Justin Smith, Aldon Smith on pace after surgeries
San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Justin Smith and linebacker Aldon Smith are working back from offseason surgeries, and general manager Trent ...

Niners have better chance than Ravens to be back
The Baltimore Ravens carried off the Lombardi Trophy. Their beaten opponent has a better chance of doing it next season. San Francisco running back ...

SUPER BOWL WATCH: NFL awards, real fun to come
Around the Super Bowl and its host city with journalists from The Associated Press bringing the flavor and details of everything surrounding the game: ...

Hot ticket: Players make Super Bowl ticket grab
Heading back to his hometown, Jacoby Jones couldn't afford to tell the truth. The All-Pro kick returner for the Baltimore Ravens got 15 tickets for ...

Patrick Willis will carry on Lewis' No. 52 legacy
Two of the league's most imposing inside linebackers both happen to wear No. 52. This story is about the other one. Patrick Willis of the San ...

Column: 'Not like we signed up to play tennis.'
Super Bowl week is beginning to resemble one of those family reunions where your crazy uncle says something outrageous, but just true enough to spark ...

Ravens' Ed Reed agrees with president's concerns
Unlike several players at the Super Bowl, Baltimore Ravens safety Ed Reed agrees with President Obama that football needs to be made safer. Reed wants ...

49ers boast one of best linebacking corps around
This week in the Big Easy, NaVorro Bowman plans to finally make good on the steak dinner he owes pal Patrick Willis. Bowman is only a couple of months ...

Ravens, 49ers bring big-hitting 'D' to Super Bowl
It was as if linebacker Ray Lewis, safety Bernard Pollard and the rest of the Baltimore Ravens' defense set out to provide a quarter-by-quarter ...

49ers rally past Falcons 28-24 in NFC title game
The loss stuck with them for a year, pushing the San Francisco 49ers in everything they did. They didn't want to feel that way again. Not to worry.

After Giants win title, Niners getting their shot
When Jim Harbaugh and Alex Smith drove in the Giants' victory parade last fall, players on San Francisco's championship baseball team hoped they might ...

49ers head to Super Bowl, beating Falcons 28-24
The clutch quarterback. The genius coach. The big-play defense. The San Francisco 49ers are ready to start a new dynasty with a familiar formula.

Adrian Peterson, J.J. Watt unanimous All-Pros
It's unanimous, on both sides of the ball. Vikings 2,000-yard man Adrian Peterson and Texans pass-swatting end J.J. Watt were unanimous choices for ...

AP falls short of Dickerson; Wilson ties Manning
Adrian Peterson nearly ran into the NFL record book, falling 9 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing mark. Peterson had 199 ...

49ers win NFC West with 27-13 victory over Arizona
Bare-chested Joe Staley and Mike Iupati jumped up and down wearing only their shorts, each offensive lineman doing his best to will the Vikings to ...

Peyton Manning, Peterson make Pro Bowl
Peyton Manning and Adrian Peterson want to cap their sensational comebacks with Super Bowl appearances. For now, they can be proud of Pro Bowl spots.

Seahawks roll past 49ers in noisy Seattle 42-13
Red Bryant remembers the early years of his career, when the Seattle Seahawks struggled to win only four and five games in his first two seasons.

49ers withstand comeback, top Patriots 41-34
LaMichael James awaited the kickoff, determined to regain the momentum for the 49ers after they quickly lost all of a 28-point lead. "We need a ...

49ers clinch playoff berth, 41-34 over Patriots
Jim Harbaugh might have learned more about his San Francisco 49ers during 20 minutes of sleepwalking than at any other time in his two years as their ...

49ers lead Patriots 31-17 early in 4th quarter
Colin Kaepernick threw three touchdown passes and the San Francisco 49ers led the turnover-prone New England Patriots 31-17 early in the fourth ...

Giants, Cowboys, Redskins win in tight NFC East
Winning was required to keep pace in the NFC East playoff race. Losing was all that was needed in the AFC North. The defending Super Bowl champion New ...

Gore, Kaepernick lead 49ers past Dolphins 27-13
Frank Gore purchased a gray hooded sweatshirt months ago specifically for this day, featuring an upside down teal dolphin in distress. Miami's mascot, ...

Rams edge 49ers 16-13 in overtime
Jeff Fisher apologized for predicting an entirely different game after the St. Louis Rams and San Francisco 49ers went to overtime for the second time ...
Kaepernick to start as 49ers QB on Sunday at Rams
Tight end Delanie Walker arrives at work at 6 a.m. each day, and Colin Kaepernick always beats him to 49ers headquarters. The quarterback clocks in ...

Texans still top AP Pro32 rankings; others gaining
The New England Patriots are moving up in the AP Pro32 power rankings, thanks to another second-half-of-the-season winning streak. While the Houston ...