The Denver Broncos and Atlanta Falcons, who tied for the league’s best record at 13-3, are well aware of one of the NFL’s biggest truisms: more often than not, the regular season is for suckers. Over the last decade, just two of the 13 teams that had the best regular season record — or tied for the best mark — went on to win the Super Bowl: the ’02 Buccaneers and the ’03 Patriots. Read More

Peyton Manning got the jump on the 49ers. The 49ers overtook him in the end, though. David Akers kicked four of his five field goals in the second half and San Francisco withstood Peyton Manning’s first two touchdown passes since joining the Denver Broncos to give the 49ers a 29-24 exhibition victory on Sunday. Read More

While there won’t be any drama involving the Raiders this preseason, the 49ers do have an interesting schedule in preparing for their defense of the NFC West championship. As expected, the annual 49ers-Raiders game was scrapped after violence — including two shootings — erupted during and after last year’s exhibition at Candlestick Park. Instead, Niners coach Jim Harbaugh’s second exhibition schedule features three AFC teams — including a matchup against Peyton Manning. Read More

Signing Peyton Manning would get 49ers fans very excited, but it could be a disastrous move. History tells us that quarterbacks who have built a Hall of Fame résumé with one team, as Manning certainly has, usually can’t replicate their success with new teams. The one exception in 60 years is Norm Van Brocklin, who went from the Rams to the Eagles and led Philadelphia to an NFL championship. Read More