For the first time since 2002 your San Francisco 49ers are NFC West champions and playoff bound.  The sight of Frank Gore waving the 49ers flag after a 26-0 beat down of the Rams to celebrate winning the NFC West with Niner fans in the stadium will never get old.  So many times since 2002 the 49ers walked off the field at Candlestick to boo’s after a loss, hanging their heads in defeat.  Finally, after nine seasons, two head coaches, numerous offensive coordinators and quarterbacks, and season after season of disappointment, the 49ers are NFC West champs. How does it feel 49ers Faithful?  It’s been a long time coming.

Niner fans are probably still getting used to that winning feeling, something we had not felt in a long while.  The 49ers Faithful were spoiled in the 1980s and ‘90s and hardly ever felt the sting of a lousy team and a losing season.  Many of the players on the 49ers have suffered through seasons of failure.  The patriarchs of the 49ers (Alex Smith, Gore, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, and Joe Staley) finally get to celebrate their first winning season and NFC West title in Red and Gold.  They will finally know what it is like to play a meaningful game in January.  The patriarchs have led the 49ers for the last six/seven seasons through the darkest days of the franchise enduring multiple coaches and up and down years.   Finally their loyalty to the 49ers franchise and to the fans paid off of.

With four games left in the season the 49ers have ten wins and can now look towards catching up with the Packers and securing a first-round playoff bye.  It is time for Niner fans to go get those playoff tickets.  But first let’s hand out some Game Gold Nuggets.

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