It tells you something when Gore rushes for 119 yards and is a footnote to the attention Kap is getting. And Crabtree too to some extent. But he will be even more important next week.

I'm really relieved that the team has made it back to the stage they last exited from last season. Getting into the final four two years in a row is a really elite job of management coaching and execution for seventeen games. Far from easy. I was fearing that last season might have been hard to equal. But now it could even be better. with the extra year Harbaugh and most of the roster have together going this far it gives them an advantage of either of the other remaining two teams.

Last year the Giants rolled in on a wave of momentum from a wild card spot. I see something like that with Seattle, but without the savvy the Giants had. Atlanta may prove to be the sleeping giant this year when all is said and do e, but they've been playoff busts. Hopefully tomorrow will be vicious and draining and leave the winner battered and bruised.