"The 49ers relied on a simple formula in 2011:

A heaping of takeaways

+ an excellent defense

+ a cautious offense

= wins.

The equation was sound throughout the season and took the 49ers to within a step of the Super Bowl. But in the NFC Championship Game, the formula failed.

The 49ers nailed the defensive part of it – Justin Smith and company were relentless as the game went on and frustrated New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning into a ho-hum 74 passer rating after halftime.

The offense played to form, too, committing no turnovers, taking the lead in the third quarter and then tying the score with David Akers' field goal in the fourth.

It was the takeaway portion that didn't come through.

Going into the game, the 49ers had forced a league-high 43 turnovers.

Against the Giants, they had zero, although they had chances. Two would-be interceptions in the second half were squandered when safety Dashon Goldson crashed into the cornerback. Another possible takeaway, a forced fumble that would have almost assuredly given the 49ers the lead late in the game, was wiped away by a quick whistle.

The 49ers had no takeaways only two other times during the season. The first was in a narrow win in Detroit, a game in which the 49ers' defense had a key safety. The second was in the loss in Baltimore.

The Giants game illustrates the nature of takeaways – they're fluky. They pour in like a monsoon one moment and dry up like a desert the next.

The 49ers finished the regular season with the NFL's best turnover differential at plus-28. The next-highest differential in franchise history was plus-22 in 1981. But that was followed by a minus-8 in 1982."