The San Francisco 49ers earned their biggest victory of the season Sunday night. Consider it a primer.
"It's not the playoffs, but it was a playoff environment," cornerback Carlos Rogers said, via The Sacramento Bee. "We know the next couple of games are going to be like that."
Sunday's 41-34 win over the New England Patriots nearly drifted away as the 49ers squandered a 28-point lead. The Patriots poured on the offense as quarterback Tom Brady threw 40 more passes on the night than Colin Kaepernick. Too many of those throws, however, didn't go Brady's way.
The 49ers (10-3-1) clinched a playoff spot and can take the NFC West with a win over the Seattle Seahawks (9-5) next Sunday -- another season-defining clash.
Breer: Heavy mettle
The Patriots tested San Francisco's fortitude Sunday night. Albert Breer says the 49ers' response spoke volumes. **More ...**
We've seen the 49ers thrive in big moments all year. Coach Jim Harbaugh said it best (at least he said it in a very Jim Harbaughy way) when he compared San Francisco's ability to tune out the white noise of these high-pressure affairs with his childhood spent near a railroad station:
"The more you hear the train," Harbaugh said, "the less you hear it."
We think we understand.
Follow Marc Sessler on Twitter @MarcSesslerNFL.
