan. 2. NFL 2011.

More from David Mehrwein and the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

San Francisco 49ers Vs. St. Louis Rams: Fan Preview

Oakland Raiders Vs. San Diego Chargers: Fan Preview

San Francisco 49ers Have Eight Players Selected to Pro Bowl: Fan Reaction

Top 2012 Pro Bowl Snubs: Fan Opinion

49ers Release WR Braylon Edwards: Fan Reaction

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

San Francisco 49ers 2012 Opponents Unveiled: Fan…

FlaySterMs — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 07:01:00 +0000

Yes, the 2011 NFL regular season just ended on January 1, but that doesn’t mean it’s never too early to see what teams your favorite team will be up against in the coming season. Now that the San Francisco 49ers have clinched the two-seed in the NFC Playoff picture, their current focus will be finding out who they will play in the divisional round of the playoffs and being prepared for whomever it may be – if things shake out as I think they will, the New Orleans Saints will be making their way to San Francisco.

However, it is pretty entertaining for us fans to see what challenges await us in the upcoming year despite not being completely finished with this season just yet. On January 2, the NFL released who the 49ers will play at home and on the road—the official schedule with dates and times will not be released until the spring. It looks like this:

Home: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, New York Giants, Buffalo Bills, and the Miami Dolphins.

Away: Arizona Cardinals, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots, and the New York Jets.

As far as challenges on the road, the 49ers schedule for 2012 is packed full of them. Going on the road to face the Seahawks, Packers, Saints, Patriots, and Jets will all be litmus tests for the 49ers next year. Their 2012 home opponents will all be competitive and difficult. This year’s schedule isn’t nearly as daunting as next year’s and it will prove to be the measuring stick against which many people will judge the 49ers – especially after their 13-3 year in 2011.

I look forward to the challenge the 49ers face and know that with a head coach like Jim Harbaugh, who has brought this team together and made it a strong, functioning unit, any test the team faces will be met head-on. Playing in the playoffs will also be a great test for the 49ers and again will be a way of measuring how complete this team is. It will test Alex Smith and his ability to lead the team and it will test just how close of a unit Jim Harbaugh has created in San Francisco.

No matter what, I know one thing is for sure; Jim Harbaugh will make sure his team will “attack the day with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind”.

You can follow David on Twitter: @officialwrapupp

Sources:

49ers.com. 49ers 2012 Opponents Determined. NFL 2011.

More from David Mehrwein and the Yahoo! Contributor Network:

San Francisco 49ers Vs. St. Louis Rams: Fan Preview

Oakland Raiders Vs. San Diego Chargers: Fan Preview

San Francisco 49ers Have Eight Players Selected to Pro Bowl: Fan Reaction

Top 2012 Pro Bowl Snubs: Fan Opinion

49ers Release WR Braylon Edwards: Fan Reaction

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg…

Operopromeosy — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 05:05:43 +0000

Greg Roman is a finalist for the Penn State head-coaching job, putting the 49ers in jeopardy of yet another change at offensive coordinator.

Roman, 39, interviewed in November to replace Joe Paterno, according to Roman’s agent, Mike Harrison.

“He’s been told he’s on the shortlist,” Harrison said Monday when reached by phone.

ESPN and USA Today, citing sources, reported Sunday that Penn State’s top choice is New England Patriots offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien. The report said the sides would meet this week in hopes of working out a deal.

Roman, meanwhile, keeps generating interest in his services. He interviewed for vacancies at Vanderbilt and Pittsburgh in 2010. Last month, he was offered the head-coaching vacancy at Tulane but turned it down, Harrison said.

Roman is the 49ers’ ninth coordinator in nine seasons, a revolving door often cited for quarterback Alex Smith’s slow development.

Under Roman and head coach Jim Harbaugh, however, Smith helped take the 49ers to the playoffs with a button-down offense that put an emphasis on efficiency and ball security.

Smith threw only five interceptions, the fewest in a full season in franchise history. The only NFL quarterbacks to throw fewer interceptions over a full season were Tom Brady (2010) and Steve DeBerg (1990), who each tossed four.

Roman also spent two seasons as Harbaugh’s assistant at Stanford, where running back Toby Gerhart and quarterback Andrew

Luck blossomed as Heisman Trophy finalists in a high-powered offense.

Penn State officials have been mum on the job search. When a reporter asked acting athletic director David Joyner about O’Brien’s candidacy on Sunday, Joyner cut off the question.

“No, don’t believe anything you read in the newspapers,” Joyner said. “I was taught that a long time ago.”

Joyner said he would not classify anyone as a leading candidate.

The program has been without a permanent head coach since Nov. 9, when university trustees fired Paterno in the aftermath of child sex-abuse charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky.

Sandusky is awaiting trial and pleaded not guilty after waiving a preliminary court hearing last month.

Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who has been leading the team on an interim basis, has interviewed for the job. Defensive-line coach Larry Johnson is also among candidates who have interviewed.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. Contact Daniel Brown at dbrown@mercurynews.com.

If anybody needs tickets to games, remember to click the tickets link at the top.

49ers OC Greg Roman finalist for Penn State job

Failure-m — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 04:01:28 +0000

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP)—San Francisco 49ers offensive coordinator Greg
Roman is a finalist to replace Joe Paterno at Penn State, his agent said Monday.

Mike Harrison told the AP by phone that Roman interviewed for the position
in November and is on the “short list” to take over the embattled program,
rocked in recent months by the sex-abuse scandal.

Harrison said he expects to know soon whether Roman will be hired, but
declined to offer further details, such as whether Roman would finish out the
season with the playoff-bound NFC West champion 49ers (13-3). San Francisco is
the NFC’s No. 2 seed and earned a first-round bye, with its first game Jan. 14
at Candlestick Park.

“We should know in a week or so, that’s our best guess,” said Harrison, of
the Los Angeles-based agency Advantage Sports & Entertainment. “He interviewed
quite a while ago.”

Penn State’s season came to an end Monday with a 30-14 loss to Houston in
the TicketCity Bowl in Dallas.

Harrison said Roman—who came to the 49ers from Stanford along with coach
Jim Harbaugh last year—was offered the Tulane job to replace Bob Toledo. The
school hired Curtis Johnson last month.

Penn State officials have insisted it doesn’t have a leading candidate

USA Today and ESPN reported Sunday that New England Patriots offensive
coordinator Bill O’Brien is the top contender for the Nittany Lions job.

Acting Athletic Director David Joyner cut said there isn’t anybody who could
be classified as a leading candidate in its nearly two-month long search for a
football coach.

The program has been without a permanent head coach since Nov. 9, when
university trustees fired Hall of Famer Paterno in the aftermath of child sex
abuse charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. He is awaiting
trial and pleaded not guilty after waiving a preliminary court hearing last
month.

Longtime defensive coordinator Tom Bradley, who has been leading the team on
an interim basis, has interviewed for the job. Defensive line coach Larry
Johnson is also among the candidates who have interviewed.

Roman became the 49ers’ ninth offensive coordinator in as many seasons when
Harbaugh hired him. While the offense has hardly been flashy, quarterback Alex
Smith and San Francisco ended an eight-year playoff drought—with the 49ers’ 10
total turnovers ranking fewest in the NFL this season.

Smith, the 2005 No. 1 overall pick out of Utah, threw just five
interceptions—fewest in a single season in franchise history and tied for
fewest in NFL history.

The 39-year-old Roman, who was Stanford’s associate head coach and is
working his 15th NFL season, tutored two Heisman Trophy runners-up while
coaching the Cardinal: current Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart in
2009 and projected No. 1 draft pick Andrew Luck in 2010.

That year, Roman guided a Cardinal offense that ranked ninth nationally in
points scored this season at 40.3, 14th in total yards per game (472.5), 17th in
yards rushing per game (213.8) and first in time of possession (34:34).

——— —

AP Sports Writer Genaro C. Armas contributed to this story from Dallas.

What do you guys think about this.

2012 NFL Opponents

ElestHycle — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 00:01:58 +0000

AFC EAST
New England Patriots
	   Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
	   Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Baltimore Ravens, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
New York Jets
	   Home: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, San Diego Chargers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
	   Away: Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Pittsburgh Steelers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
Miami Dolphins
	   Home: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
	   Away: Buffalo Bills, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cincinnati Bengals, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
Buffalo Bills
	   Home: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks
	   Away: Miami Dolphins, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Cleveland Browns, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers
AFC NORTH
Baltimore Ravens
	   Home: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
	   Away: Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Houston Texans, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Pittsburgh Steelers
	   Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, New York Jets, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
	   Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Tennessee Titans, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
Cincinnati Bengals
	   Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
	   Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
Cleveland Browns
	   Home: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins
	   Away: Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants
AFC SOUTH
Houston Texans
	   Home: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
	   Away: Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Denver Broncos, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
Tennessee Titans
	   Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Pittsburgh Steelers, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
	   Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Jacksonville Jaguars, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, San Diego Chargers, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Jacksonville Jaguars
	   Home: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
	   Away: Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Oakland Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
Indianapolis Colts
	   Home: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, Miami Dolphins, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings
	   Away: Houston Texans, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans, New England Patriots, New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions
AFC WEST
Denver Broncos
	   Home: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Houston Texans, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   Away: Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, New England Patriots, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
San Diego Chargers
	   Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Tennessee Titans, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
	   Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Jets, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Oakland Raiders
	   Home: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   Away: Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Miami Dolphins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
Kansas City Chiefs
	   Home: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers
	   Away: Denver Broncos, Oakland Raiders, San Diego Chargers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers, Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
	   -- -- -- =
NFC EAST
New York Giants
	   Home: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
	   Away: Dallas Cowboys, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Philadelphia Eagles
	   Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Detroit Lions, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
	   Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Arizona Cardinals, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
Dallas Cowboys
	   Home: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Chicago Bears, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
	   Away: New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
Washington Redskins
	   Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals
	   Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles, New Orleans Saints, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, St. Louis Rams, Cleveland Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers
NFC NORTH
Green Bay Packers
	   Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
	   Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, New York Giants, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
Detroit Lions
	   Home: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Atlanta Falcons, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
	   Away: Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Chicago Bears
	   Home: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
	   Away: Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
Minnesota Vikings
	   Home: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Arizona Cardinals, San Francisco 49ers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jacksonville Jaguars, Tennessee Titans
	   Away: Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, St. Louis Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts
NFC SOUTH
New Orleans Saints
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Purdy: San Francisco 49ers earn their much-needed…

Aspid — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 18:57:36 +0000

ST. LOUIS — Those last few minutes of Sunday’s game, as their fingernails turned to powder holding onto a one-touchdown lead, meant everything to the 49ers.

Meant earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs.

Meant that they don’t have to line up for a playoff game next week while eight other NFL teams do.

Meant that coach Jim Harbaugh will no longer have to search for adjectives when asked how important the eventual 34-27 victory was.

“How bad did we need the bye week?” Harbaugh said afterward, repeating a question, sounding almost irritated that it had been posed. “I can’t quantify it. We needed it bad, needed it very bad, needed it really bad … you can plug in whatever you want.”

OK, thanks for the offer. We’ll plug in the word “acutely.” How’s that sound? The 49ers needed acutely to win Sunday.

“It’s a big deal,” said 49ers tight end Justin Peelle, who filled in admirably for the ailing (jaw injury) Delanie Walker. “It doesn’t guarantee anything. But it’s a step toward where we want to go.”

Most important, it was not a step backward — although for a few furious minutes in the fourth quarter, a backward fall seemed more than a remote possibility. The Rams, after

falling behind by three touchdowns with 6:30 left in the game, demonstrated their professionalism by mounting a comeback almost out of nowhere — in front of the perhaps 15,000 moderately loud customers who were still left inside the Edward Jones Dome.

“Potentially in the past, I might have tried to make something happen,” Smith conceded. “But the play wasn’t there to be made. And with our special teams and defense … I made the decision I did.”

“These are long, physical seasons,” said a relieved Smith. “To get a bye is big.”

Where did that crucial extra victory take place? Let’s check the records. In October, New Orleans lost to the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers didn’t lose here Sunday.

Who’s got it better than the 49ers? Only the Green Bay Packers, who are the No. 1 seed in the NFC bracket. But Sunday’s victory put the 49ers in the best possible position to reach the conference title game. To paraphrase their coach, the 49ers needed to be in that position — needed it bad, needed it really bad, needed it very bad.

And now, they get to plug in where it all goes from here.

Contact Mark Purdy at mpurdy@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5092.

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San Francisco 49ers notebook: Michael Crabtree’s…

eagemoblooB — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 07:31:48 +0000

ST. LOUIS — Michael Crabtree enjoyed his first career game with two touchdown receptions Sunday, and he couldn’t have done it without some fine acting on a fake field-goal attempt.

Crabtree pretended he was leaving the field before stopping a couple of yards shy of the 49ers’ sideline. Kicker David Akers then lined up to try a field goal, took a direct snap and chucked a 14-yard touchdown pass to an uncovered Crabtree.

That third-quarter score gave the 49ers a 27-10 lead in their eventual 34-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams.

Coach Jim Harbaugh said the 49ers have been practicing that trick play for 10 weeks, during which time Crabtree said he has told Akers: “Just throw the ball and I got you.”

Akers wasn’t expecting special-teams coordinator Brad Seely’s call for the fake, but it resulted in Akers’ first career touchdown pass. It was also Akers’ second completion in two attempts — he had an 11-yard pass in 2006 for the Philadelphia Eagles.

“I looked over and Crab was wide open. I was like, ‘Oh my,’ ” Akers said. “I underthrew him, but he ran a little slant in there and made it look real smooth for me.”

Crabtree caught a 28-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith in the second quarter for a 14-7 lead, a play Crabtree finished by high-stepping to the goal line. “It was the little bit of Deion (Sanders) in me and I had to slow it down,” said Crabtree.

Sunday’s team-high nine receptions for 92 yards made Crabtree the 49ers’

leading receiver for the first time in his three-year career. He has 73 receptions for 880 yards, just enough to beat out tight end Vernon Davis (67 catches, 792 yards).

Linebacker Patrick Willis looked healthy but had just four tackles in his first game since Dec. 4, when he strained his right hamstring against the Rams. “It felt like my feet were real heavy,” Willis said. “It was different, like it was new all over again.”

Harbaugh thought Willis, a five-time Pro Bowl selection, looked strong but a little rusty. Willis said he wanted to return to action as quickly as possible rather than rest up for the playoffs.

Running back Frank Gore (seven carries, 9 yards) didn’t play in the second half. Harbaugh said Gore “had something that was bothering him.”

Gore said he stayed on the sideline because of a coaching decision, adding: “He just said I was good. We were up three touchdowns, so I guess … I’m cool. I’ll be ready to play.”

Crabtree’s output, along with Davis’ eight catches for 118 yards, helped compensate for a thin receiving corps. Ted Ginn (ankle), Kyle Williams (concussion) and tight end Delanie Walker (jaw) did not play, and Braylon Edwards was released Tuesday. Brett Swain made his first start of the season and contributed a 6-yard catch for a first down.

Punter Andy Lee set an NFL record with a net average of 43.99 yards per punt. He had five punts Sunday for a net of 51.4, and two punts were downed inside the 10-yard line. The Raiders’ Shane Lechler held the previous record (43.85 net average, 2009).

Practice-squad call-up Joe Hastings debuted and had no receptions. But the undrafted rookie wearing No. 13 enjoyed playing in the 49ers’ 13th win. “I felt butterflies at the beginning, but they went away fast. It was fun,” said Hastings, who was targeted only once and made a valiant attempt at an underthrown pass.

Fullback Bruce Miller aggravated a knee injury late in the first quarter and didn’t return until the final five minutes. Defensive tackle Ray McDonald missed time in the second half because of an unknown injury.

Defensive tackle Justin Smith boosted his case for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. Slated to rest a leg injury in the second half, he returned to provide pressure on the Rams’ final series. He also had a third-down sack at the Rams’ 5 in the first quarter. “In my opinion, he’s our most valuable player,” Harbaugh said.

Kendall Hunter had 16 carries for 76 yards, and Anthony Dixon had eight for 21 yards. Dixon had three strong runs on the final series to help kill the clock.

Alex Smith finished the regular season with career highs: 274 completions, 446 attempts, 61.4 completion percentage and 3,150 yards. His 17 touchdown passes and five interceptions gave him a 3.4 ratio that ranks behind only Steve Young’s marks of 3.57 in 1992 and 3.5 in 1994 in team history.

The 49ers matched a franchise record by allowing only 23 touchdowns in the regular season, none by way of a return. They gave up 14.3 points per game, the third-best mark in team history.

Aldon Smith came close a couple times but did not add to his team-high total of 14 sacks, leaving him a half-sack shy of Jevon Kearse’s league rookie record.

Chris Culliver (left knee) came out in the fourth quarter, and Tramaine Brock to took over as the third cornerback.

The 49ers’ six road wins are their most since 1996. For the first time since 1990, they won five games that had 10 a.m. (PT) kickoffs.

For more on the 49ers, see Cam Inman’s Hot Read blog at blogs.mercurynews.com/49ers.

What do you guys think about this.

Mark Purdy: San Francisco 49ers earn their…

SmirtyAtmotly — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 04:35:53 +0000

ST. LOUIS — Those last few minutes of Sunday’s game, as their fingernails turned to powder holding onto a one-touchdown lead, meant everything to the 49ers.

Meant earning the No. 2 seed in the NFC for the playoffs.

Meant that they don’t have to line up for a playoff game next week while eight other NFL teams do.

Meant that coach Jim Harbaugh will no longer have to search for adjectives when asked how important the eventual 34-27 victory was.

OK, thanks for the offer. We’ll plug in the word “acutely.” How’s that sound? The 49ers needed acutely to win Sunday.

Most important, it was not a step backward — although for a few furious minutes in the fourth quarter, a backward fall seemed more than a remote possibility. The Rams, after

“These are long, physical seasons,” said a relieved Smith. “To get a bye is big.”

Where did that crucial extra victory take place? Let’s check the records. In October, New Orleans lost to the Rams at the Edward Jones Dome. The 49ers didn’t lose here Sunday.

And now, they get to plug in where it all goes from here.

Contact Mark Purdy at mpurdy@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5092.

What are your opinions.

49ers Vs. Rams Score Update: San Francisco Leading…

01IHvenice — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 23:57:08 +0000

Read More: Jerious Norwood (RB – STL), Kellen Clemens (QB – STL), Tarell Brown (CB – SFX), Michael Crabtree (WR – SFX), San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams

The St. Louis Rams are hoping to foil the San Francisco 49ers’ attempts to clinch the No. 2 seed in the NFC, but they’re trailing 14-7 at home after taking an early lead. The 49ers have lost just three games all season, so the Rams are eyeing a major upset here.

A rare rushing touchdown allowed by the San Francisco defense helped to put the Rams up initially, as quarterback Kellen Clemens scampered in from 18 yards out in impressive fashion:

The Rams haven’t been able to get on the scoreboard since then, though, as the 49ers have rumbled back to take the lead. Quarterback Alex Smith has accounted for both of San Francisco’s touchdowns, with an 8-yard run to tie the game and a 28-yard pass to Michael Crabtree to take the lead. The 49ers got into position to score the second touchdown on a failed trick play by the Rams, as running back Jerious Norwood’s pass was intercepted by Tarell Brown in St. Louis territory.

Stay tuned to SB Nation St. Louis for more information, and for in-depth analysis on the St. Louis Rams be sure to visit Turf Show Times. Visit SB Nation NFL for more news and notes around the league.

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49ers try to lock up No. 2 seed, 1st-round bye

foopejerm — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:00:16 +0000

By R.B. FALLSTROM/Associated Press

San Francisco 49ers Alex Smith throws against the Seattle Seahawks. (John Froschauer/Associated Press)

ST. LOUIS — A month ago, the San Francisco 49ers became the first team to clinch its division, shutting out the St. Louis Rams to win the NFC West. Beat them again in the finale, and there’s a nice bonus for the Niners: the No. 2 seed in the NFC and a first-round bye.

Sure, they’re in. There’s still plenty of incentive for a franchise that’s made a rapid rise to the top under rookie head coach Jim Harbaugh.

“Anytime you could lock up a bye, you’d take it,” quarterback Alex Smith said. “Great opportunity for us, we’ve just got to go seize it.”

They couldn’t have picked a more vulnerable opponent.

The bedraggled Rams (2-13) are in danger of a dubious honor — landing the No. 1 pick in the draft for the second time in three years. All it’ll take is dropping their seventh in a row and the Colts winning at Jacksonville and again they will be at the bottom of the barrel.

St. Louis, just 10-37 under third-year coach Steve Spagnuolo and 12-51 with fourth-year general manager Billy Devaney, could be on the verge of a housecleaning. That’s led to a lot of questions this week about trying to save Spags’ job.

“We don’t worry about things we can’t control,” middle linebacker James Laurinaitis said. “He’s that way, we’re that way. We’re just going to go out there and play our rear ends off.”

Owner Stan Kroenke has been silent on the subject of what comes next for the Rams, who had been viewed as a franchise on the rise after last year’s six-win improvement.

Now they’re playing to a half-full stadium and reduced to muttering about injuries that have decimated the secondary and offensive line besides a persistent high left ankle sprain that almost assuredly will knock out quarterback Sam Bradford for a sixth game.

Attendance is likely to be more sparse than usual given the noon CST start coming off New Year’s Eve partying. The Rams asked Thursday for a 24-hour extension to meet NFL sellout requirements.

The 49ers (12-3) have already doubled their win total from a disappointing 2010 season, and even with a loss can get the No. 2 seed and bye if the Saints lose at home against the Panthers. If they can repeat the performance from the 26-0 whipping they handed out in San Francisco, Harbaugh would be just the fourth coach in NFL history to win 13 games in his first year. Two 49ers coaches have already done it, George Seifert going 14-2 in 1989 and Steve Mariucci at 13-3 in 1997.

San Francisco could also land its first 13-win season since ’97. A sixth road win would match their total from the previous three seasons, rewarding them for attention to detail.

“The biggest thing that I’d point to is a lot of little reasons that a lot of people think are the minutia that aren’t important that add up to make all the difference,” Harbaugh said. “And our guys continually do the little things, and they stack on each other and they build on each other. And lo and behold, you win games in high pressure situations, or find ways to do enough things right to win games and get better.

“Enough of those things lead to championships.”

The 49ers are stout on defense, on pace for a franchise record while allowing a league-low 13.5 points per game, and sound on offense behind come-back quarterback Alex Smith. They lead the NFL with a plus-26 turnover ratio, with the most takeaways (36) and the fewest turnovers (10) in the league.

Aldon Smith has 14 sacks, one shy of the NFL rookie record. Cornerback Carlos Rogers and free safety Dashon Goldson, two of the 49ers’ four Pro Bowl starters on defense, have six interceptions apiece.

Kicker David Akers, who has set an NFL record with 42 field goals, and punter Andy Lee are both Pro Bowlers, too.

They’ve stayed healthy, too, with 30 players appearing in every game and 12 making every start. That dwarfs the Rams’ totals of 14 and four. The 49ers have eight Pro Bowl representatives, the Rams none.

“They’ve put it together and you get on a roll,” Spagnuolo said. “It works both ways. You get on a roll winning, confidence and boom, boom, things are working and clicking.

“It happens the other way, too, where you can’t really find any continuity.”

The 49ers have won six of seven in a series knotted at 61-61-2, and Frank Gore always seems to get some of his best days against the Rams, totaling 832 yards and 11 touchdowns in 10 games. He’ll be facing a defense in danger of setting a franchise record for rushing yards allowed in a season.

The Rams have been giving up an NFL-worst 154.5 yards per game and if they surrender 159 yards it’ll break the previous franchise worst in 2008.

The 49ers got 144 yards the first time around.

The 49ers’ biggest worry might be encountering an opponent trying anything and everything to finish with a good taste.

“They have nothing to lose, so they can come out with whatever,” linebacker Patrick Willis said. “For us, there’s a lot riding on this game. We have to come out and play like we have all season. We know what’s at stake.”

Most every week, the Rams stay in it for a while and then a key play or two goes the wrong way and it snowballs to the finish of another failure. That was the case in the first meeting when the 49ers were held to three field goals in the first half, then busted loose with a pair of big plays — pass plays of 52 and 56 yards to Michael Crabtree and Kyle Williams.

Special teams have sprung several leaks in recent weeks, and the offense is the NFL’s worst, averaging just 11 points with 15 touchdowns in 15 games. They’re coming off a 27-0 loss at Pittsburgh, the second time they’ve been shut out the last month.

It’s been a complete bust of a comeback season for new offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels.

“No regrets, no regrets,” McDaniels said. “Every year is different, every year is a challenge in this league. You have to do everything you can to try to help the team win.”

More slogging lies ahead. The Rams totaled just 157 yards and were just 3 for 13 on third down in the first meeting against San Francisco.

Steven Jackson became the seventh player in NFL history to rush for 1,000 yards in seven straight seasons last week. Against the 49ers, he got just 19 yards on 10 carries.

“It was what we expected and they gave us exactly that,” Jackson said. “We’re going to have another tough time on Sunday but as long as you keep them balanced, and keep them out of what they want to do, we’ll be fine.”

Journeyman Kellen Clemens is expected to get his third straight start at quarterback. He passed for 91 yards last week in a 27-0 loss to the Steelers after throwing for 229 yards and a touchdown the previous week in a 20-13 loss to Cincinnati.

“If there’s a defense that’s better than Pittsburgh,” Clemens said, “we’re playing them this week.”

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Maturing San Francisco 49ers ready for postseason

KPPeterBlackBB — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:41:18 +0000

Don’t underestimate how much the 49ers have grown up over the last month or so.

With the NFC West champions set to finish off a terrific regular season this morning in St. Louis by playing for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs — and a week off — the Niners have stamped themselves ready for whatever the postseason tournament can throw at them.

The team’s evolution has kicked into high gear since their first taste of the postseason’s exacting demands for execution on Thanksgiving night. In losing to the Baltimore Ravens, who play their best football at home, the 49ers struggled throughout, but held together long enough to have a chance in the fourth quarter, only to come up short.

Three weeks later, this time on their home turf, they beat up a Pittsburgh Steelers team playing with its quarterback hobbling. The victory not only promoted the Niners as playoff-worthy to a “Monday Night Football” audience, their second-half performance signaled a big step forward.

Last week, in Seattle, this team posted what I consider their most impressive victory of the season — on the road, against a Seattle Seahawks team that for a month had been playing as well as any team in the league.

The Niners not only overcame the dagger of a fourth quarter blocked punt, but they did so thanks to the high point of Alex Smith’s season.

Smith capped off a clutch second half with a completion to Michael Crabtree for a 41-yard gain that led to the eventual game-winning field goal. The completion was as big-time a throw as Smith has ever made, perfectly placing the ball between two defenders along the left sideline.

Coach Jim Harbaugh recognizes his team’s growth the last two weeks, calling the games against Pittsburgh and Seattle “previews to what the playoffs would be like. That pressure to perform. Both teams with a lot at stake. That’s what the playoffs would be like.”

Even better, Harbaugh sees these 49ers compiling “a lot of little reasons that a lot of people think are the minutia that aren’t important that add up to make all the difference.”

“Our guys continually do the little things,” Harbaugh said. “And they stack on each other and they build on each other. And lo and behold, you win games in high-pressure situations, or find ways to do enough things right to win games and get better. And those things lead to wins. Those things, enough of those things, lead to championships.”

A month ago, reaching the playoffs was an accomplishment. Now, the Niners have stamped themselves worthy of an ultimate goal far beyond that. And that’s some big-time growing up.

Tim Liotta is a freelance journalist and regular contributor to The San Francisco Examiner. Email him at tliotta@sfexaminer.com.

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