The 49ers understandably hoped that the Giants would beat the Packers on Sunday, so that the 49ers could host the NFC title game.
But 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh apparently was planning for the Packers to prevail. His father, Jack, told 790 The Zone in Atlanta that Jim had a project last week for the elder Harbaugh, a former college football coach.
“He sent me some Green Bay Packer tape and I spent a couple hours looking at that,” Jack Harbaugh said. “Those notes are moot. We just don’t have anything to do with them. I haven’t gotten my assignment for this week so we’ll see what happens.”
Jack won’t be attending either of the conference title games this weekend, even though a son will be coaching in each of them. Jim’s 49ers will fact the Giants, and John’s Ravens play the Patriots.
“We’re able to stay here and watch and we’ve got understanding neighbors when they hear the pounding and the shouting they understand that it’s just part of the weekend routine for us,” Jack Harbaugh said. “We’re very comfortable and very happy where we are and enjoying from long range.”
Though Jack Harbaugh said he hasn’t thought about the possibility of his two sons facing off in Super Bowl XLVI, he apparently has confidence that they’ll both be up to the challenge of getting their teams there.
“They have no weaknesses,” Jack Harbaugh said. “They’re just like their mother. They’re stealth.”
Neither Harbaugh’s team will be sneaking up on their opponents this weekend. But it would surprise no one if each of them wins.