By Daisy Barringer

When it comes to the 49ers, all anyone seems to be able to talk about is how they're totally going to the playoffs. After all, they're winning and, well, everyone else in the NFC West is losing. It's basically guaranteed, they say!

Well, let me just tell you that you're not going to get any of that happy cheery go-lucky optimism here. No siree! I've learned my lesson. I've written those exclamations of WE'RE GOING TO THE PLAYOFFS in all caps with adorable emoticons only to have the team implode and the entire season crumble before my crying eyes.

This year, I’m not talking about the playoffs until, ahem, we actually make it there. Call me mature, if you must. Just know you'll be the first person ever to do so.

It does seem like the 49ers have a shot at the playoffs. I mean, all they need to do in order to make it there is win. Right? (I know. My deep analysis of the inner workings on the NFL is ground-breaking.) Luckily, I do think that this week, against the 3-3 Cleveland Browns, that's totally do-able. And here's why. In the order you've come to know and love.


The Bad

  • Alex Smith is still, well, Alex Smith, Sure, he’s the most confident he's ever been, but did you see those balls flying over Crabtree’s head against Detroit?

  • Everyone thought WR Braylon Edwards was going to be back for this game, but now it’s hard to tell. Coach Harbaugh doesn’t like to give injury updates, so we have to base all of our assumptions on what’s happening in practice. Yesterday, Edwards was a full speed, full practice participant. Still, I’m not playing in him in my fantasy league, so make of what what you will. (Which is probably just that I’m a huge loser.)

  • Too much hype? I’m not saying that everyone thinking the Niners are awesome is a bad thing, but WHAT IF IT IS.

  • QB Colt McCoy. Hahahhahaha. Kidding.

The Good

  • Coming off of a BYE

  • Home field advantage

  • Frank Gore

  • Our defense

  • Momentum

  • Lots of injuries on the Browns (RB Peyton Hillis: hamstring; Starting WR Mohammed Massaquoi: still hasn’t been cleared to play after suffering a concussion last week; TE Ben Watson: also a concussion.) I get that it's rude to be happy about injuries, and I'm not happy per se. I mean, I'm not doing like a little dance around my apartment or anything. I'm just REPORTING THE FACTS and also labeling them "good." It's totally different.

  • My new magical green undies.

What the Niners Need to Do

Establish the run early. The Browns rank first against the pass, so Gore and Kendall Jackson (HUNTER, WHATEVER) need to get the ball and go.

Stop the run. Duh. Peyton Hillis actually hasn’t practiced all week and could miss the game, but if he is healthy enough to play, we just need to do what we do so well and make sure he goes no where. Easy!

Sack McCoy. Just because I love watching our D sack QBs. Hurts so good.

So my little Faithful Furbies…What say you? Think the Niners are going to beat the Browns on Sunday? I’m saying YES.

San Francisco vs. Cleveland. Sunday, 1:15 p.m. on CBS 5.