New Orleans Saints vs San Francisco 49ers: Crucial Individual Matchups to Watch

The New Orleans Saints entertain the San Francisco 49ers in an important NFC clash on Sunday, and this contest will undoubtedly hinge on several crucial individual matchups.

In the race for the No. 1 seed in the playoffs, the Saints (7-2), are looking for a win on Sunday to keep pace with the NFC-leading Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers (6-3), meanwhile, are also fighting to secure a playoff spot.

This midseason showdown is sure to have a direct impact on the NFC playoff picture, and both of these contenders will attempt to control the line of scrimmage in order to achieve victory. Without further delay, here's a look at the game's key individual battles.

 

49ers Defensive End Justin Smith vs Saints Offensive Line

 

If last Sunday night's 49-17 demolition of the Dallas Cowboys proved anything, it proved that the Saints' high-flying passing attack is even more lethal when complimented by an effective running game.

The last time the New Orleans offensive line faced off against a quality defensive front, however, the results were less than stellar. The New York Jets had their way with the Saints two weeks ago, and shut down the New Orleans running game. They also pressured Saints quarterback Drew Brees throughout the contest.

After a week of heavy criticism, Saints offensive guard Jahri Evans and company responded with a dominating performance of their own last Sunday night against Dallas.

San Francisco's defensive front more closely resembles the Jets' than the Cowboys', however, and the leader of the group is four-time Pro Bowler Justin Smith. In the 49ers' base 3-4 defense, Smith often lines up as an end. But in obvious passing situations, he plays defensive tackle in an even-man front.

That means Smith will line up against various New Orleans offensive linemen on Sunday, with either left tackle Charles Brown or left guard Ben Grubbs likely drawing the assignment on most snaps.

Grubbs, Brown and Evans must control the line of scrimmage, and that starts with managing Smith. When the Saints establish at least some semblance of a ground attack, that usually means big plays are on the way from Brees.

Saints Linebacker Curtis Lofton vs 49ers Running Back Frank Gore

After leading his team to the Super Bowl last season, 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has hit a bit of a wall as of late. The third-year product out of Nevada commands attention as a dual threat, but his numbers have dropped off significantly since last season's electrifying playoff run.

After San Francisco put up only nine points at home last week, coach Jim Harbaugh will assuredly attempt to kick-start his offense on Sunday in the Superdome. One of the most effective ways to assist a struggling young quarterback is to turn to a strong running game, and that's where Frank Gore comes in.

While the 49ers struggled to score points against Carolina last week, they enjoyed considerable success in the run department, as Gore carried 16 times for 82 yards. He currently ranks seventh in the NFL in rushing and averages 4.3 yards per carry on the year.

In addition, Gore's performance in last year's meeting isn't likely to be forgotten by the Saints' defenders any time soon. In a 31-21 49ers win at New Orleans, Gore pounded out 83 yards on the ground, while the San Francisco offensive line out-muscled the Saints up front.

As the signal-caller of the Saint defense, linebacker Curtis Lofton will be involved in a chess match with Kaepernick, but he'll also be heavily relied upon to contain Gore. He can't allow the 49ers running back to repeatedly break free into the New Orleans secondary, as Gore does here against the Chiefs.

When the 49ers elect to run on early downs, Lofton must make his presence felt by meeting Gore in the hole and stopping him in his tracks, thus forcing Kaepernick to put the ball in the air on third downs.

Saints Running Backs Pierre Thomas and Mark Ingram vs 49ers Linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman

 

In addition to the battle in trenches, the Saints' offensive success will in part depend on their running backs' ability to find lanes. Thomas and Ingram were both impressive against Dallas, but again, the 49er defense is a different animal altogether. The Saint ball-carriers must locate the narrow creases provided by their blockers, maximize their yards on each running play and help create manageable down-and-distance situations for Brees.

Awaiting on the other side will be Willis and Bowman, who are two of the best linebackers in football. Willis, a six-time Pro Bowl selection, has 49 tackles on the season, while Bowman has 76. Thomas and Ingram will need to run with authority if they're to win the majority of these battles. And they must also protect the football at all costs.

For the most part, these crucial individual matchups revolve around the physical nature of the game of football. In order to knock out the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers, a tough hard-nosed mentality will be needed in the New Orleans Saints' corner.

A New Orleans victory will partly depend on winning the one-on-one battles discussed above. In the end, however, the Saints as a team must be able to stand up and go toe-to-toe with the 49ers from a physical standpoint.   

After all, that's what championship teams do.