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Smith to Davis joins 49ers lore

Open field

I’m writing this column right after watching, and witnessing, one of the truly great pro football games of all time.

That’s right, all-time – a classic for the ages – at Candlestick Park, with the San Francisco 49ers continuing their brilliant, awe-inspiring 2011-12 season by ever-so-slightly rallying past, twice, the visiting and favored New Orleans Saints.

It became the day, and the game, that put coach-of-the-year Jim Harbaugh and everyone in the 2011-12 49ers organization, especially all the players, into both San Francisco and NFL playoff history.

Among the talented 49er players are some long-tenured men who had to weather the Niners’ near-decade-long futility drought, including quarterback Alex Smith, tight-end Vernon Davis and running-back Frank Gore.

Now we’ll be hearing “Smith to Davis” like we hear Montana-to-Clark (The Catch), or Montana-to-Taylor (winning a Super Bowl), or Young-to-Owens (playoff winner) – Smith-to-Davis has become etched in 49er lore.

As for playing the New York Giants (upsetting mighty Green Bay) in this Sunday’s, Jan. 22, NFC championship game, I again have the feeling I had last week when I said the 49ers will win because of their turnover-forcing defense and field-position-mastering special teams.

Now you can add a big-play offense, fueled by Smith-to-Davis, to the reason I’m picking these amazing, total-team-oriented 49ers to reach their sixth Super Bowl.

Ciao!