49ers keep on rolling

The San Francisco 49ers are 8-1. Wrap your head around that.

The Niners’ stingy defense stopped a late comeback attempt by the New York Giants and held on for an impressive 27-20 win.

Arguably one of the best games the 49ers have played in a long time. This win sent a message to the rest of the league: “We’re for real!”

Alex Smith showed glimpses of the “elite” quarterback Jim Harbaugh proclaimed him to be. Carlos Rogers continued to shine, intercepting two Eli Manning passes. Dynamic duo Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman combined for 25 total tackles.

If you were still skeptical about these 49ers, it’s time to start believing.

Frank Gore, their best offensive weapon, could not get on track in the first quarter and was a non-factor in the game, yet Smith was able to shoulder the load, throwing for 242 yards. That’s a sign of a good team: making adjustments when the opponent has made your best player a non-factor.

After today’s win, the 49ers can undoubtedly lay claim to being the second best team in the NFL. Their top-ranked rush defense still hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown this season, an astounding stat through nine games.