49ers' air defense on alert today

49ers' air defense on alert today

TV: Fox Line: 49ers by 4

Records: San Francisco 1241; Atlanta 143

Comment: Forget about firsttime playoff performances. What Colin Kaepernick did against Green Bay will go down as the maybe the greatest performance by any quarterback in any playoff game. If the Falcons can't come up with a better plan to defend him than the Packers, or at least make the adjustments that the Packers failed to make, the Georgia Dome will go quiet in a hurry. The 49ers' biggest chore will be Trent Williams Black Jersey stopping the Falcons' offense that put up 30 points on the stingiest defense in the league last week. But I ask you, do you really want to see the 49ers have a chance to tie the Steelers with six Super Bowl victories? Or have both Harbaughs in the Super Bowl?

Injury report: 49ERS: Probable: G Alex Boone (knee), LB NaVorro Bowman (shoulder), CB Tarell Brown (shoulder), TE Garrett Celek (foot), CB Chris Culliver (knee), S Dashon Goldson (shin), LB Tavares Gooden (knee), RB Frank Gore (knee), LB Clark Haggans (shoulder), G Mike Iupati (shoulder), RB Bruce Miller (shoulder), LB Aldon Smith (shoulder), DT Justin Smith (elbow, triceps), LB Patrick Willis (shoulder). FALCONS: Questionable: DE John Abraham (ankle), DT Jonathan Babineaux (shoulder). He has paid for more than 30 tickets for friends and family as he makes an appearance in the Georgia Dome for only the third time in his eightyear career.

"I was a fan of the Falcons. I'm still a fan of the Falcons," Rogers said. "Just not this week."

What Rogers and the 49ers will encounter on the field could be taxing, too.

Julio Jones, Roddy White and tight end Tony Gonzalez present problems for San Francisco's secondary. The trio is part of what Gonzalez calls the www.officialfootballredskins.com/71_trent_williams_jersey_authentic_black_limited_cheap.html PYP offense pick your poison that has shredded defenses while catching Matt Ryan's passes.

Though the 49ers have shut down receivers Calvin Johnson, Brandon Marshall and Larry Fitzgerald in victories this season, Atlanta's tandem has a rare combination of size and speed.

"It's different. A lot of times we'll face a Calvin Johnson and an OK receiver on the other side. You face Brandon Marshall and an OK receiver on the other side. These guys, you're facing Roddy White and you look on the other side, it's Julio Jones. It's not an OK receiver. It's another elite receiver," Rogers said.

Limiting the big play has been San Francisco's signature this season.

The 49ers allowed 157 plays of 10 yards or more, the fewest in the NFL. The unit also gave up a leaguelow seven touchdowns of 10 yards or more, often smothering the most vaunted receivers in the league.

Rogers and Tarell Brown, who intercepted a pass by Aaron Rodgers in last week's 4531 win over Green Bay, have become two of the best cover corners. They have been significantly helped by Pro Bowl safeties Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner, part of a hardhitting secondary that will not be the biggest on the field this week.

"We've seen a lot of the bigger receivers in the National Football League," Whitner said. "These guys are a little different. They have speed, quickness and size."

The 49ers are counting on their experience. They have beaten Tom Brady, Drew Brees and Rodgers (twice) while sticking to the same formula that brought them within a field goal against the New York Giants of making the Super Bowl last season: pressuring the quarterback without blitzing, dropping extra players in coverage and delivering big blows.

Grounding the Falcons' air attack could prove more problematic.

White (92 receptions, 1,351 yards, seven touchdowns) and Jones (79 receptions, 1,198 yards, 10 touchdowns) make up one of four duos to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving this season.