Saints vs. 49ers: Patrick Willis and 3 Players Who Must Perform for a 49ers Win

An intriguing matchup to say the least will be going down in San Francisco.

The San Francisco 49ers might be the No. 2 seed in the NFC, yet they are also the underdogs heading into their divisional round game against the New Orleans Saints.

QB Drew Brees is the big reason the Saints are favored in this one, as he comes off one of the better seasons, numbers wise, that any QB has had in NFL history. Brees recorded the most passing yards in a single season in league history.

The dynamic, experienced Saints team will travel to San Francisco to take on a young, talented 49ers team that prides itself on its ability to shut teams down defensively and who have a solid run game.

If the 49ers expect to overcome the odds and beat the Saints, in turn moving on to the NFC championship, these are the three players that have to step up in this tough divisional round game.

Patrick Willis, LB

Willis is an impact player not in his numbers, but in his ability to shut down running backs and forces a team to win games with the arm of the QB.

Just how effective has Willis been at doing this in the 2011-2012 NFL season?

The 49ers are the No. 1 defense against the run, allowing just 77.3 yards per game in the 16 games they have played this season. Willis has helped to anchor the best run defense in the NFL this season and will look to do so against RBs Darren Sproles and Pierre Thomas. 

Yet in the team's last three games, the 49ers have allowed over 100 yards in two consecutive games to the St. Louis Rams and Seattle Seahawks to close out the season. Willis will have to help his team rise to the occasion and force Brees to make plays for four quarters.

Frank Gore, RB

When Frank Gore performs, as do the 49ers.

In each of the eight games that Gore has recorded at least 80 years, the 49ers are 8-0 and have a margin of victory of 88 points.

With eight-straight games without a 100-yard game, Gore knows he will have to be more of a factor if the 49ers expect to overcome a dynamic, tremendous, point-scoring Saints offense.

Gore recorded a solid 1,211 yards and eight touchdowns on the season, so he is more than capable of taking this team on his back offensively and putting up points.

Vernon Davis, TE

Vernon Davis is not only an integral part of this 49ers offense, but is also a player that makes things happen when he has the football in his hands.

This season the 49ers are a whopping 12-1 when Davis catches the ball at least three times. When Davis gets the ball at least five times, the team is 6-0.

Davis helps to open up an offense, as Alex Smith will look to him early with pressure sure to be coming from strong, quick and athletic defensive ends early on in the contest.

Expect Davis to be the x-factor in this one offensively. Good things happen when this former Terrapin has the football in his hands, make no mistake about it.