Live: Saints vs. 49ers in divisional round clash

It's the high-flying, defense-dizzying Drew Brees and the Saints against first-year head coach Jim Harbaugh's punch-you-in-the-mouth 49ers. San Francisco's D, which includes four Pro Bowlers, ranked fourth in the NFL allowing 308.2 total yards. If defense still wins championships, the 49ers will have to prove it against one of the most prolific offenses we've ever seen. The Saints last lost on Halloween eve, to of all teams, the Rams. New Orleans last played on grass on Dec. 11, when Brees lit up Tennessee for 337 yards passing yet the Saints scored just 22, their lowest output in a nine-game win streak. It's 53 and sunny with six mph winds for the first playoff game in San Francisco in nine years. 

USA TODAY's Nate Davis previewed the game here, NFL writer Jim Corbett is on the scene and Robert Klemko brings you the action here: 

 -- LIVE BOX SCORE -- 

 5:15 pm: Roby fumbles the kick return, recovers, fumbles again. 49ers recover. EVERYTHING is going wrong for the Saints. 

 5:12 pm: After two incomplete passes, Smith hits Crabtree on a slant for a TD against a Saints blitz. 14-0 49ers with 41 seconds left in the first quarter.

 5:10 pm: Saints go into an empty formation, tries to go up the seam but Goldson steps in and picks it off, runs it back 42 yards to the four. It's Brees' first playoff INT since 2006. 

 5:08 pm: Brees avoids pressure, finds Jimmy Graham for four in the flat. Sproles gets seven more out of the backfield.

 5:06 pm: Saints will begin at the 14 after an ill-advised kick return attempt. 

 5:02 pm: On second and five, Smith finds Vernon Davis across the middle for a 49 yard TD. Roman Harper collides with Malcom Jenkins after the catch and Vernon could have walked into the end zone. 7-0 49ers with two minutes left in the first. 

 5:00 pm: Corbett: "Saints must play on with Pierre Thomas gone to locker room to get checked for possible concussion after helmet-on hit by Whitner, slug-fest." 

 4:57 pm: Despite loads of time, Brees throws incomplete. Ivory gets two on a plunge. Brees is sacked by Aldon Smith and the Saints punt. 4:55 pm: Graham and Thomas were taken to the locker room. Saints start at the 19 with over four minutes left. 4:54 pm: Saints bring the heat on third and 5. Roman Harper comes of the edge and strips Smith of the football. 49ers recover, punt. 

 4:53 pm: Corbett: "Jim Harbaugh throwing playbook wrinkles at Saints, DE Justin Smith just out there as blocker." 

 4:51 pm: Smith hits Ginn on another quick slant for a first down on second down. Smith throws an out on first down but Ginn kept running straight. 

 4:50 pm: 49ers start at their own two. Quick slant to Crabtree out of an I for 8. Gore gets the first down up the middle in a heavy formation. A toss to Gore gets the Niners to the 31.

 4:47 pm: Both Jimmy Graham and Pierre Thomas shaken up on the drive after sustaining head hits. Saints ran into a brick wall on the first drive.

 4:45: Sproles slips on a screen that gets three. Brees is pressured early on third down by Smith, rolls right and connects with Thomas, who is absolutely blasted by Whitner, short of the first down. Thomas fumbles after the helmet-to-helmet blast. 49ers recover.

 4:44 pm: On third and 4, Colston runs a quick out against man coverage and gets the first down at the 10. Sproles is stuffed on a shotgun draw on first down. 

 4:43 pm: Brees looks deep to Graham, pass is broken up by Whitner but officials flag him for pass interference. Saints ball at the 21. 

 4:41 pm: Brees takes a hard hit from Aldon Smith, hits Sproles over the middle, who makes Willis miss for a first down. On 2nd and 6 Ivory is stuffed off the right tackle.

 4:40 pm: Brees in single back, connects with backup tight end Michael Higgings for a first down. Ivory takes it up the middle for three on first down.

 4:37 pm: Sproles takes a touchback. Saints start at the 20. Brees finds Sproles for five out of the backfield. 4:32 pm: Corbett: "One of big keys for 49ers will be RB Frank Gore, he hasn't had a 100-yard game since Week 9 win against Washington. Saints get ball 1st."

 4:20 pm: Among the notable inactives are 49ers TE Delanie Walker and Saints WR Lance Moore.