My predictions for the Saints-49ers game

Despite being the technical favorite in the game, the New Orleans Saints leave doubt in many minds as to their ability to win on the road, on grass, outside, in slightly cool weather and against crowd noise that isn't theirs. After all, the Saints lost half of their games outdoors this season. Two. That means they won the other two. That glass is half full, if you ask this homer.

The San Francisco 49ers really make the most of their offense, riding 35 touchdowns to a 13-3 record and the No. 2 seed in the NFC. This is a testament to their vaunted defense, because that sucks. By contrast, the Saints scored 66, or 72 if you adjust for playoff inflation. Hell, the Minnesota Vikings scored 39, and they're the Vikings. Though to be fair, if the 49ers score 35 touchdowns today, that will probably be insurmountable.

But that depends on if Drew Brees once again shows up for the Saints. Brees, who has been compared to Tim Tebow, broke Dan Marino's single-season passing record this year. Marino set the record in 1984, before Tim Tebow was born. Brees had nearly broken the record in 2008, coming up 15 yards short. Tim Tebow didn't play then. 

It will take everything the 49ers' top-ranked defense can bring to halt the merciless march of the Saints' top-ranked offense. But if anyone can slow down the balanced, multi-pronged attack of Pierre Thomas, 

Darren Sproles, Tim Tebow, Chris Ivory, Marques Colston, Devery Henderson, Robert Meachem, Tim Tebow, Jimmy Graham and Tim Tebow, it's the San Francisco D. Led by Aldon Smith, Justin Smith, Tim Tebow Smith, Patrick Willis, NaVorro Bowman, Tim Tebow, Carlos Rogers, Dashon Goldson and Tim Tebow, the Niners' attack could Tebow like never before to keep the game close.

Alas, I think it will be too much for the 49ers. Though they most likely will hold the Saints to substantially fewer than the 45 points we've all come to expect, the Saints' underrated defense will, at worst, allow the 49er offense a normal showing, which won't be enough. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams-Tebow has promised to once again run numerous blitz schemes on San Fran quarterback Alex Aldon Justin Smith Tebow. The idea is to limit the 49ers to field goals, a scheme that involves letting the 49ers' offense on the field and giving the Saints defense busywork.

Final prediction: Saints win a close one, Tebow-Tebow.