San Francisco 49ers (4-4) at New Orleans Saints (4-4)

Sunday, 1:00 p.m. ET, at Mercedes Benz Superdome, New Orleans – TV: FOX

*TV announcers: Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch, Pam Oliver

*Keys to the game: RB Frank Gore is averaging a respectable 4.1 yards per carry, but he has a combined 107 over the 49ers’ past seven games. Coordinator Greg Roman is taking heat for not getting Gore more involved, especially as QB Colin Kaepernick was sacked eight times last week. But the Saints have allowed more than 68 rushing yards to only one player this season – Dallas’ DeMarco Murray, the league’s leading rusher. While New Orleans enters with the league’s 27th-ranked pass defense, but 11 of their 17 sacks have come over the past three games. Kaepernick is going to need to make quick decisions – and accurate passes – in a loud road environment.

Saints QB Drew Brees has a 103.4 passer rating with seven touchdown passes in three home games, all victories. The 49ers enter with the league’s third-best pass defense. Something has to give, and much of it will depend on how consistently the 49ers are able to get to Brees. When New Orleans’ offense is really humming, there is far more balance with the run setting up the pass than most realize. The Saints are averaging 4.8 yards per carry and RB Mark Ingram will be Brees’ best friend if he’s able to set up play-action.

Friday injury report:

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS

–Questionable: CB Tramaine Brock (toe), DT Quinton Dial (eye), WR Brandon Lloyd (hamstring), LB Dan Skuta (ankle), LB Patrick Willis (toe)

–Probable: RB Frank Gore (hip), DE Justin Smith (not injury related), DT Ian Williams (shin)

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS

–Out: LB David Hawthorne (hand), RB Khiry Robinson (forearm), RB Pierre Thomas (rib, shoulder)

–Questionable: C Jonathan Goodwin (knee, ankle), RB Mark Ingram (shoulder), WR Robert Meachem (ankle), T Zach Strief (chest)

–Probable: TE Jimmy Graham (shoulder), WR Kenny Stills (thigh)

*Matchup to watch – 49ers linebackers vs. Saints TE Jimmy Graham: Graham has been targeted a total of just 20 times over the past four games, although he still leads the team with 46 catches, 518 receiving yards and five receiving touchdowns. The 49ers have allowed only 325 yards and three touchdowns to tight ends this season.

*Player spotlight – Saints OLB Junior Galette: He leads the team with 6.0 sacks and will attack the right side of the 49ers’ offensive line, which has been one of the unit’s more inconsistent spots in protection.

*Fast facts: 30.6 percent of the plays the 49ers ran in last week’s loss to the Rams resulted in negative yardage. … Brees has an 11-game home winning streak with a 119.8 passer rating.

WHO WILL WIN AND WHY

Jim Harbaugh’s crew is highly resilient, and tends to feed off the type of criticism San Francisco has received nationally this week. That said, Brees engineers and offensive juggernaut at home and the 49ers’ offense remains a talented group on paper that lacks playmakers on game day.

*Our pick: Saints 30-27