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CAMP FOSTER, Japan - As the 2011 National Football League season nears the end, the playoff picture begins to emerge in the minds of NFL fans across the world. Questions develop like: Which teams will get the first-round bye? Which teams will get the wild-card spots? These topics become heated discussions.
Ultimately, the answers to these questions lead to the even bigger question: Who is going to win the Super Bowl?
Many would say the obvious choice might be the Green Bay Packers, last year’s Super Bowl champions, who are sitting with the best record in the NFL right now at a bruising 13-1. Though other teams who routinely make the playoffs may also have a shot, including the New England Patriots at 11-3, the New Orleans Saints at 11-3 and the Pittsburgh Steelers at 10-4.
Another team that has not seen the playoffs since 2002 and may have the best chance at bringing home their sixth Super Bowl win is the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers have already clinched their division with a crushing 12 wins and only 3 losses. They finish out the season playing St. Louis, which should be an easy win.
As many 49er fans can recall, the past nine years have not been so memorable. With records like 4-12 in 2005 and 5-11 in 2007, later years had more hope but no results. Their record was 8-8 in 2009 and 6-10 in 2010. With promising additions, such as Alex Smith in 2005 and backbreaking linebacker Patrick Willis in 2007, 49er fans were optimistic, but still there were no results in the following years.
In 2010, when it seemed that fans were beginning to lose hope, the 49ers, with new head coach Mike Singletary, became the favorites to win the NFC West and possibly play in Super Bowl. With talents such as running back Frank Gore coming off four consecutive 1000-plus rushing yard seasons, quarterback Alex Smith showing signs of improvement, and rookie offensive tackle Anthony Davis, the 2010 season seemed to be the 49ers comeback year.
Unfortunately, it was not. The 49ers opened the season with a despicable 0-5 record, their worst start since 1979, and finished out the season with a measly 6-10 record. During the season, head coach Singletary was fired, as well as offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye.
The events of this year, however, have become the Cinderella story 49er fans have been waiting for. Under new head coach Jim Harbaugh, the 49ers have arguably the best defense in the league, leading in rushing yards allowed per game with 71.5 per contest and points allowed per game at 13.2. Quarterback Alex Smith is also playing at the level 49er fans had hoped he would eventually achieve, leading his team to an 11-3 record and having thrown the least amount of interceptions among starting quarterbacks this season.
With a playoff berth clinched, I believe this is the year the 49ers will finally reclaim the glory they once had when hall-of-famers such as Joe Montana and Jerry Rice carried the team. This is the year the 49ers will rejoice and look forward to future years as a top contender.
| Date Taken: | 12.21.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 12.30.2011 00:24 |
| Story ID: | 81876 |
| Location: | CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 40 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Sports editorial: A Cinderella story: 49ers back on top, by LCpl Kasey Peacock, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
