San Francisco 49ers: Welcome Back to the NFL Playoffs

For those of you who still read the newspaper, you might have looked at Monday's edition and saw the X mark (x = clinched division) by the San Francisco 49ers in the sports agate section.

It was no misprint folks.

Last Sunday San Francisco clinched the NFC West with a 26-0 home win over the St. Louis Rams, ending an eight-year playoff drought. The Niners' last playoff appearance was in 2002.

That season, San Francisco beat the New York Giants (39-38) in the NFC Wild Card Game; however, a 31-6 loss at Tampa Bay would be the end of the Steve Mariucci-era.

Mariucci was let go after the season and the Niners' would spend the next eight seasons in futility.

Since that time, San Francisco has been one of the NFL's worst teams. The Niners—along with Oakland and Detroit—are the only teams in the league without a winning season since 2002.

However, 2011, has been a year of revival for the team known as, "The City by the Bay."

The Niners (10-2), the team with five Super Bowl titles (1981, 1984, 1988, 1989 and 1994), have been the NFL's biggest surprise this season. Last season they were one of the biggest disappointments, as San Francisco (picked by many to win the division), lost its first five games and were uncompetitive throughout the season. The Niners finished the year at 6-10, and just missed the playoffs by one game. Seattle won the division with a 7-9 record (marking the first time in league history that a team won their division with a losing record). Head coach Mike Singletary was let go before the Niners' final game, bringing an end to a dismal season.

Singletary's firing would mean that San Francisco would be in the hunt for a new head coach.

Enter Jim Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, who belongs to the coaching tree of former Niners' head coach (the late Bill Walsh), was hired from Stanford University on January 7, 2011—just days after leading the Cardinal to a 40-12 Orange Bowl victory over Virgina Tech. Ironically, Walsh, was also a head coach at Stanford. 

Stanford had just wrapped up a successful season (12-1), and with Heisman hopeful quarterback Andrew Luck returning, many wondered if Harbaugh was getting in over his head by leaving Palo Alto for a franchise that was in an eight-year famine. Harbaugh, however, welcomed the challenge to rebuild one of the NFL's most-storied franchises.

Harbaugh also knew that by becoming the fourth head coach since 2002 to take over, it would take some time before he could bring them back to respectability.

The Niners, who played with no fire at the end of last season, quickly bought into Harbaugh's coaching philosophy. Harbaugh, who is known for his fervent temperament, coaches the same way as his personality would indicate.

In San Francisco's 25-19 win at Detroit in Week 6, Harbaugh's postgame handshake infuriated Lions' head coach Jim Schwartz. Schwartz apparently did not like the way Harbaugh patted him across the back afterwards; causing the two coaches to be separated by their players.

Harbaugh is the reason why the Niners are in contention for the title. 

One player who has definitely benefited from Harbaugh's presence is quarterback Alex Smith.

Smith, the first player taken in the 2005 NFL Draft, is having his best season yet. The seventh-year QB is a different player under Harbaugh, who is known for working with signal-callers. Smith has thrown for 2,390 yards, 15 touchdowns and only five interceptions. His poise in the pocket has also improved, as Smith is completing his passes at 63.2 percent (a career-high).

For Smith, 2011 has been a year of salvation. His first six years were unproductive, as Smith struggled with injuries, lack of offensive weapons and offensive schemes. Having gone through seven offensive coordinators did not help Smith either. Worst of all, being in the same draft class as Green Bay's Aaron Rodgers (24th pick), had many labeling Smith a "bust."

While Rodgers would eventually lead Green Bay to a Super Bowl title (last year), fans pondered if Smith would ever develop.

The Niners' organization also wondered about Smith. This past offseason, San Francisco selected Nevada quarterback Colin Kaepernick in the second round. However, Harbaugh, who turned Oakland's Rich Gannon into a Pro Bowl quarterback, settled with Smith as his starter.

Harbaugh would simplify the offense and rebuild a woeful offensive line that had been decimated with injuries in the past.

Instead of giving up on Smith, Harbaugh instilled faith in him and the dividends have paid off for both Smith and Harbaugh.

Smith, who struggled during the preseason, came of age in the Niners' 24-23 comeback win in Philadelphia in Week 4. Smith rallied San Francisco from 20 down in the second half, by going 13-for-17 for 201 yards and two touchdowns. The win put San Francisco in the limelight.

In the past, Smith tried to be a savior, but now, with a better supporting cast, he no longer has to win the game by himself. 

Having running back Frank Gore has taken some of the pressure off Smith. Gore, in his seventh-year, was a preseason holdout, but signed a three-year, $21-million dollar deal, right before the season. Gore has been the offense for San Francisco. Smith is the league's fifth-leading rusher (982 yards).

Although Smith and Gore have been the offensive stalwarts for the Niners, their defense is the backbone of the franchise.

San Francisco leads the NFL in rushing defense (71.8), as the Niners have not given up a 100-yard rushing game to an opposing runner this season. They also lead the NFL in scoring defense (13.4).

Another area where the Niners have thrived is turnover margin. San Francisco leads the league in give-away/take-away (plus-18).

The face of the defense, linebacker Patrick Willis, is nursing a hamstring injury (sustained last week against the Rams). Willis will miss Sunday's game at Arizona.

Sunday's game against division rival Arizona, is one of three games left against NFC West opponents. Pittsburgh (9-3) is the only team remaining with a winning record. San Francisco is currently second behind the Packers for the second seed in the playoffs.

The Niners' ascension back to being one of the NFL's elite, has been welcomed by their fans. After years of turmoil, San Francisco once again is back in the playoffs. However, for Smith, the only way to erase the bad memories is to win a Super Bowl.

Winning the title will be the only way Smith can get out of the shadow of Rodgers.

He just may have to face him in the playoffs to get to the championship game.