Numbers don't lie...
 

This time of year there’s tons of garbage on the net about strength of schedule. The 49er fans continuously howl about how the Saint’s offensive numbers are only because they didn’t really play anybody. After a little research I think the following puts things in perspective.

The 49ers great defense has:
-Played one game against a team that finished in the top 10 in NFL rushing yardage. Their record was 0-1. Point differential minus-10.
-Played four games against teams that finished in the top 10 in NFL passing yardage. Their record was 3-1. Point differential plus – 11.
-The 49ers combined record against quality offenses as defined by being in the top ten in passing and/or rushing was 3-2 with a combined point differential of plus-1.

Our Saints have, by comparison:
Played four games against teams that finished in the top 10 in NFL rushing yardage. Our record was 4-0. Point differential plus-77.
Played six games against teams that finished in the top 10 in NFL passing yardage.
Our record was 5-1. Point differential plus – 80.
Combined record against quality offenses 9-1. Combined point differential plus-157.

Only two NFL teams ranked in the top 10 in rushing and passing, the Saints and Eagles.

So, it looks like the teams that couldn’t run against the 49ers couldn’t really run against anyone. I’m not trying to take anything away from the 49ers but maybe their defensive statistics should have asterisks behind them.

That's pretty interesting... welcome to the board.

If you expand it to top 15 instead of 10, how much would any of this change?

I'm not sold on San Francisco. Look they have played well but I haven't seen them do anything spectacular. I know their defense is good and Alex Smith is a great story. I just don't think they can stop the Saints. If they water the field that proves they dont think they can either.

Regardless, their defense is good. They won't make a lot of mistakes.

How about you compare The RBs the 49ers faced vs the RB's the Saints have faced?

How about you do your own homework?

How about we compare the Saints to the 49ers, head-to-head, this Saturday!!! Because numbers LIE. The Seahawks had no business beating the Saints last January.

But good point, Blue Dog (dam1953) and welcome to the finest board of any kind on the planet.

Alaska

Why are we comparing running games? Let's compare passing, since that's what Drew holds records in so many categories...

Romo = 345 yards
Vick = 416 yards -ouch
Stafford = 293 yards
Manning = 311 yards
Roethlisburger = 330 yards
against the 49ers defense

and I know that Drew is better than all of those, with the better O-Line than the previous examples...

They also went 4-1 against those teams

We got beat by the buccaneers w josh freeman and the rams with Aj feeley

okay Canton; I'll ask you a question...

If Drew throws for 416 yards, do you think the Saints lose, be honest?