San Francisco 49ers vs. Arizona Cardinals Preview & Prediction

Have the 49ers done enough to sway you into thinking they are Super Bowl contenders?

You better believe it.

It is hard to argue with a relentless defense, physical running back and a quarterback that can manage a game with the best in the NFL.

And so the Arizona Cardinals dawdle into Candlestick Park with an acquired quarterback that does not work and a team hoping for next season. That will not stop them from playing a gritty game against one of the NFL's elite.

San Jose Sharks: Top Prospects in Their System

The San Jose Sharks have made their mark in the NHL as a Western Conference powerhouse that is inches away from getting over that hurdle and into the Stanley Cup Finals.

Detroit Red Wings Pose Early Season Test For San Jose Sharks

The rivalry that is Sharks/Red Wings goes back many years, and everyone knows that story well whether you root for one team or the other.

For now, the rivalry has swung the Sharks' way after two seasons of playoff exits for the Red Wings at the hands of the Sharks. Suddenly, San Jose is a playoff powerhouse after so many years of looking up at Detroit. If only they could get over that last hurdle, and there always seems to be one that time of year.

San Francisco 49ers Yet to Prove Themselves to the Monday Morning Quarterback

The San Francisco 49ers (8-1) took yet another step towards the NFL's best when they defeated the New York Giants (6-3) in their biggest test this season.

Even without Frank Gore, the 49ers managed to pull away a win from the Giants who have made their mark this season with late-game scores, and San Francisco was a Justin Smith batted ball away from possibly falling into that same category.

San Francisco 49ers vs. New York Giants Preview & Prediction

A test...finally a test.

Before Week 1, did you think that would be what we were saying in Week 10?

Not sure many did, but the match-up agains the New York Giants on Sunday will be an actual test, and a good one at that.

San Jose Sharks: Todd McLellan Tinkering With the Defensive Third Line

The San Jose Sharks have clicked as a team, simply said. Martin Havlat has made an impression that second line and the team is continually growing together to gain chemistry with one another as the season is progressing.

San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez Dealt For Melky Cabrera

Hot stove this early? Evidently, yes, because the San Francisco Giants traded Jonathan Sanchez to the Royals for Melky Cabrera on Monday.

In fact, Giants GM Brian Sabean may have managed to force a wry smile after hearing that the Royals actually wanted to take Sanchez off their hands.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Washington Redskins Preview & Predictions

The San Francisco 49ers will make their way to Washington D.C. this week to take on the Redskins looking for their sixth straight win and continue their undefeated season on the road.

Let's lay the facts out here because they should pretty much tell the story for how we can presume this game to end up. The 49ers are looking to

San Jose Sharks: 5 Players That Need To Step Their Game Up

The San Jose Sharks have officially clicked as a team, after a 5-1 east coast road trip has revived this team's very early season blunders.

The addition of Martin Havlat has stabilized the Sharks' second line, and Joe Pavelski is having a field day with Joe Thornton and Patrick Marleau on the first line.

San Francisco 49ers Have Much to Prove If They Want To Be Super Bowl Contenders

If there is one thing we have learned this far into the NFL season, it is that Jim Harbaugh is a genius and all others are less than him.

Ok. Maybe that is too strong, but he has a strategy to coaching that could not be figured out in college and has yet to be figured out in the NFL.

San Francisco 49ers vs. Cleveland Browns Preview & Predictions

The Week 8 match-up of the 49ers (5-1) and Browns (3-3) has "comebacks" as a part of its storyline. Braylon Edwards is still questionable no matter how optimistic Jim Harbaugh is, and Peyton Hillis' possible return to the Cleveland backfield. Montario Hardesty has run rather well in Hillis' absence, but it will be good to have the Madden '12 cover boy on the field again.

Comparing the San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild Trades Now

Hindsight is 20/20. I believe that is how the saying goes. However, when the San Jose Sharks and Minnesota Wild made their series of trades this past offseason, there was no turning back, and there really was no need to. Both teams walked away feeling better about their teams heading forward.

Fast forward to two weeks into the 2011-12 NHL season, and what is the consensus on how each of these teams did in those trades?

San Jose Sharks: 5 Players Projected For Big Seasons So Far

The San Jose Sharks are not off to the most ideal start at 4-3-0 through the first two weeks of the season. However, we can still get a good look of how this team will fair come mid-season and further.

The roster is stacked head-to-toe with talented players seeking a shot at the Cup and this season is as good as ever for this franchise to win one.

San Jose Sharks: What To Make of the Team's Slow Start

How do you explain a team with this many talented players and that much of a hype surrounding them starting the season off 1-3?

You got me. In fact, you may have everyone.

The offense, on paper, is solid. The defense, on paper, is a surefire hit. Then why have they lost three games in a row at the beginning of the season?

Composure and Resilience Define Jim Harbaugh's Impact on San Francisco 49ers

Forget the infamous Jim Harbaugh/Jim Schwartz postgame scuffle. Forget Schwartz' comments before the game. Forget Harbaugh's over-celebratory postgame handshake to a Lions coach that was clearly not in the mood.

Monday and Tuesday have now passed and with the Harbaugh/Schwartz debate dying down, it is time to talk about the actual game. More specifically, let's talk about the 49ers, a top-3 team in the NFC.

The Lions/49ers game on Sunday was as good an example as any as to what Harbaugh has brought to this team.