1st & 49ers: Playoffs new to San Francisco

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- Center Jonathan Goodwin has been going around San Francisco's locker room offering bits of veteran insight here and there. Playoff knowledge, Saints knowledge.

The NFC West champion 49ers have eight players who have been to the postseason previously. The Saints? A whopping 39 before their victory over Detroit last weekend.

"I think some of the guys who didn't get a chance to go to the playoffs in the past, they're hungry," 49ers tight end Vernon Davis said. "They're really hungry. I don't know what it's going to be like, I just know I'm playing in the playoffs. I try not to get too excited because I want to keep myself under control."

That's where Goodwin comes in.

Among the key offseason acquisitions for San Francisco, Goodwin is one of those playoff-tested guys for the Niners. He won a Super Bowl ring with the Saints two years ago. "Should be pretty fun," he said. "Hopefully my experiences seeing that defense a lot during training camp and sometimes during the season will be valuable."

Of the eight 49ers who have been to the postseason before, one is little-used wide receiver Brett Swain, another is long snapper Brian Jennings and also record-setting kicker David Akers. Jennings is the only player still around from the 49ers' 2002 playoff season, when San Francisco rallied to stun the Giants, 39-38.

From star linebackers Patrick Willis and NaVorro Bowman, to Davis, quarterback Alex Smith, running back Frank Gore and left tackle Joe Staley, punter Andy Lee and even safety Donte Whitner, this will be a monumental first.

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The 49ers are considered an underdog again -- a role first-year coach Jim Harbaugh relishes -- this week despite playing at home.

The 49ers plan to stick with what got them this far. "I haven't been to the postseason in my life," safety Dashon Goldson said. "I won a championship in high school. But other than that, no . . . We've got a good chance."