. Originally Published: December 23, 2011Dominant D makes 49ers dangerousIt's a QB-driven league, but San Francisco's blueprint has worked in postseasons pastEmailPrintComments60 By Adam Schefter
ESPN.com
Archive In a quarterback-driven league, the San Francisco 49ers' defense is making its mark.
The 49ers have yet to allow a single rushing touchdown so far this season. They cannot be run on and seldom can be scored on. Witness the three points Pittsburgh scored against San Francisco on Monday night.
NFL Insider Adam Schefter
Check out Schefter's Insider blog for more NFL coverage and analysis.
• Blog network: NFL Nation
Just as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is on the cusp of history -- he needs 304 passing yards Monday night against Atlanta to pass Dan Marino's NFL's single-season passing record -- so is the 49ers' defense.
The 1934 Detroit Lions, 1944 New York Giants, 1968 Dallas Cowboys and 1971 Minnesota Vikings each allowed an NFL-record two rushing touchdowns, but none of those defenses did it during a 16-game season.
San Francisco is two games from history, and two games from the postseason, where it is going to be more dangerous than most people realize. Many believe that, with Alex Smith at quarterback, the 49ers' lack of offensive explosiveness will inhibit them in the postseason. Yet this is just the type of team that has succeeded in postseasons past.
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with a dominant defense and Trent Dilfer at quarterback. The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXVII with another distinguished defense and Brad Johnson at quarterback.
These 49ers already have stymied explosive attacks in Philadelphia and Detroit, and are capable of doing the same to New Orleans or Green Bay. The precedent is there, and so is the talent on San Francisco's defense.
Playoff Machine
Check out current playoff seedings and figure scenarios through the end of the season. Playoff Machine »
It is that good with Smiths alone. Defensive end Justin Smith personifies the effort and intensity that these 49ers constantly give. Rookie linebacker Aldon Smith has 13 sacks and needs two more to break Jevon Kearse's single-season rookie sack record.
And 49ers linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman are as good as any linebacking tandem in the league, including any in Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
As good as the Packers and Saints are, San Francisco is just as scary, though in an entirely different way. During a season in which so much of the football conversation has been about Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady and Tim Tebow, San Francisco's defense is capable of sneaking up on anyone not expecting it.
The 49ers already have upset the Eagles, Lions and Steelers. Be forewarned. They also are tough enough to upstage the faces of football and this entire season
He seems to watch a lot of football too, so I'm going to defer to the expert on this one
ESPN.com
Archive In a quarterback-driven league, the San Francisco 49ers' defense is making its mark.
The 49ers have yet to allow a single rushing touchdown so far this season. They cannot be run on and seldom can be scored on. Witness the three points Pittsburgh scored against San Francisco on Monday night.
NFL Insider Adam Schefter
Check out Schefter's Insider blog for more NFL coverage and analysis.
• Blog network: NFL Nation
Just as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees is on the cusp of history -- he needs 304 passing yards Monday night against Atlanta to pass Dan Marino's NFL's single-season passing record -- so is the 49ers' defense.
The 1934 Detroit Lions, 1944 New York Giants, 1968 Dallas Cowboys and 1971 Minnesota Vikings each allowed an NFL-record two rushing touchdowns, but none of those defenses did it during a 16-game season.
San Francisco is two games from history, and two games from the postseason, where it is going to be more dangerous than most people realize. Many believe that, with Alex Smith at quarterback, the 49ers' lack of offensive explosiveness will inhibit them in the postseason. Yet this is just the type of team that has succeeded in postseasons past.
The 2000 Baltimore Ravens won Super Bowl XXXV with a dominant defense and Trent Dilfer at quarterback. The 2002 Tampa Bay Buccaneers won Super Bowl XXVII with another distinguished defense and Brad Johnson at quarterback.
These 49ers already have stymied explosive attacks in Philadelphia and Detroit, and are capable of doing the same to New Orleans or Green Bay. The precedent is there, and so is the talent on San Francisco's defense.
Playoff Machine
Check out current playoff seedings and figure scenarios through the end of the season. Playoff Machine »
It is that good with Smiths alone. Defensive end Justin Smith personifies the effort and intensity that these 49ers constantly give. Rookie linebacker Aldon Smith has 13 sacks and needs two more to break Jevon Kearse's single-season rookie sack record.
And 49ers linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman are as good as any linebacking tandem in the league, including any in Baltimore or Pittsburgh.
As good as the Packers and Saints are, San Francisco is just as scary, though in an entirely different way. During a season in which so much of the football conversation has been about Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees and Tom Brady and Tim Tebow, San Francisco's defense is capable of sneaking up on anyone not expecting it.
The 49ers already have upset the Eagles, Lions and Steelers. Be forewarned. They also are tough enough to upstage the faces of football and this entire season
He seems to watch a lot of football too, so I'm going to defer to the expert on this one
