Postgame notes: 49ers power past Steelers

Prior to Monday Night's kickoff, dissenters said the 49ers hadn't beat anybody good and were consequently overrated.

Come Tuesday morning, there was a new excuse:

"If Big Ben was not injured, then the Steelers would've beat the 49ers."

So it goes as a 2011 49ers fan.

Whether the 49ers are getting the respect they deserve is an argument for another time, but nobody can take away their dominating 20-3 victory against Pittsburgh on Monday.

If San Francisco (11-3) wins its final two regular season games, it secures a bye in the first round of the playoffs.

The injury status of Joe Staley, Ted Ginn and Patrick Willis continues to be up in the air. In other words, the 49ers would benefit immensely from a bye.

That's what made this win so important, and that's what makes the matchup against Seattle on Saturday even more important.

The Steelers could not block Aldon Smith, who now leads all rookies in sacks with 13. You can thank Jim Tomsula for winning his lone game as head coach for the selection of Aldon Smith. On draft day, most 49ers fans wanted Patrick Peterson, but he was snatched two spots ahead where the 49ers would have been picking had they lost Week 17 last year (end of mini-tangent).

Suffice to say, Aldon may be the dominant pass rusher that this defense needed to become the best in the NFC.

Before the 49ers beat the Steelers, there was a perception that good passing teams would be able to score on the 49ers defense.

But if Aldon can repeat this performance against the Packers (who just gave up three sacks to Tamba Hali) and/or the Saints in the playoffs, then maybe the 49ers DO indeed have a chance at winning it all.

It's hard for me to wrap my head around this idea. The 49ers could win the Super Bowl.

After all, they have the best turnover margin, the best field position differential, the best scoring defense and the coach of the year.

Stats to note:
The 49ers have won six straight home games, winning by a combined score of 164-43.
The Saints finished 5-3 on the road this year. Of their final 10 games, one was played on grass (22-17 W @ Tennessee).
David Akers now needs three field goals to break the single-season record.