Second seed in the NFC.Home field advantage in an NFC divisional playoff game.A 13-3 regular season record. Numerous league leading stats.Whatever measurement you want to consider to highlight the 49ers' level of success this season, it doesn't matter. The 49ers are 3.5-point underdogs for Saturday's playoff game against the New Orleans Saints.But second status isn't anything new for this team. They've dealt with it all season.
"I don't think it's relevant really. We really don't pay too much attention. Are you referring to the line?" 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh asked a reporter during his Monday press conference."I can honestly say there are weeks where I have no idea what the line is. Or pay much attention to it."Harbaugh's players share his sentiment about being underestimated, but unlike their head coach, they do pay attention to what's being said."Yeah, that's cool. I love it. They keep doing it, I like it," said right tackle Anthony Davis. "We don't worry about what anybody else is thinking. We come to work every day and approach it how we approach our jobs and how we're supposed to approach the game and our jobs and prepare."Here's what other players had to say:Rookie fullback Bruce Miller: "I don't think it matters. We enjoy the underdog role because we know what we have here and what we can do, the things that we've accomplished this year we've done as the underdog so hopefully that will continue."Cornerback Tarell Brown: "We fuel ourselves. These guys really believe. We trust in the coaching staff we trust in each other. Regardless if we get the respect from everybody else it doesn't really matter. Our main goal is to keep winning games and get where we need to go."Wide receiver Kyle Williams: "One thing about this team that I can credit is that nobody in this locker room really pays attention to the outside stuff, so whatever anybody says outside of here. It's nonsense to us and it doesn't really matter. We're going to take care of what we have to in the locker room, and the guys in this locker room knows what everybody in this locker room can do and we're confident in the game plan so we are going to go out there and be us."Left tackle Joe Staley: "We feel like we belong. We have a lot of confidence in this football team and the coaches and all the players around here. We don't feel like we're the outsiders spoiling the party we feel that we have a very good football team and if we don't get to the Super Bowl this year it won't be a success and that's our mindset and that's the way we look at it."
With our All Access Daily newsletter, stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams!
SIGN UP HERE