The Time has come for San Francisco to Leave Its Mark on the NFL

Use any adage you want. “Defense wins championships” or “Good pitching stops good hitting”.

Any way you look at this weekend’s NFC playoff game between the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints, it all comes back to one intriguing question.

Can San Francisco’s top ranked and record setting defense contain the seemingly unstoppable New Orleans offense? The numbers on each side seem to point to victory.

Why San Francisco will win:

1. The 49ers defense allowed just 14 points per game and allowed only one rushing touchdown all season.

2. Their defense forced a league high 31 fumbles this season recovering 15 of them and intercepted 23 passes (3rd best in the NFL)

3. NaVorro Bowman was second in the NFL in tackles with 111 and teaming with a healthy all-pro Patrick Willis will make life difficult for the short passing game of Drew Brees.

4. The New Orleans offense is not nearly as potent outdoors on natural grass. The Saints were just 2-3 on the road this season, losing to league doormats Tampa Bay and St. Louis, who ended up a combined 6-28 this season.

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Why New Orleans will win:

1. The Saints have won 9 straight games, averaging 36 points per game. They have scored 45 points in each of their last three games, including last week’s playoff win over Detroit.

2. Drew Brees led the league in such stats as touchdowns (46), completions (468), yards (5,476) and completions percentage (71.2).

3. Tight end Jimmy Graham caught 99 passes (3rd best in the NFL) for 81 yards per game and 11 touchdowns.

4. New Orleans scored under 22 points just one time this season and scored 62 in a game against Indianapolis.

So who wins?

Call me crazy, but lately I have swayed to the side of San Francisco. For the past few weeks I have been saying there is no way the 49ers can stop the Saints powerful offense. But after watching Alabama stop and good LSU team in their tracks, I realized what a dominant defense can do. The 49ers defense has what it takes to move on to the NFC Championship game. Lets hope their offense can score enough to get the job done.

By Don August
ProFootball-fans.com San Francisco 49ers Correspondent