NFL Playoffs 2012: Why San Francisco Is Bound for Super Bowl Glory

During an NFL season in which multiple passing records were broken and an elite quarterback was the most important thing since, well, ever, it only make sense the San Francisco 49ers are going to win the Super Bowl.

Wait, no, it doesn't make sense.  But that's the NFL.

Whenever you expect something—bam!  The opposite of what you're expecting happens.

Just look at last week.  Drew Brees and the Saints were the hottest team in the NFL and nothing was going to stop them.  Not even San Francisco's No. 1 ranked defense.

Well, as it turned out, it wasn't the 49ers' defense that stopped the Saints; it was Alex freaking Smith and the offense.

If someone would have told you a week ago that the Niners were going to beat the Saints in a shootout, you would have probably kindly disagreed with that person.  Or maybe even worse. 

Again, that's the NFL.

The San Francisco 49ers were underdogs at home in that game, they constantly have no one believing in them, and frankly, I'm sure they wouldn't have it any other way.

Up next for San Fran is the New York Giants.  And it's likely no one will trust the Niners in that one, either.

After all, the Giants just knocked off the defending champs in decisive fashion, Eli Manning is playing the best football of his career and New York's front seven is as menacing as ever. 

What's not to like? 

But has Manning seen a pass rush like the 49ers will bring?  How accurate is he going to be when throwing from his back? 

And forget about turning to the run-game.  The Giants are going to be extremely one-dimensional.

Manning has been terrific, but he's no Brees, and the Niners made Brees look extremely uncomfortable at times last week. 

That resulted in turnovers, and that's how San Francisco wins games.  And that's how they are going to win the Super Bowl.

No matter who they face, they force turnovers.  And lots of them.  It's good to know that Smith can open it up if the game turns to a shootout, but it won't come to that again.

Last week's touchdown-fest is going to make people forget how scary this defense is.

The Ravens could present the Niners with problems in a potential Super Bowl matchup because they have a similar type of team and they've already beaten San Francisco.

But remember, whatever you expect to happen won't.  That's why the San Francisco 49ers are destined to win Super Bowl XLVI.

I wouldn't expect anything less of the best defensive team during the most prolific offensive season.