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Classic playoff matchup: Saints vs. 49ers
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As NFL matchups go, this one is a classic: unstoppable offense against impenetrable defense.

The second round of the playoffs begins Saturday in San Francisco, where one of the league's top defenses — the 49ers yielded 229 points and ranked fourth overall in yards allowed, first against the run — takes on Drew Brees and the Saints' record-setting attack.

If defense wins championships, as has been the theory in pro football for decades, the edge clearly belongs to the 49ers. Then again, the NFL hasn't seen an offense as prolific as the Saints.

"They've been very consistent all year," Saints coach Sean Payton said of the NFC West champion Niners (13-3). "The formula has been outstanding defense. ... They're the No. 1 team in taking the football away and they're the No. 1 team in protecting the football offensively. Those are significant numbers.

"I think you can see week to week on tape their production on both sides of the ball. You're talking about a Pro Bowl punter and a kicking game that's near the top of the league in almost every statistic. In all three phases, they've been consistent. They've received great production and as a result they've played very well."

The 49ers have five All-Pros: linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, defensive tackle Justin Smith, who also plays a lot at end, kicker David Akers and punter Andy Lee. Their offense has been so efficient that San Francisco had only 10 giveaways, which equaled the 2010 Patriots for fewest in NFL history.

"It's going to be a battle," Willis said. "We know that and I'm sure they know that as well. They're going to do what they need to do to prepare to come in to play against us and we're going to do that same (thing). We'll see where the chips lay when the game is over, but we're certainly going to come with everything we have. It's either win or go home."

The Saints tore through the NFL, setting NFL marks for total yards on offense (7,474) and yards passing (5,347, including sacks), with Brees shattering Dan Marino's 27-year-old record of 5,084 yards passing by throwing for 5,476. He had 468 completions, breaking Peyton Manning's 2010 mark of 450, and completed 71.6 percent of his passes, breaking his own 2009 record of a 70.6 completion percentage.

Darren Sproles had an NFL-record 2,696 combined yards, easily breaking the previous mark of 2,690 set by Derrick Mason with Tennessee in 2000.

"We always go into every game with an aggressive mentality," Brees said. "We're going to be balanced, but within the framework of that we're going to take our shots. We're going to throw the kitchen sink at everybody with our tempo, personnel groups, formations, running the ball, outside, drop-back pass, bootlegs, heavy play-action, everything. But within the framework of that, you understand, especially early on, you check it down, move on."