For the New Orleans Saints, they're riding high with all of the credit heading into Saturday's matchup with the San Francisco 49ers. But credit doesn't equal confidence, and it can easily be argued that the 49ers have much, much more confidence, in spite of the huge problems that Drew Brees and the Saints offense present for any team in the league, let alone the 49ers.
The popular consensus seems to be that the Saints will throw the ball all over the 49ers defense and score at will. Everyone who is picking the 49ers to win suggest that said defense will assault the aforementioned Brees until he's a big bundle of nerves. Either scenario is certainly possible, but one thing does remain a constant in both predictions: the opinion that Brees will have a big game throwing the ball.
Immediately after the Saints wasted the Detroit Lions, my personal Twitter blew up with people saying "Brees may have a big day, but he won't put all the points on the board." And that's something that's very likely. Just about nothing will stop Brees from throwing for big yardage - it's almost a given at this point. But the 49ers aren't going take it sitting down. Their red zone defense is among the best in the league, and they've allowed fewer touchdowns than any team in the NFL.
And really, that's the point of focus here: don't break. Brees can throw for whatever he wants. 49ers quarterback Alex Smith agrees, as it happens:
What do you think the chances are of you out-throwing Drew Brees?
"I have no idea. I don't care. I really don't care. I'm looking to outscore him. He can throw for however many yards he wants to."
That's exactly what 49ers fans and supporters are saying.