Player to watch: Alex Smith

Remember when everybody questioned the 49ers in retaining Alex Smith? Turn's out they saw something in Smith that no one has seen. The 49ers are the biggest surprise in the NFL; they always had talent, but never put it together before this season.

Jim Harbaugh, is a big reason for the change of culture in San Fran. He trusted Smith when no one else did. He looks like a good quarterback right now and it's mostly because of Harbaugh.

However, Smith still had to do the work, and this is where he has been surprising people. He has been a good game manager. There isn't anything wrong with that in this case -- he has done what the 49ers have wanted him to do thus far.

Alex Smith has, undoubtedly, revived his career. He might not be in the top 5 quarterbacks, but this season has been a good comeback for him. If Smith was playing like this before this season, the 49ers would have been a good team.

The 49ers have a great defense and a solid running game for Smith to lean on. And as long as Smith plays as good as he has for a majority of the season the 49ers will be a hard team to defeat.