Saints vs 49ers: Jim Harbaugh Proves Why Top-Flight Coach Trumps All-Pro QB

There's no denying that Drew Brees is a better quarterback than Alex Smith. 

Yet, we all just saw Smith and the San Francisco 49ers topple Brees and the New Orleans Saints.

What caused this to happen? Was it San Francisco's defense? Their rushing attack? Their offensive line?

No, it was none of these.

It was Jim Harbaugh, their head coach.

In his first year as an NFL coach, Harbaugh did what no one thought he could: He turned the 49ers into an elite team.

Harbaugh was able to simplify the San Francisco offense, and after not doing much of anything for six years, Alex Smith played like a starting quarterback.

Under Harbaugh, a previously average defense became elite. Sure, the addition of Aldon Smith helped, but most of the players that make this defense what it is were already in San Francisco. No, Harbaugh is not the defensive coordinator. But does he not deserve some of the credit here?

In this game, we say Drew Brees put up an elite performance. He threw for 450 yards. He threw four touchdowns. It wasn't enough.

Alex Smith, on the other hand, threw for 299 yards and three touchdowns. Not shabby by any means, but it doesn't match Brees' level of production.

Yet, the 49ers won. It's not just because of what Harbaugh did this week and on gameday, but because of what he did in the year leading up to this day.

Jim Harbaugh was able to put together an elite special teams that helped win this game. Harbaugh was smart enough to steal special teams coordinator Brad Seely from the Cleveland Browns.

Seely then brought along linebacker Blake Costanzo, who recovered a fumble and was in on several key plays.

2011 has been a magical season for the 49ers, and it nearly ended in an unbelievable playoff game.

But it didn't end. And the reason for that is Jim Harbaugh, who, in one year, moved the 49ers out of the top-ten in the NFL draft, and into the conference championship.