Live updates: 49ers vs. Saints, Sunday at 10 a.m.
Follow along Sunday morning for in-game insights and analysis when the 49ers and Saints meet in an NFC battle in New Orleans.
GAME ESSENTIALS: 49ers (10-2) vs. Saints (10-2) at Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans on Sunday at 10 a.m. (PT).
TV: FOX-TV (Ch. 2), Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Pam Oliver (reporter).
ODDS: Saints -2.5. OVER/UNDER: 44.5.
SERIES: 49ers lead all-time series 48-26-2. LAST MEETING: Saints won 41-23 at Levi’s Stadium on Nov. 6, 2016.
WHY 49ERS COULD WIN: In the simplest terms, here’s why the 49ers have to feel good about their chances: They went on the road against arguably the league’s best team in Baltimore and probably should have won. … Drew Brees may still be a top-notch quarterback, but the 49ers’ defense should be able to give he and the Saints fits. The 49ers have the league’s top defense against the pass — they allow just 134.2 yards through the air — and have held their last three opponents to a little more than 105 yards per game. … New Orleans may also find the going tough when it runs the ball, plus they may have two offensive linemen out — left tackle Terron Armstead (high ankle sprain) and left guard Andrus Peat (broken forearm).
WHY SAINTS COULD WIN: The Saints’ front seven poses quite a challenge as they only permit 88.6 rushing yards per game, fourth-best in the league. They also haven’t allowed a 100-yard rusher in 41 straight games. … New Orleans also does a fabulous job pressuring quarterbacks — it had eight in a Thanksgiving Day win over Atlanta. The Saints have 40 quarterback sacks, just five fewer than San Francisco. … Brees still has two of the most dangerous offensive weapons in receiver Michael Thomas and running back Alvin Kamara. Thomas already has 110 catches and is on pace to break the NFL’s single-season record of 143 set by the Colts’ Marvin Harrison.
49ERS NEXT GAME: vs. Falcons at Levi’s Stadium, Sunday, Dec. 15, 1:25 p.m.