Bill Williamson

Every year, there are surprise teams in the NFL. It’s the beauty of the league.

The quick turnaround will always happen. Every early winter, we are shocked when certain teams are still fighting. Occasionally, we see the 1999 St. Louis Rams or the 2001 New England Patriots, the stunners who make it all the way to the parade route. So surprise teams shouldn’t be a huge surprise.

But New Orleans? San Francisco? Never saw those coming.

Of all the potential surprises, neither one of these two teams looked like they had any preseason juice. Guess that’s what makes the Saints and the 49ers so surprising.

The Saints were coming off one of the most chaotic, emotional seasons ever. Their new coach looks like he’s 12 and the talent level was depleted. The 49ers won 13 games total the past three seasons, had a young quarterback who appeared overmatched, a terrible offensive line and a defense filled with pock marks.

New Orleans? San Francisco? No way.

However, as we head into December’s first weekend, these two teams square off Sunday in New Orleans in what should be one entertaining — and dare we say — meaningful game. New Orleans is 7-4, leads the NFC South and is fighting for a first-round playoff bye.

The Saints are getting it done with great offense led by quarterback Drew Brees, who is proving that he is not a product of the great supporting cast he had in San Diego. Plus, coach Sean Payton usually makes the right calls and seems like the real deal.

San Francisco is 5-6, yet has a good shot at the playoffs despite their pitiful recent seasons. Even if they miss out, the 49ers won’t surprise anyone in 2007. There is a strong cast of offense led by workhorse running back Frank Gore. The 49ers, under game coach Mike Nolan, are only going up.

So get used to these two. They are surprises no more.

Cutler time
Don’t get Mike Shanahan wrong. He is not scrapping the season with the decision to  make rookie Jay Cutler the starting quarterback heading into December. No, Cutler — the No. 11 overall draft pick from Vanderbilt — is taking over for 10-season veteran Jake Plummer because Shanahan wants to make the playoffs.

Shanahan believes Cutler is his best chance to margin the postseason for the fourth straight season.

Special report NFL playoff picture Matchups if postseason started today

The Broncos are teetering on the playoff edge heading in the final five games. They have lost their last two, to AFC West rivals San Diego and Kansas City, and have suddenly gone from being in great shape to being 7-4 and currently being the No. 6 seed.

That’s why the Cutler move. Shanahan thinks he can be the difference.

And he's right.

There are no guarantees that Cutler will be the answer. But he will provide a spark. That is invaluable for a struggling team. He will energize Denver against visiting Seattle on Sunday night.

Plummer is a gamer, but he misses a handful of plays every game. Cutler will have a chance to make those plays. Those handful of plays can be the difference between winning and losing, the playoffs and no playoffs.

That’s why Cutler is in and Plummer is out.

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