A playoff spot seems feasible in San Francisco, where the 49ers avoided a seventh consecutive losing season by going 8-8 last season.

“It’s a very good feeling to know that there can be some continuity,” said Singletary, entering his second full season as coach. “I think that would be the word that connects everything that we did last year and take in the positives and beginning to build on those things and let this be a continuation of building and learning.”

The only team to go undefeated in the preseason, San Francisco could have some of the best young talent in the league.

Entering his sixth season, Frank Gore joins Steven Jackson and Thomas Jones as the only players to rush for 1,000 yards in each of the last four seasons. Gore, who scored a career-high 13 TDs in 2009, posted his only two 200-yard games against Seattle.

He rushed for 207 yards and two scores in a 23-10 home win over the Seahawks on Sept. 20, but was held to 25 yards on nine carries in a 20-17 loss at Seattle on Dec. 6.

Alex Smith threw a career-high 18 touchdowns last season, but also was intercepted 12 times. Vernon Davis was a Pro Bowl selection after tying Antonio Gates’ NFL record for touchdowns by a tight end with 13 in 2009.

Receiver Michael Crabtree hopes to blossom during his first full season in the league. The 10th overall pick last season, Crabtree didn’t sign until Oct. 7 yet caught 48 passes for 625 yards and two TDs in 11 games.

Led by star linebacker Patrick Willis, the 49ers’ defense looks to build on last season when the unit held opponents to 97.0 rushing yards per game – sixth best in the NFL.

However, the 49ers must play better on the road if they hope to end their postseason drought. San Francisco went 2-6 away from home last year, and has split its last four trips to Seattle.

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Week 1

Sunday, September 12

 Miami Dolphins @ Buffalo Bills 1:00 pm

Oakland Raiders @ Tennessee Titans 1:00 pm

Cincinnati Bengals @ New England Patriots 1:00 pm

Carolina Panthers @ NY Giants 1:00 pm

Atlanta Falcons @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1:00 pm

Cleveland Browns @ Tampa Bay Bucs 1:00 pm

Denver Broncos @ Jacksonville Jaguars 1:00 pm

Indianapolis Colts @ Houston Texans 1:00 pm

Detroit Lions @ Chicago Bears 1:00 pm

San Francisco 49ers @ Seattle Seahawks 4:15 pm

Green Bay Packers @ Philadelphia Eagles 4:15 pm

Arizona Cardinals @ St. Louis Rams 4:15 pm

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington Redskins 8:20 pm

Monday, September 13 Time

Baltimore @ NY Jets 7:00 pm

San Diego @ Kansas City 10:15 pm

Husky Season Stats 2010

Points/Game  17.0 (153)

Rush Yards/Game  128.0 (136)

Pass Yards/Game 266.0 (54)

Total Yards/Game  394.0 (95)

Third Down Pct.  33.3% (135)

Fourth Down Pct. – % 0.0% (114)

Sacks  1 (69)

Sack Yards  -4 (64)

Rushing TDs  1 (117)

Passing TDs  1 (119)

Carries/Game 31 (158)

Yards/Carry  4.1 (124)

Completion Pct.  51.3% (169)

Yards/Pass Attempt  6.8 (108)

Pass Rating  117.0 (139)

Avg. NCAA Football Ranking  79.7

Syracuse Season Stats 2010

Points/Game 29.0 (102)

Rush Yards/Game 202.0 (66)

Pass Yards/Game 229.0 (84)

Total Yards/Game 431.0 (71)

Third Down Pct. 52.6% (45)

Fourth Down Pct. – % (163) 0.0%

Sacks 1 (56) 1 (69)

Sack Yards -9 (110)

Rushing TDs 1 (106)

Passing TDs 2 (58)

Carries/Game 45 (45)

Yards/Carry 4.5 (91)

Completion Pct. 63.0% (112)

Yards/Pass Attempt 8.5 (60)

Pass Rating 151.2 (70)

Avg. NCAA Football Ranking 56.3

#22 Georgia @ #24 South Carolina

South Florida @ #8 Florida

#12 Miami @ #2 Ohio St.

#17 Florida St. @ #10 Oklahoma

#18 Penn St. @ #1 Alabama

#7 Oregon @ Tenn

Michigan @ Notre Dame

Iowa St. @ #9 Iowa

”It’s like the Super Bowl all over again,” Saints running back Reggie Bush said.

Indeed, Saints owner Tom Benson will show off the Lombardi Trophy once more at a newly completed festival plaza next to the Superdome that has been named Champions Square. Then the festivities move inside the dome, where those with the hottest ticket in town will witness the raising of a 2009 championship banner before kickoff.

The Vikings would like to see the party end right about there, and they have their reasons for believing they can make that happen.

Minnesota outperformed the Saints in numerous statistical categories when they met in last season’s NFC championship game and might have won if not for five turnovers.

The Vikings outgained the Saints 165 yards to 68 on the ground and 310 yards to 189 in the air. In the end, Minnesota was done in by three lost fumbles and two interceptions, the last by Saints cornerback Tracy Porter when the Vikings were threatening to take a late-game lead …..Brett Favre performed brilliantly in the NFC title game despite taking a pounding from a Saints defense that drew a few flags – and fines – for some of the heavy hits they delivered…Childress and some of Favre’s teammates have since suggested that the Saints appeared to be trying to hurt their quarterback, although Favre said this week he had no complaints.

The Saints say so-called ”remember me” hits are part of an aggressive style taught by defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and that they play the same way every game.

With the chatter that has gone back and forth, Saints quarterback Drew Brees figures the Vikings may be looking for a little payback. Certainly, it wouldn’t hurt Minnesota’s cause to knock the reigning Super Bowl MVP – who completed an NFL record 70.62 percent of his passes last season – out of the game…..Minnesota topped the NFL with 48 sacks last season, led by end Jared Allen’s 14 1/2. The Vikings defense also ranked sixth in yards allowed (305.5 per game).

The Saints’ offense led the NFL in total yards (403.8 per game) and has all of its key players back….look for an excited crowd and hard hits from both teams!!

  Indianapolis Colts 13-2

 New Orleans Saints 7-1

 Dallas Cowboys 15-2

 New England Patriots 17-2

 San Diego Chargers 17-2

 Green Bay Packers 19-2

Minnesota Vikings 11-1

 Pittsburgh Steelers 12-1

New York Jets 14-1

 New York Giants 15-1

Philadelphia Eagles 18-1 Atlanta Falcons 20-1 Tennessee Titans 22-1 Baltimore Ravens 24-1 Chicago Bears 28-1 Houston Texans 30-1 Miami Dolphins 30-1 Cincinnati Bengals 35-1 Arizona Cardinals 40-1 San Francisco 49ers 45-1 Denver Broncos 45-1 Jacksonville Jaguars 45-1 Washington Redskins 50-1 Cleveland Browns 60-1 Carolina Panthers 60-1 Detroit Lions 80-1 Seattle Seahawks 80-1 Buffalo Bills 100-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 125-1 Kansas City Chiefs 125-1 Oakland Raiders 125-1 St. Louis Rams 150-1 

 Source: Las Vegas Sports Consultants

Kay Kellogg had one wish before cancer claims her life — to meet Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard.

He granted it in a big way.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Howard recently spent time with Kellogg, a 62-year-old Magic fan with stage 3 multiple myeloma. The cancer is inoperable and incurable, the newspaper reported — but Howard lifted her spirits and she ended up lifting his…”Dwight Howard is just such a precious, wonderful kid,” she told the Sentinel. “Whenever I watch him play, he just makes me feel good inside.”

Kellogg’s daughter, Arian Clute, contacted the Magic several weeks ago about her mother’s wish to have a conversation with Howard, the two-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year. He was scheduled to visit her home for 30 minutes but stayed several hours, according to the Sentinel.

When he asked why he was the only item on her bucket list, she told him, “Because some people get a choir that sings them into heaven and some people get a chariot that rolls them into heaven. Not me. I want to be slam-dunked smack, dab into the middle of heaven by Dwight Howard.”

They talked about life, love, death and divinity — laughing and joking much of the time, according to the Sentinel. When he left, the 6-foot-11 Howard bent down and hugged the 4-foot-11 Kellogg. “You are taller than me,” he told her.

“That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard,” she said.

“No,” Howard said, “you are taller than me because your spirit lifts you up.”

Coaches

1 Alabama (55) 1470

2 Ohio State (4) 1397

3 Boise State 1304

4 Texas 1264

5 TCU 1144

6 Florida 1130

7 Nebraska 1085

8 Oregon 1054

9 Iowa 1027

10 Oklahoma 969

11 Wisconsin 821

12 Miami (FL) 799

13 Virginia Tech 698

14 Penn State 655

15 Arkansas 531

16 LSU 527

17 Georgia Tech 519

18 Florida State 500

19 Georgia 458

20 Auburn 371

20 Utah 371

22 West Virginia 185

23 Arizona 128

24 Brigham Young 113

25 South Carolina

AP

1 Alabama

 2 Ohio State

 3 Boise State

 4 TCU

5 Texas

 6 Nebraska

7 Oregon

8 Florida

9 Iowa

10 Oklahoma

11 Wisconsin

12 Miami (FL)

13 Virginia Tech

14 Arkansas

15 Georgia Tech

16 USC

17 Florida State

18 Penn State

19 LSU

20 Utah

21 Auburn

22 Georgia

23 West Virginia

24 South Carolina

25 Stanford

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