Who Can Beat the San Francisco 49ers? Here Are the 4 Teams with the Best Shot

It's been a while, but we're going to see the San Francisco 49ers in the NFL playoffs. That being said, this storied franchise has not been too impressive in recent history.

With this season being their first postseason appearance since 2002, the 49ers have changed quite a bit. As for the playoffs, you can expect Frisco to stick to their strength by trying to control the trenches as they've done all season.

In being a run-oriented team, they're certainly a rarity this day and age. So, here are the teams with the best shot at beating San Francisco this January.

4. Houston Texans

Obviously they wouldn't meet until the Super Bowl, but the Houston Texans match up very well against San Francisco.

In order to oust the Niners you need to run the football, plain and simple. We saw the Ravens do it and it worked nicely. With the NFL's second-ranked ground game and two Brahma Bulls in Arian Foster and Ben Tate, they would be a great match to the 49ers top-ranked rush defense.

The last team to beat the Niners were Arizona, although they attacked in a different way: by use of a solid front seven on defense.

The Cardinals may not be nearly as good as Houston, so if they shut down Frank Gore enough to force Alex Smith to beat them, the Texans are more than capable. Houston has arguably the NFL's best defense, which they would use to stop Gore and blanket the WRs in the secondary.

Adding to it, their pass rush would cause much duress for Smith and force many three-and-outs, and, pending on his health, WR Andre Johnson would play a major role.

He'd stretch the field and it would derive Frisco's attention from stacking the box to stop the run. Hence, a win-win situation for the Texans.

3. Baltimore Ravens

We saw the Baltimore Ravens actually beat the 49ers, so there's no reason why they couldn't do it again. The trick for Baltimore is playing up to their potential against inferior teams.

Being that the Ravens have yet to win the AFC North is concerning; however, a rematch in the Super Bowl is quite possible as Baltimore has played their best against the best teams (Steelers, Texans, 49ers).

It would be an encore performance from Ed Reed and Co. On Thanksgiving Day, Baltimore sacked Alex Smith nine times and hit him 12 times.

Anytime a defense can get that kind of pressure on a QB, no matter who they are, the team wins, period. On top of that the Ravens kept RB Frank Gore to just 39 yards on 14 carries. Smith totaled just 140 passing yards and threw an interception.

Offensively, Baltimore would utilize the dynamics of RB Ray Rice to the fullest extent and lull the 49ers secondary to sleep. Then, when the time is right, they would launch it deep to speedy rookie WR Torrey Smith.

Now, it's not going to be a high-scoring affair like the first rodeo was. And because Baltimore already knows the recipe to really limit San Francisco's chances of success on both sides of the ball, the 49ers can't be hoping for a rematch.

2. New Orleans Saints

The New Orleans Saints are a team who can defeat San Francisco because the 49ers won't outscore them. Given that The Big Easy averages almost 460 total yards per game, Frisco's offense would have no choice but to throw the ball.

And although Alex Smith would have success against the Saints 28th-ranked pass defense (allowing 256 yards per game), it won't be enough to catch Drew Brees.

Currently the 49ers defense allows just under 240 passing yards per game (ranked 21st). So, with that being the Niners' weakness and passing the rock being New Orleans' strength, it comes down to Frisco's pass rush.

Disrupting Brees' timing is San Fran's only hope. The only problem, however, is that Brees is a lot more mobile than he's given credit for. His ability to buy time will get the best of San Fran's pass rush as well as the Saints' eighth-ranked passing game.

If there's anything underrated on the Saints, it's that they have the ability to run the rock at will, which will catch the 49ers off guard. Not to mention, Brees spreads the ball around very well and coach Sean Payton has the luxury of using three RBs (Mark Ingram, Pierre Thomas, Chris Ivory) in the backfield.

Also, don't forget about Darren Sproles in the return game. If you're wondering why the Chargers have slipped up more than once this season, it's because Sproles is helping New Orleans win the field position battle.

There is simply too much versatility and efficiency for the 49ers to match up with.

1. Green Bay Packers

As if it could be anyone else, the Green Bay Packers are arguably the most dangerous and capable team for anyone to face. The thing about the Packers, though, is that despite not being too strong defensively, it's their risk taking that surprises opposing offenses.

There is no doubt that Frank Gore would do some solid work on Green Bay's rush defense. However, whenever Alex Smith drops back, the San Fran offense is going to struggle. The Packers pass rush will cause pressure and their DBs/LBs have excellent ball awareness.

Through 15 weeks of play the Packers have picked off 27 passes, forced nine fumbles and have scored five defensive TDs. In order to create opportunities they will stack the box and force Alex Smith to throw.

And although he's proving his NFL QB worth/value every time Frisco wins, he hasn't faced an opportunistic defense like Green Bay all season.

On the flip side, Green Bay's offense would slice the 49ers secondary. Aaron Rodgers' arm is just as good as Brees, if not better, and he has the advantage of being mobile.

When a play breaks down is when Rodgers may actually be at his best and that's dangerous for any defense. Include rookie return man Randall Cobb and Green Bay is matching (at the very least) Ted Ginn for field position.

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