When I started this thread back in early October, I had no idea how the 49ers' regular season would turn out. But wow--what a season to remember. They were criticized for having played an easy schedule in the first half of the season. But they more than made up for that in the 2nd half, with two games against Seattle, against the 2nd-seeded Packers, at the 3rd-seeded Saints and the 1st-seeded Ravens, against the losing team from last year's Super Bowl, the Rams. The only "gimme" game in the 2nd half was a game they lost, by an inch on the last play against the Atlanta Falcons.
Now, by virtue of having won a game by an inch against their archrival Seahawks in that hell-hole called Century Link Field, the Niners have a first-round bye and the assurance that they get two more home games, as long as they keep winning. They're dinged up, they're young, they're inexperienced. Their quarterback has never played in a playoff game before, just like 90% of their roster. But they are athletic, fast, aggressive--and with grizzled veterans like Joe Staley and Richard Sherman to help them understand what they're up against, they have a real shot at this thing.
And even if they don't run the table with three more wins and the franchise's 6th Super Bowl trophy, it will still be a magical season. Go Niners!!!