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METAIRIE, La. — One of Sean Payton's offseason priorities was shoring up the Saints' run defense.

Two of the biggest moves designed to address that weakness were the acquisitions of defensive tackles Shaun Rogers and Aubrayo Franklin in free agency.

Now one of the biggest tests of the Saints' changes comes in a high-stakes showdown Saturday, when New Orleans (14-3) travels to San Francisco (13-3) for a second-round playoff game.

Led by Frank Gore, the 49ers averaged 128 yards rushing per game this season, which ranked eighth in the league. So Payton anticipates a heavy workload for Franklin and Rogers.

"Those guys will have a big role in the game," the coach said. "There are a number of things that (the 49ers) do offensively, but they've been very consistent at being physical up front and blocking with power and finding ways to create big plays in the running game, and then off of that play-action pass."

Franklin, who is 6-foot-1, 317 pounds, left what had been a losing 49ers team in hopes of landing with a winner in New Orleans. The 6-foot-4, 350-pound Rogers, who had never appeared in a playoff game before this season, had the same goal in mind when he left Cleveland to play in the Big Easy.

Because of the Niners' quick turnaround under first-year coach Jim Harbaugh, Franklin finds himself needing to come through with a big performance on his old home field to help his new team advance to the NFC title game.

Franklin dismissed the notion that there was any special meaning to his return to San Francisco.

"It's the next team that we're playing and it happens to be my old team," Franklin said. "I came here to win a Super Bowl and these guys are the next team that we play on our route to the Super Bowl. That what makes it big to me."





Read more: Saints run defense to be tested by 49ers - NFL - Sporting News

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