After obsessing with the Midwest for the past three weeks, I feel it is only appropriate that I finally show some love to California, and one of the most storied franchises in the history of the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers. (Not the Raiders, sorry Fillmore) First year coach Jim Harbaugh has guided the 49ers to an impressive 5-1 record in the NFC West, a division won by a sub .500 team last season. (Why do we have divisional play again?) Sunday, the 49ers added another impressive win against the undefeated Detroit Lions, a team that I’ve been praising as of late. (Please stay off my back, I’m writing this one for Cali) More impressive is probably the fact that the 49ers are being led by a first year coach, and are just one win away from matching their win total for the 2010 season. Aside from the post-game shoving match between Harbaugh and Lions coach Jim Schwartz, this game was an impressive statement for San Francisco.

There was both hype and doubt when Jim Harbaugh made the decision to leave Stanford University and Heisman candidate Andrew Luck to coach in San Francisco. There was no doubt that Harbaugh’s no BS, no prima donna system worked at Stanford, where student athletes depended on their athletic scholarships to stay in school and were willing to do anything for the possibility of entering the draft. Many, however, doubted that this system would transfer to the NFL, where the players sometimes are paid more than the coaches, and salty multi year veterans may not have much of a tolerance for a first year coach. Whatever Harbaugh is doing, he needs to continue doing so. At their current rate, the 49ers will run away with the division and earn their first playoff berth since 2002. (knocks on wood)

San Francisco is playing great football in what was supposed to be a rebuilding and reassessing year. With a new coach, new system, and a multitude of new players, no one saw the 49ers having a 5-1 record. Bringing his run first, I formation system from Stanford, Harbaugh decided to use one of his strongest offensive weapons, Frank Gore to get the running game going. With a productive running game, (Gore is averaging close to 100 yds per game) the 49ers have been able to get the passing game going. Alex Smith has a QB rating of 104.1, and has been able to spread the ball out to his many offensive weapons, including TE Vernon Davis and WR Michael Crabtree.

Defensively, the 49ers have done more than keep their offense in the game; they have been cruel to opposing offenses, punishing their running game. This defense has one of the best linebacker corps in the NFL, led by arguably the best linebacker in the NFL, Patrick Willis. (I would argue that along with Troy Polamalu, Willis is one of the best defensive players in the league, bar none)

In a division dominated in recent years by Seattle and Arizona, the 49ers are reasserting themselves as a dominant player in the West. The 49ers are also blessed with a favorable schedule, with 5 of their last 10 regular seasons games against NFC West teams, none of whom are above .500. Probably their toughest games left are at home to the Pittsburgh Steelers and the New York Giants, and on the road against the Baltimore Ravens.

Since the departure of such names as Jim Plunkett, Joe Montana, Jerry Rice, Rich Gannon, professional football has been somewhat silent in our great state. The Chargers have provided some recent playoff appearances, but those postseason berths have been disappointing, at best. With the Chargers and Raiders at 1 and 2 in the AFC West, respectively, and the 49ers in first in the NFC West, it’s safe to say that NFL football in the Golden State is on the rise. (Now if only we could take care of the NFL team situation in LA, or lack thereof)