Tonight?s Saints win means 49ers can?t coast in St. Louis, which is where Gruden might become Rams next coach [MN-HR]

Posted by Cam Inman on December 26th, 2011 at 10:01 pm | Categorized as Uncategorized

The 49ers could have clinched the NFC playoffs? No. 2 seed tonight if the New Orleans Saints lost on ?Monday Night Football.? Instead, the Saints pummeled the Atlanta Falcons 45-16, Drew Brees broke Dan Marino?s 27-year-old record for single-season passing yards and the stakes loom large on Sunday for both the Saints (12-3)?and 49ers (12-3).

Two ways the 49ers can still wrap up the No. 2 seed: They win at St. Louis against the 2-13 Rams, or the Saints lose at home to the Cam Newton-led Carolina Panthers. (Sidebar: The Panthers have won four of their past five, and Newton is only 107 yards shy of 4,000 passing yards.)

Both the 49ers and Saints will kick off at noon in their respective domes (10 a.m. PST). Jim Harbaugh said tonight?s outcome could dictate whether the 49ers sit out some personnel, an option that now has disappeared. Had the Falcons won, the Saints? regular-season finale would have been moved to 1:15 PST. Had the Falcons won, the 49ers could have rested key players such as Patrick Willis (he?ll still likely sit with a hamstring injury), Ted Ginn, Justin Smith, Ray McDonald, Isaac Sopoaga, Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner, Joe Staley, Frank Gore and Alex Smith.

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A fascinating backdrop with the St. Louis Rams has emerged. The San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting that Jon Gruden might return to the coaching ranks next season with the Rams. I can?t fathom that Gruden would prefer St. Louis over San Diego (or Miami or New York or Andrew Luck-led Indianapolis or the other jobs that might become vacant). But U-T reporter Kevin Acee says Chargers GM A.J. Smith could be fired, along with coach Norv Turner, and that Smith is tight with Gruden, who coached the Raiders and Buccaneers before becoming an ESPN analyst. One other note in the U-T article: former 49ers assistant Greg Manusky also is on the hot seat as the Chargers? defensive coordinator.

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Source: http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r5666635681

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