Poll
Who will win Sunday's NFC Championship?
Your vote has been counted, thank you for voting.
So how did you prepare your bowl of crow Sunday morning?
I whipped mine up on a low boil with a punch – not a pinch – of salt while stirring until it reached the right consistency.
Warmed up a couple of corn tortillas, squeezed some lemon, a dash of Cholula hot sauce, and crow never tasted so good.
It usually does when you're happy to be wrong about something – or someone – as most 49ers fans have been about Alex Smith.
We had given most of the credit for his turnaround this season to coach Jim Harbaugh, who has done wonders in his first season.
That was until Smith went toe-to-toe with league MVP candidate Drew Brees on Saturday. Brees won the battle of the stats, but Smith won the war – twice, actually.
Smith's performance in the NFC divisional playoff victory over the New Orleans Saints will long be remembered after Candlestick Park is erased from the shores of San Francisco Bay and replaced by condos.
Smith is now expected to sign a lucrative contract extension. Imagine how much more he'll improve in one full offseason under Harbaugh.
But before we carve his face into a mountainside next to Joe Montana and Steve Young, there's a matter of winning the NFC championship Sunday and a Super Bowl on Feb. 5.
Smith will never reach the status of Montana and Young in 49ers history books. It's not going to happen until they start sizing him for championship rings.
He's two wins from proving us wrong.
It's OK, I've got a new recipe for crow.
What to watch
College basketball, Maryland at Florida State, 6 p.m., ESPNU: Seminoles look to build after upset over North Carolina.
Today's poll
Who will win Sunday's NFC Championship Game?
• 49ers • Giants
Vote above or leave your comments in the comments field; or go to www.sacbee.com/sports
Monday's results
Which is the greatest NFL playoff game ever?
• "The Ice Bowl" 4%
• "Immaculate Reception" 6%
• "Sea of Hands" 2%
• "Epic in Miami" 4%
• "The Catch" 44%
• "The Drive" 6%
• "The Grab" 35%
Total votes: 628
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• Read more articles by Victor Contreras
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