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(AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)
The 49ers sit two games behind the Arizona Cardinals after the defending division champions defeated the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. At 6-3, the Cardinals now face the easiest schedule of any team in the NFL. The 49ers also have an easy schedule in the following weeks, but it may look like the best chances for the 49ers to make the playoffs is through the Wild Card.
In the current Wild Card standings, there are four teams with a 5-4 record. The 49ers at 4-5 don't sit too far from possibly securing one of the final playoff spots. Here are the teams the 49ers are fighting:
Eagles (5-4)
Packers (5-4)
Giants (5-4)
Falcons (5-4)
Panthers (4-5)
Bears (4-5)
49ers (4-5)
This Sunday's game in Green Bay could very well be the biggest game of the season for the 49ers. A win against the Packers puts them in a tie for the Wild Card lead. A loss would push the 49ers to 4-6 and possibly out of the playoff picture.
I'm sure that head coach Mike Singletary will still talk about being division champions in the upcoming weeks, but in the back of his mind he knows that the Wild Card is a good option for the team. After almost a week and a half between games, the 49ers will be rested and prepared to make their playoff push.
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The storyline for this Sunday's game will surround fight for the Wild Card. However, the biggest sidebar surrounds the quarterbacks of the game: Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith.
In 2005, the 49ers had the opportunity to take Aaron Rodgers as the #1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. As history would show, the 49ers chose Smith and Rodgers would drop to #24. Now as the two former first rounders meet, a lot of talk will surface on whether the 49ers made the right choice that day.
I've always thought (like many people) that Rodgers was more football ready and better prepared for the NFL. But it's moot now. Neither Smith or Rodgers have led their teams to the playoffs. Rodgers puts up better numbers, but Smith provides a lot more upside still at this point of his career.
This will be a great matchup for the two and it will most definitely be talked about in the following days.
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers
Comments
That is rough competition. I don't think of those games will be easy wins. I hope Alex Smith does not choke in this stretch. If the 49ers don't do well on offense, its all going to fall into Smith's lap. Crabtree, it's your time to shine. Show us what you got.
So long as Vernon Davis and Frank Gore keep putting up big numbers, we should be in a position to win. I think we should feel lucky that our offense is semi-healthy right now (knock on wood).
Appreciate the insights keep pumping them out.
-Will
Smith "more upside"? I don't think so. Rodgers is better, and has more upside.
Will: Thanks.
john: Rodgers had the luxury of inheriting a playoff team after learning from Favre. Smith has not been given the same opportunity to succeed and we haven't seen Smith in a full season since his soph year in the NFL. So my upside assessment comes from the fact that we haven't seen enough of Smith. Better quarterback? That's a different story.
I think the "upside" confusion comes from the comparison and misused terms. It sounds like you're saying that, all things equal, Smith has more potential to be a great quarterback than Rodgers. That doesn't sit well and there's simply no evidence to back it up.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think what you're trying to say is that Smith has a greater chance of vastly exceeding HIS OWN past performances (compared to Rodgers's chances of exceeding Rodgers's past performances). I think this is generally called "breakout," not upside. And while Smith probably does have a greater breakout potential, it doesn't say too much considering his history.
-Lindsey
I think that makes more sense. There is a lot that we haven't seen from Smith and we don't know what he can do once he does get comfortable. But obviously Rodgers has exceeded him in many levels right now.
Both have a lot more that they haven't tapped yet. But right now, Smith is the one with more potential based off of his previous performance.
Sounds like someone has a man-crush on Alex Smith.
Far from it. I'm a Cal fan and been a Rodgers fan. Only hoping the best for Smith because the 49ers have him.
Well put, Lindsey. Smith has greater upside because his play has been poor. Rodgers is a possible Pro Bowl selection this year.
i thought the niners beat all the teams already. if they win against them again, they will win the division and make the playoffs
they beat arizona , seattle, and st louis already
They will have to face them again and the Cardinals and Seahawks are better this time around than they were in the beginning of the year.
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