(By Daisy Barringer)

The (9-4) 49ers play the (4-9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. A game the Niners should easily win, but a game that scares me because of just that. We call it a potential “trap game.” A game we have every reason to dominate, but because of that, just might find ourselves losing.

Let’s a take a look at how we stack up.

The Good

The 49ers are the better team without a doubt. We’re on a three-game winning streak and coming off a huge victory against Seattle.

The Niners D. Over the past six games, the 49ers defense has allowed an average of 13 points. Tampa Bay is going to have to score more than that if they want to beat us. TB struggles against good defenses. I expect them to do the same against the Niners.

The Niners have showed in recent games they can run AND pass the ball. I feel confident for the first time in a while that if Tampa Bay somehow manages to stop us on the ground, we can get it done in the air. And vice versa. Yes, Tampa Bay has some great defensive players, but I think the Niners are gelling and can make this happen. I think TB will be able to do one or the other, not both.

The Bad

Yes, the Bucs are only 4-9, but keep in mind they started 0-8. Which means they’ve improved. And probably have something to prove even though they’re definitely not playoff contenders.

Tampa Bay’s defense is 12th in the NFL in yards allowed per game. Anquan Boldin will likely be covered by CB Darrell Revis and even though Revis isn’t 100%, this will be an interesting match-up all day long.

Crabtree’s ankle injury. It’s unrelated to his Achilles injury and he injured it during the gam last week and played through it, but he just needs to keep that thing healthy. If anything, he just needs to be in there so Anquan isn’t covered by eighteen million dudes. Luckily, he is probable.

Niners have to fly across the country and play at 10 a.m. Historically, this does not bode well for us.

The Rest of It

There’s not much to say this week. Tampa Bay’s defense has lead them to some good wins, but I just don’t see it happening on Sunday. The Niners are the better all-around team and we want it more. We NEED it more.

Dashon Goldson. Can’t say I’m sad we got rid of him—I don’t miss those illegal hits and penalties. But, he was always fun to watch and I expect him to play well on Sunday. Of course, I also hope he gets a lot of flags thrown at him, but not at the cost of one of my guys.

Beats by Dre. Seattle fans love to call us the “Forty Whiners,” but I have never seen a bigger temper tantrum in my life than the one they threw this week when the new Beats by Dre featuring Kap premiered. Personally, I love the commercial and the song, but the Seahawks fans are sad little puppies about how they were portrayed. And so they’re boycotting the headphones. Because I’m sure the type of person who throws a fit over a commercial is the type of person who was going to by Beats by Dre headphones.

Harbaugh going to coach at Texas. I am not even discussing this. People are so dumb.

There’s really not much else to say. It’s a quiet media week for the Niners because everyone expects them to win. After we do that, root for Arizona and the Eagles to lose so that we secure a playoff spot. Also, root for the Seahawks to lose against the Giants so that they don’t clinch the NFC West. And somehow we’re rooting for the stupid Saints to win again. Don’t ask. Math is hard.

Watch San Francisco at TAMPA BAY on Sunday at 10:00 a.m. on FOX.

(By Daisy Barringer)

Well my friends, the biggest game of our season is upon us. Seattle comes to San Francisco on Sunday with an 11-1 record and something to prove. They've already clenched a spot in the playoffs, so this isn't about that. (Although if they do win on Sunday, they clinch the division. Boo.) Rather, it's about their newfound hatred for the 49ers. A rivalry that's recent, but very, very real.

I hate the Seahawks. Like possibly more than I hate the Cowboys. Actually, definitely more than I hate the Cowboys. In fact, now that I think about it, the Seahawks are my most-hated team in the NFL. (That is subject to change at any moment based upon my many whims.) I can't stand the players. The coach. Ugh, Pete Carroll and his stupid gum. Choke on it, already, wontcha? I hate their stupid stadium. The fact that they clearly pump in noise to create “The 12th man” and that all of their fans are bandwagon losers. Mostly, I hate that they're having a phenomenal season and have managed to win games they clearly deserved to lose.

But my hatred isn't what matters. What matters is that Seattle is coming to San Francisco for an NFC West matchup that everyone will be watching. And we have to win. Seriously. If we don't win, I don't think I'll get out of bed all week. And I might pick a fight. And that can't happen because the new and improved Daisy is a good fan who is nice to all people, regardless of the fact that they like the dumbest team ever.

So yeah. A win is imperative. Here's what to look out for:

The Good

Home field advantage. I should probably caveat this because I am certain there will be a TON of stupid Seattle fans at the ‘Stick on Sunday. They all live here because they're techies and SF is way better than Seattle and if they don't live here, they have friends here so they flew down for the game and it's going to be so annoying I already want to punch someone. BUT. Still. It's our house. Our field. We will control the noise and there will be no “12th man.”

Short week for Seattle. Seattle played on Monday night. That's one less day they had to prepare for us. I'll take it.

Aldon Smith. I expect him to have a huge game for no reason other than the fact that I want him to. Also, he sacked Seattle QB Russell Wilson twice in September and I just really relish the thought of watching Wilson writhe on the ground.

Joe Staley. I have no idea how or why, but Staley was back at practice and is expected to play on Sunday. I promise that if I sprained my MCL I would need bed rest for a month. And by bed rest, I mean lots of wine and reality television. Anyway, lucky for everyone, I am not on the team. And Staley is. Glad he’ll be playing on Sunday. His very presence makes the offense better.

Crabtree is back. Thank god. The receivers had a really hard time getting open when we played Seattle in Week 2 and we cannot have that happen again. Luckily, in Week 2 the only receivers were Kyle Williams, Boldin and Davis. Crabtree should open things up a lot.

Seattle WR Percy Harvin has been sitting out of practice and it doesn’t look like he’s going to play on Sunday. CB Brandon Browner is also injured and sat out of practice. In addition, he’s waiting to hear about his possible suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy. CB Walter Thurmond is also serving a suspension. Those Seahawks really love their drugs!

Our defense. The D struggled against the pass in Week 2, but the changes they’ve made since have been significant and I expect them to excel in all areas on Sunday.

Frank Gore. I miss him. He had a crappy game in Seattle this year—carrying the ball nine times for 16 yards. I know everyone thinks that Seattle is going to hold him to low yardage again this week, but my psychic powers tell me he’s actually going to have a big game. That’s right. Other sports writers use facts to write their columns. I use my psychic powers.

Kaepernick. My psychic powers also tell me he is going to have a big game. I see him running a lot. And passing. Ok, my psychic powers might just be optimism but still. He has receivers. He has legs. If he can just not turn the ball over, we can win this.

The Bad

Richard Sherman. I detest Richard Sherman. DETEST. He’s an arrogant a-hole and just The Worst. But I expect to him to be all over Anquan Boldin making it difficult for Boldin to have a performance like last week.

Marshawn Lynch. Skittles were my favorite candy. NOW I HAVE NOTHING. Also, the run defense better amazing because we cannot let this guy have a 100+ yard game.

Kaepernick needs to stay calm and not panic if his first option isn’t open.

Seattle has literally signed almost every 49ers player cut from the squad this year. They don’t keep the players around for long, but clearly they milk them for as much intel as possible before sending them on their way.

Seattle is good. I hate to say it but those are the facts. They’re going to come in tough and strong and looking for a win.

The Rest of It

That stupid letter that the 49ers put out this week about fan behavior. A letter like that was definitely needed, but not for the season ticket holders. It’s needed for people who’ve never been to a football game before. Who don’t understand to be quiet on offense and loud on defense. Regardless, the letter was poorly written—in literal execution and in style—and basically made 49ers fans look like complete morons. Which most of them are (not YOU, duh), but still. Really bad timing. Horrible. (Also, I actually didn’t receive a letter like that so I’m not sure who it went to or if it actually went to anyone at all. Unfortunately, that no longer matters.)

Jim Harbaugh vs. Pete Carroll. I love this rivalry just because it’s so dumb. However, Harbaugh has to win this one otherwise Pete Carroll will get his third straight win against him and his first win in SF. If I have to watch that smug SOB shake hands with Harbaugh after a Seattle win, I will cry.

This game is crucial for the 49ers playoff hopes. A loss will drop us to 7th in the NFC and leave us fighting even harder for a wild card spot. It’s a must-win. The Seahawks haven’t won in SF since 2008. Let’s keep it that way.

Watch SAN FRANCISCO vs. Seattle Sunday at 1:25 p.m. on FOX.

(By Daisy Barringer)

The 49ers are back at home on Sunday facing off against NCF West division rival the 5-6 St. Louis Rams. We beat the Rams on the road 35-11 in Week Four, but the last time we played them at Candlestick, that game ended in a tie. Which, in case you’ve never spent an entire day at a ballpark only to have it end up in a tie, is one of the most frustrating things that can happen at a sporting event. It’s like sex when neither person climaxes. Perfectly enjoyable, but maybe not worth getting all dirty and sweaty for.

Luckily for all of us, I don’t expect this game to end in a tie. Rather, I expect it to win in a 49ers victory. Which is better than sex! (She says based loosely on what she remembers of intercourse.) It’s pretty much a “must win” game and here’s how that’s going to happen.

The Good

The 49ers are the better team and they’re playing at home. Sure, it’s a bit of a short week for them, but I don’t expect that to affect anything.

It’s looking like WR Michael Crabtree will play on Sunday. While I don’t think he’ll play a lot since it will be his first game since tearing his Achilles’ tendon, having him on the field gives Kaepernick another viable passing option and if Crab is anything like he was last year, having him and Boldin on the field at the same time will do wonders for the offense. (I just read today that the only people on the Niners to catch TD passes all season are Boldin and Davis. That’s TWO people, compared to most team’s seven.) Either way, the Rams were forced to prepare for Crabtree which is a good distraction even if he doesn’t play much.

Add to that the fact that the Rams secondary isn’t that great and… I think we’ll see some good receptions.

But I also think we’ll see a lot of Frank Gore. Did he even play last week? Kidding, but seriously… there was not a whole lot of running going on in that game. Look for that to change this week. Gore rushed for 20 carries, 153 yards and a TD in Week 4. The Saint have allowed 12 rushing TDs this year. That will be 13 or 14 by Sunday night.

The Niners defense is on point. Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, of course, but Ahmad Brooks is playing really well and Aldon Smith’s off-the-field issues have stayed off of the field. And of course: Justin Smith. And … okay, I am not going to name the entire defensive line-up, but I basically love all of them.

The Bad

This is not the same Rams team the Niners played in Week Four. I stand by my statement that we’re the better team, but they’ve definitely gelled and are playing much better. See: Tavon Austin, who is definitely a threat in the air.

RB Zac Stacy—who suffered a concussion last week—will be cleared to play. I’m glad he’s feeling better, of course, but it would have been nice if the starting rookie had to sit this one out. The Rams run game has improved drastically since Week 4 and he’s the reason why.

There’s not much else. The Niners stumbled there for a couple of games, but I think they’re the better team and as long as they don’t get overly confident or—even worse: complacent, they should win this one.

The Rest of It

Jerry Rice is serving as the 49ers honorary team captain. One of my biggest life regrets was not telling him how much I appreciate everything he did for the team when I was on a plane with him from SF to NYC. It was red-eye though and I just couldn't bring myself to approach him at the baggage carousel at 6 a.m. Seemed rude. Anyway, yay Jerry!

And since you’re dying to know, I think the helmet rule that reversed the Steelers running back Le’Vone Bell’s touchdown last night is total baloney. I get the rule. And I get why the rule exists. But Bell was going to the ground with or without that helmet, so in that instance, the rule should not apply. Again, I get that the rule is that the play stops as soon as the player’s helmet comes off, but they need to amend that in instances where the player’s trajectory is already determined. Also: WHY ARE HELMETS EVEN COMING OFF IN THE FIRST PLACE? We have computers we can carry around in our hands, but no one can design a helmet that stays put?

On that note: Go Niners!

Watch SAN FRANCISCO vs. St. Louis this Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PT on FOX.

(By Daisy Barringer)

The 6-3 Niners travel to the Big Easy to face off against the 7-2 New Orleans Saints in the (stupid) Superdome on Sunday. (No, I’m not over the Super Bowl loss. Thus that place is stupid. I can attest seeing as I tried to navigate my way to the ladies room in the pitch black during the biggest sporting event in the world.) The Niners lost there in February and, call me a pessimist if you must, but I’m pretty sure they’re going to lose there again on Sunday.

(I’m playing the “Expect the Worst Because Then If The Best Happens It’s So Much Better” game, if you want to join in on the fun. The rules are simple: Expect the worst. Be stoked if it doesn’t happen. Say, “I effing knew it” if it does. Everyone wins. Or loses.)

So yeah. The Niners against the Saints and Drew Brees, the latter who I happen to have on all of my fantasy teams. But don’t worry. I’d rather lose at fantasy and win at life, so I won’t be rooting for him. Rather, I’ll be rooting for a surprising Niners victory. Let’s take a look at how that will—or won’t—happen.

The Good

We can’t suck any worse than we did last week?

No seriously.

Aldon Smith is expected to receive a lot more playing time than he did last Sunday.

The Niners find success when they run the damn ball. They did not do this enough against the Panthers. I expect them, once again, to learn from their mistake and run the ball. Especially on first down.

Along those lines, the Saints are actually tied for last in the NFL when it comes to defending the run. Since Kap obviously can’t throw the damn ball, just GIVE IT TO GORE. Or let him run it. I don’t care. Just keep it on the ground unless I say otherwise.

Vernon Davis should play. I know, I know. I just said to keep the ball on the ground, but the Niners are going to have to pass a little bit and VD is the guy to whom to throw it. Apparently his concussion is “mild,” which bodes well for us.

The Bad

The Saints have the NFL’s second ranked total offense.
The Saints are 5-0 at home.

Darren Sproles and Jimmy Graham. One guy’s good on the ground, the other is good in the air. The Niners must contain them both. And they need to put a ton of pressure on Drew Brees. Sorry to state the obvious, but it needs to be said.

Michael Crabtree is still sidelined with an injury. I don’t know if more guys to pass to would actually help the struggling Kaepernick, but it couldn’t hurt.

DT Ray McDonald (high ankle sprain) is not going to play. (They haven’t announced this yet, but I'm just gonna go ahead and call it.) His replacement, Tony Jerod-Eddie, has never started a game. Just as a reminder—we’re facing one of the best offenses in the league. Yay.

Eric Reid. The rookie safety says he’s feeling fine, but this is his second concussion this season and cause for real concern. He was apparently symptom free on Wednesday, but I think we all agree that it might not be in his best interest to play on Sunday. I want this guy on the Niners for many years to come. If he has to sit out one game, I’m totally okay with that.

The Niners play calling. I blame, Kap, for sure. But COME ON GREG ROMAN. Live a little!

The Rest of It

The Niners Defense is going to have to win this game. The offense simply cannot do it. It’s up to the front seven and the secondary. OUR FATE IS IN THEIR HANDS. (Sorry, I'm watching #SFBatKid while I write this and getting a little carried away while I wipe away my tears.)

WR Kyle Williams found a new home in Kansas City. I think it’s best for the Niners that he’s no longer on the team, but, despite his struggles, I wish him all of the best. Although if he starts catching tons of passes from Alex Smith, I’m going to be slightly annoyed.

Trent Dilfer “insulted” Kaepernick this week by calling his play “remedial” when he has to move past his first pass option. I’m not really in the mood to defend Kap these days, but I will say that he seems to play better after being criticized or having a really bad game. Let’s not count on this, but rather hope for it.

So yeah. I’m not too optimistic, but it’s always nice to be pleasantly surprised. This one is going to be a battle. I hope the Niners come out victorious. A loss will be devastating to our hopes for the rest of the season.

Watch San Francisco at NEW ORLEANS on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. on FOX.

(By Daisy Barringer)

First, can we talk about how naïve I am? I truly believed last night that Arizona could beat Seattle. Alas, I am a fool and now Seattle is 6-1 for the first time EVER in the history of their franchise. Boo. That means the Niners are still chasing the Seahawks for first place in the NFC West and must win on Sunday in order to stay only one game behind. The only good thing about this is that I believe the Niners do better when they’re playing the role of the underdog.

Plus, according to my season predictions, we’re going to win this week and the next two. The bummer is that Seattle plays St. Louis next week and they’re going to win that one as well. Fingers crossed they lose to the Bucs in Week 9, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves.

So. 49ers at the 3-3 Titans. A winnable game.

The Good

Defense. The Niners D has allowed just over 11 points per game in their last three wins.

Frank Gore and the Running Game. The Titans are ranked 21st in the NFL in rushing yards allowed and have allowed over 100 yards rushing in four games. Getting a run game going is key, especially since we can’t depend on the passing game (see below). It’s all about taking time off of the clock, gaining yards, and tiring out the Titans defense by making them deal with the 49ers offensive line. Just give the ball to Frank. And sometimes Kendall Hunter. Please. (Poor LaMichael James. No love.)

Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Titans have lost both their games since QB Jake Locker was sidelined with a sprained knee and hip. Ryan Fitzpatrick is average at best. Word on the street is that Locker might play on Sunday, but my gut tells me that’s just the Titans trying to make it harder for the Niners to prepare. Dude is still walking with a limp for heaven’s sake. I expect to see Fitzpatrick in all of his backup QB mediocrity on the field on Sunday.

Niners are the Better Team. There’s not much more to say than that. We’re better in pretty much every category. As long as we don’t screw up, we should win this one.

The Bad

Patrick Willis. I mean, it’s Patrick Willis, so it’s not that bad, but Willis is still in pain with his groin injury. However, he’s going to play through the pain and Willis at 90% is still better than most guys at 100.

A little story that has nothing to do with anything. In 7th grade I was “going steady” with this boy—which basically meant we talked on the phone once in a while since I went to an all-girls school. One night during the week we went out, we were on the phone when suddenly he told me he had to go. He sounded like he was in pain, so I asked what happened. “I pulled my groin muscle!” he told me. I was 12. You can imagine my reaction. That is all.

Glenn Dorsey. Dorsey’s status is unknown because of his hamstring injury, which means Tony Jerod-Eddie may make his first start and Quinton Dial, a rookie who went through his first full practice two days ago, may get time on the field. That’s comforting, I know.

Receiving Corps. Kaepernick needs to have options down the field and since he can be a little gun shy, he needs to feel secure in those options. It’s great that he can throw to the tight ends, but the wide receivers need to crack open. They need to do their job. And not just Anquan Boldin. However, he must also be careful because the Titans have intercepted the ball six times this year and have recovered seven fumbles. So NONE OF THAT, please.

The Titans & Forced Fumbles. I mean, yes, they’re good at it; but Gore is good at holding onto the ball (he did lose one fumble earlier this year), so I’ll leave it at that and go knock on wood.

The Rest of It

Kaepernick Not Drafted by the Titans. Is this even a real story or does the media just search for things to write about? I mean, everyone except ONE person each year is not drafted by a team. But apparently Kap hasn’t forgotten that Jake Locker went ahead of him. Anyway, whatever, who cares. You could be on the Titans, Kap, or you could have already gone to (and lost) the Super Bowl.

Delanie Walker. This isn’t really a story, but something to watch for. The former 49ers tight end is going to want to make his mark on this game, for sure. I kind of love him, but I hope he sucks just this once.

Dan Garza Passed Away. That wasn’t a name I was familiar with before this week, but Garza was the 49ers Medical Director. He was only 43 and his death was totally unexpected. Really sad. Thoughts and prayers with his family and friends.

So there you have it… We’ve got this. We just have to play hard and not make mistakes. And win.

Watch San Francisco at TENNESSEE on Sunday at 1:05 p.m. PDT on FOX.

(By Daisy Barringer)

This Sunday the (3-2) 49ers face off against the (3-2) Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West matchup with notable consequences. The Niners must win this game to keep pace with the Seahawks. In an ideal world, Seattle will lose to the Titans (not too likely) and the Niners will be the Cardinals and the Rams will do whatever it is the Rams do. (Although, at 2-3, we can’t discount them, even though I’d like to.)

However, since the Seattle game is out of our hands, the only thing the Niners need to focus on is beating Arizona. A seemingly do-able task as long as the Niners don’t choke. Yes, the Cardinals are also 3-2, which I think most of us are pretty surprised about, but I think the Niners are better in almost every department on and off the field. They just need to play consistently, something they failed to do in the second and third week of the season, but that they seem to have fixed based on the last two Ws.

The Good

On offense, I think we can expect big games from Anquan Boldin, Vernon Davis and Frank Gore. Yes, the Cardinals have LB Daryl Washington back and he will likely make one or two big plays, but I think VD can beat him. And if not VD, perhaps rookie TE Vance McDonald? In addition, I think Kap will connect with Boldin—he kind of has to since he’s not going to have the help of Matt Schaub giving our team the ball every couple of plays—and even though people hype up Patrick Peterson, I think Boldin’s got this one. Lastly, if Greg Roman doesn’t give Gore a lot of touches, he’s an idiot. When Gore gets the balls, the Niners win.

Carson Palmer. Yes, we won’t have the help of Houston QB Matt Schaub to throw us the ball over and over again, but we’ll have the next best thing: Cardinals QB Carson Palmer who is second in NFL interceptions with 9. I LOVE AN INTERCEPTION so I hope to see several. Go Tramaine Brock, who, by the way, was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week.

The Cardinals running game. And by that I mean WHAT running game? We’ll shut it down—which shouldn’t be hard—and they’ll be forced to air it out. We just need to protect against the pass.

Home field advantage. It’s a thing and it matters.

The Bad

It’s no secret that Kaepernick didn’t have stellar numbers last week. For sure, part of it is that he just doesn’t have that many guys to throw to, but he’s also just been a bit…uninspired. There’s no time for that this week. Kap must come out hot. MUST. We all know he can do it. He just needs to remember that he knows he can do it.

I just said that Gore needs to run the ball and I mean it, BUT let’s not forget that the Cardinals defense is No. 3 against the run and they’ve only allowed one rushing TD all season. All that means is that the Niners need to air the ball out early and often, get points on the board, take a lead, and then let the run game and our D take it from there.

Larry Fitzgerald. Ugh. What is there even to say? The guy is a force with which to be reckoned. The Cardinals suck on the ground, so clearly they’re going to throw to Fitzgerald again and again and again. The Niners D needs to take him out of the equation as best they can and force Carson Palmer to throw elsewhere. We’re 100% equipped to do this. We just need to execute.

Injuries. The good news is that Ray McDonald’s injury wasn't as bad as everyone thought it might be. Or to use Harbaugh’s favorite phrase: “We dodged a bullet.” However, Patrick Willis is still injured (groin) and his status is unknown and, of course, Aldon Smith is still in rehab, now with felony gun charges against him! Yay. Justin Smith also sat out of practice on Wednesday and Kaepernick mysteriously showed up on the injury report (foot) with no explanation. Luckily, we’ll be OK. Because we’re the Niners and even our backups are awesome. (Except in the QB position which terrifies me on a daily basis.)

The Rest of It

Guess QB John Skelton wasn’t all Harbaugh hoped he would be. The Niners released him and claimed former Vikings QB McLeod Bethel-Thompson, whose name, I think, is a good case as to why one should never hyphenate. Or name their kid McLeod.

As mentioned previously, Aldon Smith is now facing three felony counts of illegal possession of assault weapons. Smith bought the guns in Arizona and brought them back to California, where the semi-automatic rifles are illegal. There’s a lot of talk about how the DA is piling on the charges so that he’ll get a favorable plea bargain. Whatever the case, I hope this all goes away quickly and as quietly as possible. We’re doing OK without Aldon, but he’s fun to watch and he’s a good guy to have on your side.

The Niners must win this game. No one thought that this would be one of the most important games of our season so far, but it is. And that’s all there is to it.

Watch SAN FRANCISCO vs. Arizona on FOX at 1:25 p.m. PDT.

(By Daisy Barringer)

Downright adorable confession: I got a new puppy this week and as a result have barely had time to bathe, much less keep up on football. Lest you think I am being dramatic, I literally flooded my kitchen this morning after plugging the sink to wash a toy and then leaving the apartment for forty minutes with the dog. Sleep deprivation is a thing, apparently. Which is why this week's preview is tardy.

Nonetheless, excuses aside, Monkey (my puppy) will have his very first babysitter this Sunday so that I can go to Candlestick to watch the 49ers take on the Houston Texans. The Houston Texans who SHOULD have beat the stupid Seahawks last week, but totally blew it in the second half. The Houston Texans who are 2-2 and probably a little pissed off at themselves and coming into SF with a vengeance.

So let's breakdown what the Niners are facing, shall we?

The Good

The 2-2 Niners are coming off of 10 days rest after a great performance against the Rams. The momentum is definitely in their favor.

Deep own, I believe the 49ers are a better team than the Texans. And that will matter.

Matt Schaub. A friend of mine argued that Schaub's pick-six INT in the Seattle game may be one of the worst INTs ever thrown in an NFL game. I'd have to do research which I don't have time to do (see: 9 week old puppy), but it's got to be up there. I'm not sure people needed to burn his jersey in the parking lot afterwards, but it was bad. And he's going to feel like he has a LOT to prove this week. I think (hope) he chokes.

Gore had a great running game against the Rams. Let’s hope Greg Roman remembers that when he’s calling offensive plays. Give Gore the ball. He’ll get it done.

Did I already say that I think we're the better team?

Home field advantage. If I don’t all asleep from exhaustion, I plan to wear red and make noise. Lots of it. And so will everyone else. Prime time. Everyone gets fired up for a night game. I expect The ‘Stick to be rocking. Just no violence, please.

The Bad

It’s not known if Patrick Willis will be able to play on Sunday (groin injury). I put this in "The Bad" because Willis is, well... he's Patrick Willis. That's why. He's always a welcome presence on the field. But thanks to NaVorro Bowman, the defense actually did a great job even without him against the Rams.

LB Brian Cushing has been cleared to play. He suffered a concussion in the Seattle game and his exit cleared the way for their comeback. I don't root for an injury ever; however, I wouldn't be bummed if he had to sit Sunday's game out.

Kaepernick just doesn't have a ton of guys to throw to… Boldin, VD… Crabtree’s injury becomes more of a bummer every week he’s not in the game. According to Greg Roman, we’re going to see a lot more of Jon Baldwin on Sunday. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing remains to be determined.

Aldon Smith is STILL in rehab. They don’t have any fast-track programs out there for a guy who needs to get back to his job? (Kidding. I take rehab very seriously.)

J.J. Watt. Houston’s defensive end is tough and fired up. Whereas I think Schaub will suffer because he has something to prove; I think Watt will shine. The Niners need to watch him all game long. The good news? Kap actually does well when under pressure.

The Rest of It

I’m not a fan of anything that results in a media circus, so you can probably guess my feelings on Donte Whitner changing his name to Donte Hitner. All I can say is if he’s really going to go through with it, he’d better never ever miss another tackle for as long as he’s in the NFL. Like, ever.

The 49ers released QB B.J. Daniels and SHOCKING! The Seahawks claimed him off waivers. Definitely sad to see him go; he looked pretty good in the pre-season. My favorite reaction to the Seahawks picking him up came from Mike Sando, @SandoESPN: 49ers' Donte Whitner dropped the W from his last name. Expecting Seahawks to claim it off waivers.

The 49ers picked up former Cardinals QB John Skelton. I guess that’s a good thing in case Kap gets hurt (you know the drill - go knock on wood. Now. I mean it.).

In short: We have all of the tools to win this game. And I fully expect us to do so.

Watch SAN FRANCISCO vs. Houston on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. on NBC.

(By Daisy Barringer)

This week was kind of brutal. The Seattle fans were out in full-gloating force, desperately trying to stoke the flames of the rivalry. It didn't help that two 49ers fans from Point Reyes sent the Chronicle a letter to the editor complaining about the crowd noise giving the Seahawks fans more material and a reason to bring back the whole “Forty-Whiners” nickname. (I would have bet $1000 that letter was satire, but alas, four days have passed and it appears it was real.) Anyway, I've finally managed to put Sunday's brutal loss behind me. And just in time since we're only two days away from playing the Colts at home.

Sunday's game doesn't have all of the drama that the first two games of the season had. Don't get me wrong, we have to win, but I think we can do that without everyone getting ulcers and being mean to each other. If we ignore the fact that Aldon Smith was arrested this morning at 7 a.m. on suspicion of a DUI (7 a.m., Aldon? Really?), then the biggest story seems to be the Colts acquisition of running back Trent Richardson from the Cleveland Browns. Oh, and the fact that Harbaugh was QB Andrew Luck's coach in college, or whatever.

It's kind of nice not to have all of the drama and smack-talk though. It gives us a chance to focus on what we actually love: football.

The Good

Andrew Luck. I mean, yes, he is good, but as mentioned, he played under Harbaugh during his time at Stanford which means Harbaugh understands him. In fact, Luck's play remains very similar to his style at Stanford.

Trent Richardson. Okay. Maybe it's a little weird to put the running back in “The Good” column, but I'm an optimist who hopes that since he hasn't had much time to practice with the team, he won't be a huge threat.

Anquan Boldin. Let's just not talk about last week and instead focus on Week 1 against the Packers. I predict Boldin has a big game. For no reason other than the fact that I really, really want him to.

SF's Run Game. The Colts suck against the run (29th in the league). Gore is just waiting for his opportunity to bust out. I think this will be it.

Getting Our Asses Handed to Us by Seattle. It can only motivate. No one—most of all the players—wants to see a repeat performance of that debacle.

The Bad

Andrew Luck. Yes, he was also in “The Good” section, but I mean: it's Andrew Luck. Dude can pass. Our defense—especially our secondary—needs to be on point.

Reggie Wayne. Speaking of Andrew Luck, he's nothing without a good target. Enter WR Reggie Wanye. However, if the Niners can cover him, it forces Luck to throw elsewhere, which would be a good thing.

Trent Richardson. I feel like maybe I don't understand “Good” vs. “Bad,” but stick with me. I do think the Niners can be great against the run, BUT they've also given up three rushing TDs this year already—so if Richardson does come to play, we might be sad the Colts didn't wait another week acquire him.

Injuries. The 49ers went into Seattle with only one player on the injury report (LaMichael James). They left with ten. Seattle beat us up in every way possible. The good news is that Eric Reid (who suffered a concussion) has been asymptomatic all week and will probably play on Sunday. Thank God. I really love that kid. Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, NoVarro Bowman, Aldon Smith, and Vernon Davis are all well enough to play as well. Ian Williams is sadly out for the season.

Aldon Smith. I don't know what to say about Aldon. I truly believe he wants to be a good guy. That he doesn't want to get in trouble. And yet, he got a DUI this morning. I just hope he plays on Sunday. We need him out there big time. I really hope to see him take down Andrew Luck. But as my friend just IMed me: “I wouldn't want to be there when he's talking to Harbaugh later today.”

The Rest of It

Home field advantage. Check. Although seriously, Niners' fans: learn when to make noise and when to be quiet. It's just NOT that hard.

Being Humbled. Check. The Niners typically come out guns blazing after a loss like the one we suffered last week.

Kaepernick. He was awesome in Week 1 and totally mediocre in Week 2. Which Kap will come out to paly on Sunday? My gut tells me Week 1 Kaepernick; I really do think he lives up to the hype. Time will tell.

It's always interesting when you play a team that's not in your conference who you don't meet up with very often. I watch the Colts, sure, but I don't know them like I know other teams who we meet more often. We're both 1-1. We both want/need a win.

Lucky for us, I think the Niners take this one by a TD or more.

Watch SAN FRANCISCO vs. Indianapolis at 1:25 p.m. PDT on CBS.

(By Daisy Barringer)

The Bears and Green Bay. The Steelers and the Ravens. The Cowboys and the Niners. The Cowboys and the Redskins. The Cowboys and the Giants. The Cowboys and the Eagles. The Cowboys and pretty much everyone???

These are all classic NFL rivalries. There are more, of course. We all have teams we despise. My list is so long that it actually determines whom I will and will not date. (Sorry, fans of the Green Bay Packers, Dallas Cowboys, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, St. Louis Rams, Oakland Raiders, NY Giants, NE Patriots, Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers, and New Orleans Saints.) But, my friends, there is a new rivalry in town. One that’s been festering and intensifying for years but is finally in serious true effect because both teams are finally legitimately good. And oddly similar. And in the NFC West. And playing each other in front of the whole country this Sunday night.

That’s right: The 49ers are heading to CenturyLink Field to face off against the Seachickens. I mean Seacocks. I mean Seahawks. And things are gonna get real.

The Good

Pete Carroll can suck it. Seriously, is there any coach besides Bill Belichik who is more annoying. I can’t stand his stupid face or the way he chomps his gum or really anything about him. I’m not sure why this is good, but our coach is just way better and that has to count for something. Also, Pete Carroll makes his players do yoga. I’m sorry, but no.

Colin Kaepernick. He had a phenomenal performance last week and proved (yet again) that he’s not just a running QB and that he can throw the ball. Well.

Which brings us to: Anquan Boldin. I mean. I was hopeful, but not in my wildest dreams did I expect a performance like that last week. Amazing. I can’t wait to see what he does on Sunday.

Seattle’s Missing Players. WR Percy Harvin, LB Bruce Irvin (sorry Bruce, PEDs are illegal in the NFL), and possibly CB Bradon Browner. Whatever. I’ll take it.

We’re the San Francisco 49ers. We’re good. We can totally do this. We just need to keep our heads straight, get first downs, not make silly mistakes, and not turnover the ball. And hit them really, really hard. Just for kicks.

The Bad

The 12th Man. Listen, I don’t know or care if they pump extra crowd noise in through the speakers at Seattle. The fact is: it’s loud in that stadium and with some of the mistakes we made last week (bad snap counts, false starts etc.) we can’t afford to let the noise factor disrupt play. Get through the first quarter. Put points on the board. And shut them up.

Marshawn Lynch. Credit where credit is due. Lynch is a beast and he’s a hard guy to tackle. Of the last 84 games, the Niners have only allowed 9 100-yard rushes. Four of those belonged to Lynch. On top of that, the Niners had way more missed tackles last Sunday than I care to remember. I hope they get that in check because, if not, Lynch is going to be a problem.

Seattle’s Safeties. They’re good. Maybe one of the best duos in the NFL. Not excited about that one bit.

Our running game. Or should I say “What running game?” I think Gore and Hunter warmed up towards the end of last Sunday’s game, but it was pretty nonexistent and not much of a factor. It’s supposed to rain throughout the game on Sunday night, which means our run game is going to be key. Everyone needs to step up with blocks and making holes because without a run game this week, I think we’re screwed.

Russell Wilson. I mean, I really didn’t want to throw Seattle’s QB in there, but I’d probably get someone pointing it out if I didn't. Sure, he’s good. Fine. Whatever. Our defense just needs to handle him. (That includes you, secondary.)

This game matters. That’s silly to say, of course, because every game in the NFL matters, but this game REALLY matters. Both teams are 1-0. Whoever takes this game will also take the lead in the NFC West. Pressure.

The Rest of It

I am definitely nervous for this game. It’s a huge deal. It’s primetime. The 49ers have to win. Do I think we can pull it off? Of course. Do I think it’s going to be a constant battle? Definitely.

Note: As I mentioned before, it’s supposed to be raining at kickoff and throughout the game. Just how hard it will rain will, I suspect, ultimately determine the game plan, but the Niners have to run the ball. And they have to stop Lynch. I don’t expect to see Kap throwing it downfield like he did against Green Bay.

Also: I am sure you’ve all heard, but Kaepernick and Wilson made a bet about the game. Whomever loses has to shave off an eyebrow. Not a good look for anyone, but we know Kaepernick keeps his bets (unlike Aaron Rodgers), so let’s just hope he walks away from this one with all of his hair in place.

Seattle is pumped up for this game. I mean, they’re trying to break the Guiness World Record for loudest crowd roar. Which is stupid, but whatever. It’s a thing so I’m telling you about it.

My prediction? Last week I said we were going to lose this game, but screw that. We’ll win.

Watch San Francisco at SEATTLE on Sunday at 5:30 p.m. PT on NBC.

By Daisy Barringer

Everyone understands the gravity of the situation come Sunday. The 49ers must beat Arizona in order to win the NFC West. In addition, Minnesota must beat Green Bay in order for the 49ers to clinch the No. 2 NFC seed and earn a bye week. Considering the number of injuries — especially Justin Smith and his partial tear of his left triceps tendon — the week off could be crucial for the Niners. Alas, that is totally out of their hands. All they can do now is try to beat the Cardinals and win the West.

Despite the debacle that was the 49ers performance last week, they actually still opened as 16 ½ point favorites over the Cardinals. Personally, I think that's ridiculous and if I were a betting woman (which I'm not), I'd take Arizona. That being said, I do feel confident that the 49ers can win this game. And based on their Win-Win-Loss pattern all season, they will. Also doesn't hurt that Arizona kind of sucks.

Let's take a look at how the 49ers are going to pull this one off:

The Good

• The Cardinals are 5-10. They have zero motivation to win this game except their hatred of the Niners. They're not going to throw the game in order to secure a better draft pick, but… they probably should.
• Home-field advantage. Someone (me) has to drive home from Tahoe Sunday morning and then back up to Tahoe on Monday morning just so she doesn't miss the game, but this isn't about me (yes it is). This game means something to fans, so I expect them to show up and get loud.
• The Niners tend to bounce back with vehemence after humiliating losses. I expect them to come out ferocious and fighting. I don't know why they don't ALWAYS do this, but nonetheless, I think they'll score fast and first and set the tempo for the game.
• QB Brian Hoyer is starting for the Cards—his first professional start. Arizona has used FOUR different starting QBs this season. He has only 62 career pass attempts. Even with Justin Smith out, I think our defense is going to hand his ass to him. Should be fun to watch.
• Frank Gore. The Niners just need to give Gore the ball. Nothing fancy. Just let him run the ball and keep the offense on the field long enough for our defense to get some rest.

The Bad

• Justin Smith is out. This is bad news for the entire defense as we witnessed last Sunday, but it's especially bad news for Aldon Smith who needs 3.5 sacks to break Michael Strahan's single-season NFL record (22.5 sacks). Unfortunately, most of Aldon's sacks come because of help from Justin Smith. Don't look for him to break the record. If he gets more than even one sack, I'll be surprised. (Pleasantly so, obvi.)
• Vernon Davis practiced on Thursday for the first time since sustaining a concussion in the Seattle game, but it was in a limited, noncontact role. It appears he'll play on Sunday, but it's not guaranteed. Kaepernick does not throw to him as much as I'd like, but having him in the game even as a blocker is key.
• WR Mario Mannigham is finished for the season. A.J. Jenkins needs to step up and make plays in his absence.
• Larry Fitzgerald. Obviously I can't stand the guy. After all, he's an amazing wide receiver and he plays for the bad guys. That being said, he's been under-utilized and I can't help but feel a little bad for him. He's had the worst season of his career through no fault of his own and he handles everything with grace and a professional attitude. Still: here's hoping QB Brian Hoyer can't connect with him for big plays.

The Rest of It

• In two weeks the Niners went from being Super Bowl favorites to being totally humiliated by Seattle. This season has been a rollercoaster and I know I'm not alone in my doubts if this team actually has what it takes to win the Super Bowl.
• This game is huge. The Niners just need to play smart and with confidence. Greg Roman needs to stop being so aggressive and go back to what works. If everyone just shows up and plays his best, we've got this. I just hope with so much on the line, the Niners don't choke.
• I'm nervous, of course. (I'm always nervous when it comes to the Niners). But I think we've got this. Not by 16 ½ points, but by at least a touchdown.

Watch San Francisco vs. Arizona on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. PT on FOX.

By Daisy Barringer

Everyone knows that, of course, the night before Thanksgiving is the biggest drinking night of the year. People hit the bars, hang out with old friends who just came into town, and makes sure they're just hungover enough to deal with family the next day. I usually partake in this annual ritual, but sadly, this year I was too freaked out about Jim Trotter's Twitter announcement that QB Colin Kapernick was starting over Alex Smith to do anything but sit on my couch, watch Love Actually, and weep.

BREAKING: Jim Harbaugh has informed Alex Smith that Colin Kaepernick will start Sunday, per source. Said decision not based on health.

— Jim Trotter (@SI_JimTrotter) November 22, 2012

According to Trotter, Harbaugh apologized to Alex Smith on Wednesday and said Kaepernick would start on Sunday against New Orleans. Trotter also said that the decision was NOT health-related.

Within minutes, Trotter’s tweet blasted out , and Niners' fans around the country were either jumping for joy, cursing the decision, or just plain confused.

I fell into the latter category. For one, it made no sense for the 49ers to show their hand that early, effectively allowing the Saints to know which quarterback to prepare for. Why would anyone leak that news? But mostly, why would Harbaugh even pick Kaepernick over Smith? Yes, Kaep had an inspired game against the Bears on Monday, but how on earth does that mean he suddenly gets the start over Alex Smith?

Harbaugh spent the last two years instilling confidence in Alex, something that was desperately needed after Alex was forced to play under a different offensive coordinator every year and some pretty crappy coaches (i.e., Singletary). Thanks to Harbaugh's belief in him, Alex won 20 of his last 26 games. Why even risk destroying all that has been built, effectively alienating Alex Smith, in order to start a back-up quarterback who had one good game?

Truly, I am flabbergasted. What's worse is now it is Friday and the media still isn't 100 percent positive which quarterback is starting. Smith has allegedly been cleared to play after suffering a concussion against the Rams. But everyone is saying it still looks like Kaepernick is going to start and that he’s the guy for whom the Saints are preparing.

Listen, there is no denying that Kaepernick looked great against the Bears. I believe he is our future quarterback. It’s lovely to know that our backup is capable of being our starter. I just can’t understand, even for a fleeting second, why Harbaugh would make this decision. It just doesn’t make sense for a thousand little reasons. Take, for example, some of the more obvious ones:

• The Superdome is notoriously one of the loudest domes on the NFL. Kaepernick is completely unprepared to handle that type of situation. Not only has he never had to help out his offensive line with that type of noise, how do we know if he’s capable of going up against a player like Jonathan Vilma, the Saints defensive play caller, and one of the best in the league?

• Even with Smith as the starter, Harbaugh hasn’t hesitated to use Kaepernick in many games this season. It’s no secret I’m not a fan of bringing Kaepernick in and taking Alex Smith out of his rhythm, but the point is: Harbaugh could still use Kapernick effectively without raising eyebrows, creating unnecessary drama, and punishing Alex Smith for doing nothing but being an awesome quarterback all year.

• The 49ers are winning. We're 7-2... and one. Why take this risk when what we’ve been doing has mostly been working? We are on the road to the playoffs; there’s no reason for a huge mix-up that very well might not work.

• Ultimately, we don't know yet who the starter will be. The Niners have denied all reports that have been put out by the media. My hope? That this is just Harbaugh’s way of screwing with the Saints and making them prepare for two quarterbacks, or perhaps even focusing too much on the wrong one. That Alex Smith starts on Sunday. Because I believe in him. And because he deserves it. Kaepernick will get his chance. I just don’t think it should be now.

• Regarding the rest of it? Well who even knows. This is basically all anyone’s been talking about for the last couple of days, but I suppose there are some other factors to weigh in.

The Good

• Due to his 5.5 sacks on Monday, Aldon Smith was named the NFC’s Defensive Player of the week. Expect him to thrive and keep that momentum going.

• The Saints are 17th in red-zone defense. Whichever quarterback is starting, this is a chance to run up the score.

• Guess who is dead last in rushing yards allowed? Oh yeah? The Saints. Maybe we should just forego the whole QB controversy and give the ball to Gore and Hunter all day. I will admit, the fact that the Saints are so terrible against the run does bode well for Kaepernick if and when he's in the game.

The Bad

• The Niners’ defense will have their hands full against the Saints’ offense who are have one of the best passing games in the league. Turnovers will be crucial.

• The Saints are going to be looking for retribution for their playoff loss last year against the Niners. There’s a lot at stake on both sides of the balls, so the Niners just need to keep their cool, play hard, and not get sucked into the drama.

The Rest of It

• I don’t even know. The Niners need to score first (they’re 6-1 when we do; 1-1-1 when we don’t), but more than that, they just need to go out and play good football. It’s as simple as that.

• Ultimately, I trust Harbaugh. I think the’s one of the best coaches in the NFL. I rarely question him. I believe he knows what he is doing. I just can’t quite see why he’d start Kaepernick in this situation. It feels like a big risk -- an unnecessary risk -- and I hope it’s just his way of totally screwing with everyone involved.

• I don’t have a great feeling about this game. The Niners have been inconsistent. I mean, we tie against the Rams who then go on to demolish the Jets a team we shut out at home? None of it makes sense. The fact that the Saints (5-5) have had similar problems means I really have no idea how this game will go. And that makes me uncomfortable.

I don’t know what else to say. Smith might start. Kaepernick might start. We might play well. We might suck. On Any Given Sunday and all of the rest of it. I just hope that Harbaugh’s plan shows his genius and not his emotion.

Watch San Francisco at New Orleans on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. on FOX.

By Daisy Barringer

Call me crazy, but I kind of miss waking up on Sunday excited to watch my boys play ball. Yesterday I was adamant that (for once) I not waste my entire day in the bar (instead I wasted it at home in my PJs), and was subjected to Cleveland at Dallas and New Orleans at Oakland. What kind of life is that, I ask? (Hint: No life at all.) Maybe it's just me, but not having Niners' football on four of the last five Sundays? It's probably a lot like what poor people who can't afford food feel like.

That being said, you know what's better than Sunday football? That's right: MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. The energy. The intensity. The lights (assuming they work). The eyes of the entire nation upon you. And let me tell y'all (I'm southern today), when the Niners face off against the Chicago Bear tonight: IT'S ON.

Listen, I don't have any personal beef against the Bears. In fact, they';re a pretty likable team. I mean, that whole Super Bowl Shuffle thing they did back in the olden days? Adorable! But we're 6-2 and… ugh: 1. So we need this win and we need it badly. Mostly, we need to come out when the world is watching and prove that we are the team we claim we are. That we're worthy of the playoffs. We need to make everyone forget that we tied the Saint Louis Rams who then lost to the Jets, the same team we shut out at home earlier this season. I have no idea how we're going to do this with Kaepernick at the helm, but I'm going to put on my lucky red undies, my magic Niners’ bracelet and drink so much vodka that I'll hallucinate the win, even if it doesn't happen.

Of course, on any given Monday or whatever. So let’s take a look.

The Good:

• I'm like a broken record with this, but obviously I do not like it when players are injured. Nonetheless, it is obviously huge that Jay Cutler is out with a concussion. Former Raiders QB Jason Campbell will make his first NFL start in more than a year and sure, the guy is a decent QB, but clearly Cutler being out is a huge advantage.

• And, no it's not the same since the Bears didn't have a decent backup QB last year, but it's worth noting that after Jay Cutler got hurt last year, the Bears went from 7-3 with playoff aspirations to finishing 8-8 and with no postseason berth.

• Ultimately, I think having Jason Campbell at QB means the Bears are going to call a pretty conservative game. Too bad the Bears running game has completely faltered this year (blame offensive coordinator Mike Tice) and trying to get it going against the Niners is a laughable idea. Expect to see a lot more of Matt Forte, but don't expect to see him going too far with the ball.

• The Bears are ranked 28th in offense which will make for a very interesting match-up against our number three ranked defense. Again, they're going to try to establish the run, but… well let's just say I’ll try not to laugh too loudly when they fail.

• Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman vs. Lance Briggs and Brian Urlacher. No disrespect to the elderly Bears, but I'l take Willis and Bowman over those guys any day of the week.

• In a weird and totally screwed up way, I think Harbaugh's heart procedure this week for his irregular heartbeat could be a good thing for the Niners. Even though the procedure was minor, I think the players love Coach Harbaugh so much that they'll play with extra heart so that Coach doesn't have to get his all worked up.

The Bad:

• Alex Smith is out. I don't know HOW this happened or what jerkface neurologist wouldn't clear him after everyone and his mother thought Smith was starting, but whatever: there's nothing we can do about it now and so Kaepernick will start. This is not good. First of all, the Bears have a pretty good defense. Fine. They're ranked second in points allowed (14.8) and have the league-high for takeaways (30). Smith could have handled this. Kaepernick? With all of his MNF jitters and nerves? All I can say is that we just have to run run run run run run run. (Also, obviously I care more about Alex Smith’s health than a win, except only by like a very small hare of a
fraction.)

• The Bears have intercepted a pass in every game this season. (Conversely, the Niners haven't turned the ball over in the last two games.) Look for Kaepernick to keep their streak alive.

• Brandon Marshall is ranked No. 3 in receiving yards and second in receptions (67 catches for 904 yards and 7 TDs). This worries me less since I really do believe the Bears are going to also going to run the ball and then run it some more, but one or two deep passes to Marshall could totally screw with our secondary.

• There's only a 10% chance of rain, but Bill Walsh Field is notorious for getting rather swamp-like when it pours like it has been for the past couple of days, which just gives the Niners even more reason to run the ball besides (UGH) Kaepernick. The Bears are pretty good at stopping the run, so Gore's gotta figure out a way to find the holes and get the yards.

• Our Special Teams. Everyone knows by now that letting Blake Costanza go to Chicago was a huge mistake. HUGE. Look for him to rub that in our faces during kickoff and punt return coverage.

• Devin Hester. Is Hester the same guy he used to be? No. Has his time at WR been disappointing? Yes. Is he still capable of returning a punt for a touchdown? Absolutely. Let’s hope the field is too slippery for this to happen.

The Rest of It:

There’s a high chance of a super sloppy football game tonight. No one wants to turn into a national MNF game where neither starting quarterback is on the field, but this one could actually be fun to watch. It’s going to be a defensive battle out there and that’s when our boys can really shine. It’s all going to come down to which team wants it more. And trust me: it had BETTER be us.

Watch Chicago at San Francisco tonight at 5:30 p.m. on ESPN/CBS5.

By Daisy Barringer

For the last three Sundays, there has been no 49ers' football. Zero. Zilch. None. Nada. And it’s been torture. I’m sure some people took that opportunity to do things like go outside, have brunch with friends, or whatever it is weirdo non-football fans do on the weekend, but I'm not like that because I'm no loser. No, no. I was still firmly planted in front of a TV, watching all of the games, and catching up on what’s been happening around the league. It was just a lot harder to justify cracking open that first beer at 10 a.m. (Don't worry, though; I totally managed.) Anyway, THANK GOD 49ers' football is back this Sunday in all of its glory. Well, I mean, as much glory as there can be when we're playing the Saint Louis Rams.

The Good

• The players are coming off almost thirteen days of rest. As Matthew Barrows pointed out, since Harbaugh took over, the 49ers are 8-1\ when they have at least one more day to prepare for a game.

• The Rams are also coming off a bye, but they’re also on a three-game losing streak. I think the Niners will happily attempt to push that number to four.

• St. Louis should be terrified of our defense and if our guys can get into their heads early, it should be fun to watch. QB Sam Bradford has been sacked 22 times this year and hit 27. I eagerly await watching those numbers rise on Sunday.

• The Rams aren’t great at defending the tight end. Look for Vernon Davis to finally start getting the ball again and making big plays.

• They will feel heaps of pressure to throw the ball. Good luck, Rams. The Niners have given up the second-fewest passing yards (184 per game) in the NFL. I’d love to see them throw though because that means more chances for our defense to get some INTs.

• Steven Jackson might be one of the toughest running backs in the leagues, but there’s no way the guy isn’t bitter that the Rams were fielding trade inquiries about him just a few weeks ago. Bitter isn’t a good look on anyone.

The Bad

• The Rams secondary is pretty decent. I’m not sure if this is bad for us or if it just means we need to do what we do best: run the ball and throw short catchable passes.

• Even though our offensive line is being "hailed as one of the best," it is still a fact that they’ve allowed 24 sacks. In a way this is good because it means Smith is taking the sack instead of throwing the ball and possible an interception, but I would like to see him go down less.

The 49ers have a season-high nine players on the injury list. The list includes Crabtree (illness), Alex Smith (finger - still), Manningham (shoulder), Gore (hand), Willis (shoulder) and a handful of others. I expect to see them all on the field on Sunday, although I’m not sure what’s up with Willis’ shoulder. Do not like.

• Frankly, there’s not much else to say. If we just get out there and play Niners smashmouth football, we should be fine. As long as no one gets complacent or overly confident, we’ve got this one.

The Rest of It

• Look, I hate when analysts (which I am not, just so we’re clear) say things like "The Niners just need to score first and control the clock." No shit.. But, I mean, it’s true. If the Niners can get up by 10 or 14, I don’t see the Rams being able to recover.

• The fans need to get loud. It’s an afternoon game, which means fans are typically more lackadaisical and laid back (why is that, by the way?), but we need to wear red and scream our pretty little faces off (on defense only, as we’ve discussed). Yes, it’s hot in the sun and yes, standing up is just sooooo exhausting for our pathetically fat American asses, but JUST DO IT. Thank
you.

• Oh, and for once and for all can everyone just shut up about whether Aldon Smith was jumped? Dude said "nothing happened" so let’s just believe him that nothing happened. Plus, WHO CARES as long as he can get those insanely long arms out on the field on Sunday and get some sacks?

It’s going to be a fun game all around. I’ve got a friend flying in from New York and @ninersnation is already in town, so it’ll be fun to have some out of town Faithful in the house.

My prediction? We've got this. 27-7.

Watch the San Francisco 49ers vs. the Saint Louis Rams on Sunday at 1:25 p.m. on FOX.