THE SCOOP
Jet lag hasn’t hit the 49ers, at least not on the scoreboard, as they’ve piled up playoff victories and frequent-flier miles.
“We’ve become accustomed to traveling, and the last few games have us prepared for Seattle,” special-teams ace Bubba Ventrone said.
A fourth consecutive Sunday will be spent in an opposing stadium, only a Super Bowl berth will be on the line for this trip into Seattle’s jet-engine-loud stadium.
“It kind of feels like we’re on autopilot,” defensive tackle Ray McDonald said of the team’s daily schedule rather any foggy mindset. “We get up in the morning, go through our normal routine. This is what we enjoy.”
The 49ers traveled an NFL-high 32,948 miles in the regular season. Nearly 10,000 miles more will be soared through these NFC playoffs, with victorious stops in Green Bay and Carolina en route to Sunday’s connection in Seattle for the NFC Championship game.
All those frequent-flier miles won’t get the 49ers (14-4) a free, cross-country trip to their ideal, final destination. That would be a 5,102-mile, round-trip journey to East Rutherford, N.J., site of the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.
ZEBRAS
Terry McAulay will be the referee at the Super Bowl, marking the third time he has worked the NFL title game. McAulay is in his 16th season as an NFL official. He started in 1998 as a side judge and became a referee in 2001.
Others scheduled to work the game:
Umpire — Carl Paganelli
Head linesman — Jim Mello
Line judge — Tom Symonette
Field judge — Scott Steenson
Side judge — Dave Wyant
Back judge — Steve Freeman
Replay official — Earnie Frantz
Replay assistant — Brian Matoren
BY THE NUMBERS
2007 The last time Peyton Manning lost twice in a row to the same team was in 2007, when the Colts lost 23-21 at San Diego in November and then dropped a 28-24 heartbreaker at home in the wild-card playoffs. He has won five consecutive rematches since, and Sunday will be a rematch. The Broncos lost to the Patriots in overtime in November after surrendering a 24-0 lead.
HE SAID IT
“I defy anyone to say there’s ever been anything bigger in this league.” — CBS broadcaster Jim Nantz, who compares the Brady-Manning collision Sunday to be the NFL version of Ali-Frazier, Palmer-Nicklaus and Bird-Magic
