San Francisco 49ers vs. New Orleans Saints: Alex Smith Redeems Himself in Win

If you asked San Francisco 49ers fans before the season who they would want driving their team down the field in the last minute of the fourth quarter in a big game, Alex Smith would not have been on their list.

Smith had tough shoes to fill upon entering the 49ers' starting job behind center. To be a field general for the same team that Joe Montana and Steve Young were was hard enough—just ask Giovanni Carmazzi.

But being a No. 1 overall pick, Smith had even bigger expectations and pressure from that in itself. Seven different coordinators in seven years didn't help either in regards to consistency for a young quarterback.

After today's divisional round win against the New Orleans Saints, Smith has finally made a positive name for himself in the eyes of 49ers fans. Winning this playoff game will give many quarterbacks instant credibility and popularity.

With Smith, however, it's much more than that. Because in the most pressure-packed moments of the game, it was Smith who propelled his team to victory. It was Smith who made the pinpoint throws with incredible timing to turn Vernon Davis into a NFL playoffs star.

It couldn't happen for a better guy than Smith. Despite his past failures on the field, he has always kept his nose clean of it.

With the NFC Championship game coming next week, Smith is one step closer to cementing his name along with those other two quarterbacks I mentioned before.

How's that for redemption?