San Francisco offense vs. New Orleans defense

	49ERS OFFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	Run	9
	Pass	24
	Tot. Yds.	20
	Scoring	19
	Int's allowed	11
	Sacks allowed	18
	SAINTS DEFENSE
	Ranking in the NFL:
	vs. Run	19
	vs. Pass	10
	Total yds. allowed	12
	# of Ints.	7
	# of Sacks	26
	Turnover differential	-13

After viewing film of the Saints' pathetic performance against Tampa Bay, look for the Niners to establish the ground game early. The Saints couldn't stop Mike Alstott, who recorded 52 of his 117 yards on the final drive, when they needed to get the ball back for their offense, but RB Charlie Garner does not pose the same problems for a defense.

Garner chewed up a career-high 166 yards on 20 carries behind an improving offensive line, but unlike Alstott, he has the speed to break more big plays once he gets into the secondary. The bye week clearly did wonders for injured guys like OC Chris Dalman and LOT Dave Fiore, whose health have been an ongoing concern for coach Steve Mariucci.

Expect a lot of quick-hitters up the middle, as San Francisco will attack the same area that gave the Saints trouble last week. In the last meeting between these teams, the inside trio of MLB Chris Bordano and DTs Wayne Martin and LaRoi Glover combined for only six tackles.

Contrary to most slashing runners, Garner has enjoyed better success this season on natural grass (5.7 avg. per carry) than turf (3.4) so don't necessarily assume he will match his numbers from Week 2 (160 total yds.).

If they are not successful stopping Garner early, the Saints will be forced to use an extra run defender, leaving their DCs in man coverage on WRs Terrell Owens and Jerry Rice. Because Jeff Garcia has been struggling with his accuracy, the Niners have opted to give Steve Stenstrom a chance to run this offense. Stenstrom needs to test a Saints secondary that was shredded by Trent Dilfer a week ago.

The health of LDC Ashley Ambrose is a big concern in the Saints' training room. Last week, Ambrose was beat on a 62-yard touchdown by Jacquez Green and the team feels that play wouldn't have happened if he didn't miss so many practice reps with a bum ankle. Although he's the Saints' top cover man, look for the 49ers to target Ambrose early in hope of connecting on a similar big play. Rice has been held in check on underneath routes all season but this might be the game that Mariucci lets him test his aging legs.

If they are to stay in this game, the Saints desperately need to shore up their problems on third down. Tampa converted 11-of-16 (69 percent) of their third down opportunities last week-unacceptable against a team that has converted just over 37 percent all season. Don't look for the Niners to have consecutive games without a touchdown after going 82 straight with at least one.

RB Williams, who had 22 carries for 80 yards in Week 2 against the Niners, could be helped by the possible return of Naeole. If he does come back, Tom Ackerman will fill-in at left guard. RDT Brentson Buckner, who now starts because of Junior Bryant's move to left end, tends to wear down late in games if he's not properly rested, which gives the Saints a slight advantage when they run behind the left side.

In order to prevent teams from walking up a safety, the Saints must start throwing the ball to their wide receivers. Wuerffel will basically be setting himself up to fail if he ignores WRs Keith Poole and Eddie Kennison the way Billy Joe Hobert did a week ago. RBs Williams and Lamar Smith led the team with four receptions apiece against the Bucs and Poole, who caught a 59-yard pass in the last meeting against the 49ers, averaged less than eight yards on three catches.

The loss of FS Lance Shulters devastated the Niners in last Sunday's loss to Pittsburgh. Replacement Zach Bronson doesn't have Shulters' ball skills and he was a step slow to provide help on a few occasions. The Saints would be smart to attack RDE Pierson Prioleau, who started his first game last week, with one of their speed receivers. Prioleau didn't allow Steeler receivers to get behind him last week but he's raw and can be set up by quality double-moves.

Wuerffel should have plenty of time to make his progressions against a Niners defense that has notched only 15 sacks all season -- second fewest in the league. The Niners never came close to getting a hand on Billy Joe Hobert early in the season.