Jack, you know i hate myself for saying this, but that characteristic of Rodgers is what Smith was showing before he was benched this season: he didn't kill drives with his own INTs or bad passes (Smith's completion percentage was highest in the league for the 2012 season). He didn't beat himself.

As I said, by now I hate myself for being the person on our blog who raises this point, but the thing that had become reassuring about Smith was that he didn't beat himself. He might not have established or suggested a ceiling that got fans excited, but he had established a floor that was higher than most QBs in the league.

That floor is what I need to see Kaepernick establish. I worry - a lot - that other playoff teams have a better scent of K's floor than his ceiling.

That's why I'm banking so heavily on Frank Gore, Vernon Davis and the traditional strengths or our offense to carry us through this championship campaign.

Yes, if he plays through the roof, I can see Kaepernick being the QB of a SB-winning side this winter. Maybe.

I'd still feel more confident if it were the other guy, the guy who used to look like he didn't belong on a football field, behind center, but beat the Saints on his own last January. I haven't seen K do anything remotely similar to date.

It's all okay. I'm still rooting for my Niners.