One of the biggest surprises in the NFL this season has been the emergence of the San Francisco 49ers under new head coach Jim Harbaugh. A <\/p>\n
Venue\/Stadium: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California<\/strong> An eight-game winning streak that spanned from the end of September through to the end of November allowed the 49ers to close out the AFC West, but they have had a little more difficult of a time achieving their next goal, which is clinching a first round bye and home field advantage by finishing with a better record than the New Orleans Saints. San Francisco has dropped two of their last three including a tough loss at Arizona last week, and will now have to host the powerful Pittsburgh Steelers on Monday Night Football.<\/p>\n The Steelers come in to this game just as determined and focused as the 49ers. Tied with the Baltimore Ravens for the best record in the AFC North, and the best record in the AFC overall, Pittsburgh has everything to play for as they fight for the same thing as San Francisco is in the NFC. [soliloquy id=”82219″]<\/p>\n The final two teams on the Steelers\u2019 schedule have a combined six wins this season, which means they will be laying it all on the line this week in hopes of toppling their toughest remaining opponent. Considering that a close loss to the Houston Texans early on in the year is the only defeat to a team other than the Ravens on the Steelers\u2019 resume for this season, the 49ers could be in tough.<\/p>\n Harbaugh and company deserve credit for their ability to execute regardless of the circumstances, and it will be interesting to see how the San Francisco offense attacks a defense that ranks first against the pass, and sixth against the run. Running back Frank Gore should get a ton of carries, but if the Steelers\u2019 front-seven can slow him down and force Alex Smith to shoulder the offensive burden, then the 49ers\u2019 could be in trouble. The loss of linebacker James Harrison doesn\u2019t help for Pittsburgh, but they have a ton of depth at the position and should be able to rally up front. Gore\u2019s ability to move the chains and open things up for the passing game has made things a lot easier on Smith, but if Pittsburgh can take that option away and make them more one-dimensional, it will be a completely different story.<\/p>\n
\nTime\/Date: 8:30 PM ET \u2013 Monday December 19, 2011<\/strong>
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