The San Francisco 49ers finished with a gritty 12-4 record this season. Niners fans got their first full season of what life will be like with QB Colin Kaepenick at the helm of the Niners offense. At times it left you scratching your head watching the 49ers offense perform this season. There were literally moments when you watched the Niners offense and felt like head coach Jim Harbaugh had fallen in love with his new quarterback toy, and forgot about what new millenium San Francisco 49ers football is about. Niners offensive football is smashmouth now, and not an aerial show. Yet it felt like Harbaugh was trying to air it out a little bit more this season than years past because he had Kaepernick pulling the trigger.

In reality, though, that was not the case. The Niners ran the ball 505 this season for 2201 yards with 18 rushing touchdowns and Kaepernick threw the ball only 416 times for 3,197 with 21 TDs and 8 INTs. So the Niners identity was still intact despite appearances.

San Francisco closed out the season with six straight wins and got a major offensive piece back in the process. Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree worked himself back into the offensive fold. Since returning in Week 13, Crabtree has been productive catching 19 balls for 284 yards and a touchdown. With Crabtree coming back to go along with Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis, the Niners have their full offensive compliment of receivers again.

Kaepernick and Boldin have proven to be a lethal combination in the passing game this season. Boldin caught 85 passes for 1,179 yards and seven touchdowns this year and became a huge security blanket for Kaepernick while Davis and Crabtree were going through their health issues.

Now going into the playoffs, you have to wonder if the Niners are ready to make another Super Bowl push since they have gotten healthy and maintained their identity as a gritty, hard nosed football team. The defense is still one of the top in the NFL finishing fifth in total defense. Frank Gore is still one of the best rushers in the game as he ran for 1,128 yards and nine touchdowns. Then you tack on the fact that the passing game is improved and getting back to full strength and you really do have to wonder if the Niners are peaking at the right time.

They are going to have to win on the road during these playoffs in order to get back to another Super Bowl, but if there is one thing that we know, it's that there have been teams that have won the Lombardi Trophy that have had to be Road Warriors in the past. Ask the 2005 Pittsburgh Steelers or the 2007 New York Giants if it is possible. The Niners have two ingredients that should be able to bode well for them in their travels. They have a power running game and a stout defense.

The Niners have a tough playoff road ahead of them, but with their health coming together and their defense playing solid football there is a good chance that they can get to the NFC Championship game again. All they need is that opportunity and the Niners could be Super Bowl bound. The Niners are rounding into form at the right time.

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About the author
James FitzGerald IV
I am just blessed to know that no matter what, all things you go through can be used for God's purpose. The good and the bad. That is really refreshing.