Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

On Sunday night the San Francisco 49ers will walk into Foxboro Stadium with most giving them little chance to win and some saying blowout. If I was to base this game on what happened to the Texans, I could see how many think this. The Ex Patriots on NFL Network of course are going to tell the fans of the 49ers that you can expect more of the same. Ray Ratto on Chronicle live predicted that Tom Brady will throw for a minimum 4 touchdowns against the 49er Defense what could be blizzard conditions.  If Ray Ratto is correct in his statement this would be only the second time in 2 seasons that the 49ers would have given up 4 touchdowns to anybody. The last was the NFC Divisional game against the Saints and nobody was hotter than Drew Brees going into that game. I have heard enough from all the experts and how the Patriots are too good to beat heck a Patriot fan ran me down at the local Wal Mart to tell me we had no chance and they would win by 15 minimum. So how could this be the game of the year?

Yes the Patriots destroyed the Texans on Monday but the Niners are far more battle tested and play a style of defense that has given the Patriots fits this season. Both the AZ Cardinals and the Seattle Seahawks have beaten the Patriots this season. They did it with lots of pressure up the middle and making Tom Brady get out of the pocket  where he then was sacked 5 times and picked off three times. The 49ers Defense has faced the best Quarterbacks the league has to offer and have fared quite well giving up the fewest points in the league. If you’re the 49ers Defense do any of the players stand out to be that much better than what the team has already faced this year? I would have to say no the Patriots have some good skill players like Wes Welker and Aaron Hernandez and a deep threat with Brandon Lloyd who had done little until last week. The running game has been doing well but the running backs of the Patriots are nowhere near the caliber the 49ers are used to facing.  For the 49ers on defense the physical play and speed will be quite difficult for the Patriots to match and with the cold weather added in expect a few fumbles hopefully the ball goes are way.

When the 49ers have the ball Colin Kaepernick will have a chance once again on prime time to prove he is the right man to lead the 49ers.  The call from some is for the 49ers to open up the offense and throw the deep ball. This would be a big mistake for the 49ers and honestly I don’t see that happening. This is true playoff type football and the 49ers need to run the ball, beat up and demoralize the Patriots Defense. In order to do this the 49ers need to attack the strength of the Patriots and that is Vince Wilfork . The 49ers interior line will need to move Wilfork out of the way and run up the middle. Once they can establish this Colin will be able to run the option and will be able to then open up the passing game.  I know Tom Brady is a great cold weather quarterback and the 49ers have no idea how and if the weather will effect Colin but if you just keep handing the ball off the weather will not be much of a factor.

I am not discouraged by what is said in the media about this game I find some of it comical. While very few have given a ridiculous prediction like Ray Ratto you can expect this game to be very close. Tom Brady is going to make some great plays and the 49ers Defense will also make some great plays. Mistakes will decide the victor in what will be one of the best games of the season and hopefully a Super Bowl preview.

My prediction Niners 24 Patriots 16

By Mike Zamora

Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE

When the 49ers take the field against the Saints with either Alex Smith or Colin Kaepernick at the Qb position a win in this game will have big playoff implications. While the 49ers are looking at a first round bye and possibly home field throughout the playoffs the Saints are looking to stay in the hunt. So with such a big game on the line for both teams the 49ers are keeping the Saints in the dark as to who to prepare for which is a very smart move for Coach Harbaugh.

For the 49ers to Start Colin in this game would be a very bold move at this point in the season and if he fails it would be Armageddon in San Francisco as everyone outside and some inside would be going crazy about the wasted opportunity. Once again the team would be trying to make right with Alex, and Alex to his credit will say and do all the right things the team will rally together and move forward.  Colin did play great against the Bears and so did the rest of the team. It was only a couple weeks ago that Alex had an unbelievable performance on Monday Night as well. The 49ers have a couple other things to think about when possibly starting Colin in this game being in the dome and keeping up with Drew Brees. Colin is more likely to make the errors in this game as there will be a lot more pressure on to not make mistakes as a shootout could break out. Last Monday the Bears had little threat with Jason Campbell in the game and a loud crowd in our favor.

Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-US PRESSWIRE

The New York Giants came to San Francisco today and took it to the Niners. The NIners that came into the game with a much improved offense sure did not look like it. While they started off the game with a very good looking 12 play drive but ended it with nothing as David Akers failed to convert on the field goal. As the game went on it continued to be mistakes and poor play by the special teams and offense that doomed the Niners on this day.

The Special teams once again failed the team against the Giants while there were no turnovers the coverage unit which has been porous all season allowed the Giants to kill the emotion coming out of the half with a 60 yard return. It was bad enough that after a possible game changing block by Terelle Brown, Akers missed a 52 yard field goal that would have cut the lead to 4. It was that miss at the end of the half and the kick return and ensuing touchdown that put the NIners in panic position. From that point on the Niners got away from what they did well and that is run the ball. Greg Roman and the Niners tried to force the ball down field instead of rely on Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter and the rest of the creative running attack we as fans have been seeing.