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?

Mitch

I agree that Brees should shred the 49ers defense. My analysis was based upon the claims that the 49ers defense was "elite". Well, it appears to be elite only when playing against less than elite running offenses. The Saints are a well balanced team and much of our passing game is based upon play action. So, if the 49ers can't slow down the three headed monster running from our backfield their secondary will be in for a long afternoon. The Lion's got a good dose on that on Saturday.

Apologies for slightly getting off topic; :bng:

Ur ignoring my point

The 49ers have a legit defense

You can point at individual performances but it doesn't tell what went on the entire season

If drew throws for 400+ yards will we lose? Probly not...will drew throw for 400+ yards? Probly not

Drew has a weird way of making defenses look mediocre; I'll reserve my rebuttal until after the game...

back off topic again :doh:

I can say this: San Fran has got 60 minutes to figure out how to stop an offense that is the best in football. I can say this also: Aint' no way, Saints by15

What I find funny is that to many people have to much time oh their hand and wonder why the economy is the way it is.

You can use all and any stats you want to to make a point or use for an argument but when the day is done and the lights go out at the stadiums all that matter is the final score. That is really the only stat that matters.

stats are great-----
Here's an opinion: they have the best defense we've faced this year, except for maybe Houston, who we shredded for 40

Houston's defense looks like little girls compared to the 49ers defense

You guys are underrating the 49ers...they went 13-3 and earned home field.

49ers have had a TO differential of +1 to +4 in every home game.

Only one they lost was Dallas where they were only +1.

Win or stay even on turnovers and this game is ours.

Well Houston's defense is ranked higher than the niners. I'm not saying the niners defense isn't good but I think we can move the ball and score on them.

Not in Frisco, man! When the lights go out at Candlestick, they go out every 20 minutes, all throughout the freaking game! The lights may well go out on Saturday, and Drew will still have plenty of time left to win! Who knows, they may even flip the switch on us, just to try and slow our offense down, LOL

Numbers don't lie.
People use numbers to lie.

That makes a great signature... but I like mines more. =p

Houston gave up 17 ppg

49ers only gave up 14 ppg

Papz

Here is another good "stupid" quote.

"if stupid was fatal we'd be stepping over bodies all day long."

So you're calling the Houston defense (#4 in the NFL) little girls compared to the 49er (#2 in the NFL)?

Wow, whats number 6, embryos?

That reminds me of the bit by the late great George Carlin.
Be warned Carlin uses many of his "seven words" :)

I was referring to total defense and i believe we had something to do with the points average going up on the Texans.
NFL Stats: Team

Uh oh. Canton is about to have to pic which statistic he's going to praise.

:popcorn:

Have you watched the 49ers play? They didn't give up a rushing td for 3/4 of the season

They held the steelers to 3 points

They Have the best redzone defense in the league

Ppl say we give up yards but don't give up TDs

Well the 49ers are the best in the league at preventing Tds

I wouldn't use the Steelers as a main example. Their offensive line has been bad, running game has been non-existent, no tight end production, Ben's been banged up, and their receiving core has been hit or miss.

So... it's not like that's a big accomplishment.

I didn't say they had a bad defense hell I wish we had their LB corp. And yes, i have watched a few of their games. I watched Romo beat them with a long TD pass on busted coverage and although they didn't win, Vick throwing for over 400 yards against them and both Eli and a crippled Big Ben threw for over 300 yards. So yes I feel confident that we can move the ball on the 49ers and score some points and for an added bonus Ivory will have a rushing td.

Yeah I mean the other stats are certainly legit, but as for holding the Steelers to 3 points well I watched that game, pretty closely knowing that we might end up playing Frisco, and I could clearly tell that Rothlisberger was just "not right" and totally off his game. There were plenty of plays/opportunities where a normal Ben or even last night's Ben would have had no difficulty making a throw or running the ball or doing whatever, but he couldn't do any of it, he was too gimpy and hobbled. It was kinda painful to watch. I mean it certainly made it easier for their defense to do that.

Lol they went 12-4 with the best defense in the league

Beating the steelers is a huge accomplishment

Alright then...how about shutting the rams out? We couldn't even manage beating them

I started by saying that SF was the best D we have faced this year. No one is arguing with you, except for your ridiculously hyperbolic statement about Cushing, Joseph and the number 4 D being little girls

Has nothing to do with holding the Steelers to 3 points. We're talking about the 49ers defense against the Steelers offense.

Yea it was a very good win for them... I don't disagree.

We're talking about the 49ers/Steelers. This also is irrelevant.

Not sure anyone could have won against the Rams team we played on that day. SF has a ligit D, no doubt. It will be a huge challenge, but the Saints are playing as well as they have all year. I like our chances.

Yes I've seen them play. I'm not saying they aren't good. You're saying they make Houston's defense look like little girls, which is laughable.

So Ben had a good game? I thought he was hurt so that game was a bad example? Which is it?

Was he too hurt or was he shredding their D? To me that's an excuse

Injuries happen and you can blame the game on injuries or you could admit that the steelers are a defensive team and their injured QB had less impact on the outcome of the game than ppl think

I can't defend the 49ers weak schedule but we all know how yardage gets accumulated in garbage time and we all know points are more important than yards

I don't care if we give up 211 yards to Calvin Johnson because I know we can stop them just enough for our offense to do its job

The 49ers are the same way. Except they are very good at getting sacks and turnovers