Rematch of last season’s NFC Divisional playoff game

49ERS (7-2-1) AT SAINTS (5-5)

By Football Night in America’s Eliott Kalb

• 49ers will head to Louisiana as they take on the New Orleans Saints in a rematch of last season’s NFC Divisional playoff game. The 49ers advanced to the NFC Championship after defeating the Saints in a thrilling 36-32 victory at Candlestick Park.
• On Thursday, 49ers  offensive coordinator Greg Roman offered the latest news on Alex Smith, saying he hopes the signal-caller will finally be cleared for contact on Friday.
• The big story in this game concerns Jim Harbaugh apparently making the switch from Alex Smith at quarterback.  Kaepernick was last year’s high draft pick by Harbaugh and general manager Trent Baalke, he was the long-term plan when the 49ers chased Peyton Manning last spring and he was shoved into games early this season even when Smith was playing well.
• The apparent decision to stick with Kaepernick will place Smith in a backup role in the midst of the best season of his eight-year career. Smith leads the NFL in completion percentage, ranks third in passer rating and was named the NFC’s Offensive Player of the Week in his last full game, a 24-3 win at Arizona on Oct. 29 in which he completed 18 of 19 passes.With the stronger-armed Kaepernick, however, the 49ers’ passing game possesses an enhanced vertical threat. Kaepernick had six completions of at least 20 yards against the Bears. Smith had 22 such completion in nine starts.
• San Franciscoranks 1st in the NFL, averaging 165.5 rushing yards per game.
• The 49ers defenseranks 1st in the NFL, allowing just 13.4 pts. per game. San Francisco is on pace to set the franchise record for fewest points per game allowed (13.6 in 1976).
• San Francisco ranks 1st in the NFL with with 57 runs of 10 or more yds.
• 49ers C Jonathan Goodwinplayed for the Saints from 2006-10. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 2009 season and was a member of the Saints Super Bowl XLIV championship team.
• If the Saints hope to have a chance against the 49ers they have to establish a running game. They’re hoping their dynamic first string running back  Darren Sproles will be suiting up for the game, although they can’t place all their bets on him. Sproles has sat out the past three games with an injured hand. The void he has left has been more than adequately filled by Ingram and Ivory. In the three games Sproles has been sidelined the Saints have rushed for over 100 yards per game. They took the rushing game to the Eagles for 140 yards, ran for 148 yards against Atlanta and in their most recent game blew past the Raiders for 153 rushing yards.
• Saints safety Malcolm Jenkins has been a huge part of the defense’s recent revival, making a series of big-time plays in big moments. And he came up with the biggest one yet Sunday in the first quarter, snatching an interception and returning it 55 yards for a touchdown.
• The Saints defense also continued to show off its uncanny ability to hold tight inside the 1-yard line Sunday, holding the Raiders scoreless after they had a first-and-goal from the 1 in the second quarter. The Saints have now held their opponents without a touchdown on 10 different occasions this season when they had either a first or second down inside the 5-yard line.
• How will the Niners defend against Jimmy Graham?   In particular, five-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis is coming off an excellent performance against the Chicago Bears on “Monday Night Football.” In that game, Willis consistently covered Bears running backs and tight ends in the open field with consistent success.