Golden Nuggets: Patriots an extremely tough test for 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are a good team. They're a really, really good team. I'm just not sure if they're going to win on Sunday. I think they would have destroyed the New England Patriots that played in last year's Super Bowl, but the Pats are playing such good football right now and the 49ers have yet to adjust to some changes and are simply playing poorly.

I guess what I'm saying is I hope they were just playing down to their competition. I haven't been impressed with them the past two weeks, and if they were just playing down, then fine. If they can play to their own level against the Patriots, then we should be in for a helluva game.

That being said, I think we'll know what's going to happen in the game after the first couple possessions. I think that will decide it all. Let's get to your links.

49ers vs. Patriots: Jonathan Goodwin versus Vince Wilfork (DeSimone)

Getting to the bottom of the 49ers' play clock problem (BA Sports Guy)

49ers' Aldon Smith faces college foe (Branch)

Greg Roman learned the pistol formation from the creator (Gin)

49ers vs. Patriots: A look at the stats (Faaborg)

Harbaugh and Belichick: Two I-don't-give-a-damn coaches (Branch)

Manningham's status remains uncertain (Maiocco)

Roman 'paints a picture' of Vernon Davis' incredibly shrinking production (Inman)

Numbers don't lie: Kaepernick already Smith's equal (BA Sports Guy)

49ers vs. Patriots betting lines & odds: San Francisco one-score underdogs to New England (SB Nation Bay Area)

Kaepernick on Brady's career pace (CSN)

Patriots far from one-dimensional (CSN)

49ers scout team receiver familiar with Welker's game (Maiocco)

Aldon Smith Embraces SNF Stage (49ers)