As a center with the Saints last season, Jonathan Goodwin was part of an offense that completed an NFL-record 450 passes on 661 attempts, which was 49 attempts shy of another league record.

A year later, Goodwin has moved from New Orleans to San Francisco, cities separated by about 2,000 miles. In terms of NFL offenses, though, Goodwin has traveled to a different planet.

"Even though we wanted to be balanced in New Orleans, I think we all felt when it was all said and done that we were going to put the ball up in the air," Goodwin said. "It seems to kind of be the opposite here."

The stats support Goodwin's suspicion.

Entering today's showdown against the Giants (6-2) at Candlestick Park, the 49ers (7-1) have attempted 209 passes, fewest in the NFL, and are on pace to attempt the fourth-fewest passes in the league since 2006. Including plays in which they've allowed sacks, San Francisco has dropped back to pass on 48.1 percent of its offensive snaps. The NFL's other 31 teams: 58.0 percent.

Part of those run-heavy numbers can be attributed to the Niners' success. San Francisco has led at halftime in six of eight games and has often leaned on its ground game to run out the clock. But ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer says the numbers also reflect an offensive philosophy that won't change dramatically during Jim Harbaugh's regime.

"I think they are staying true to who they'll always be," said Dilfer, a former 49ers quarterback. "I don't think as long as Jim Harbaugh is coaching that team you're going to see a huge difference in philosophy. This is a guy who believes in establishing the line of scrimmage, shortening the game and leading with the run."

The Niners' defense-first, establish-the-run formula has worked to near-perfection. They have the NFL's second-best record and are a near-lock to make the playoffs with a five-game lead in the NFC West. The question: In today's pass-crazed league, can a team advance deep in the postseason playing like this?

Dilfer was the quarterback of the 2000 Ravens, who won a championship with a buttoned-up offense and one of the most dominant defenses in NFL history.

Harry E. Walker/MCT

The coach of that team, current CBS analyst Brian Billick, says times have changed.

Most notably, Billick says, the quarterback landscape is much better today than it was 11 years ago when the Ravens faced Denver's Gus Frerotte, Tennessee's Steve McNair, Oakland's Rich Gannon and the Giants' Kerry Collins in the postseason.

"Can that formula take you all the way into the NFC Championship Game and get you to the Super Bowl? It might, if it falls the right way," Billick said. "But I've seen (New Orleans quarterback) Drew Brees, I've seen (Green Bay's) Aaron Rodgers, I've seen (Atlanta's) Matt Ryan play. And not that the 49ers can't hold up against those teams, but I think it's a different time than when we won our championship. We didn't have that Hall of Famer or that great quarterback waiting for us at the end of the tunnel."

In the event of a playoff shootout, Billick said it remains to be seen if Niners quarterback Alex Smith is capable of directing a less conservative offense.

But Smith actually dazzled the only time San Francisco faced a double-digit, second-half deficit this season.

In a 24-23 win at Philadelphia, Smith had the highest second-half passer rating (154.3) by a 49ers quarterback in 18 years as he rallied San Francisco from a 20-point deficit. In a game-winning fourth-quarter drive against Cincinnati, he completed 4 of 5 passes for 48 yards. In a 25-19 win at Detroit, he found tight end Delanie Walker on a game-winning slant on a fourth-and-goal from the 6.

"He carried this team throwing the football in a couple instances," Dilfer said. "So they can do it. They just choose not to do it all the time."

Still, Dilfer acknowledges that the Niners' passing game has not reached Super Bowl quality.

The problem? San Francisco struggles to pass in obvious passing situations.

Smith, sixth in the NFL in passer rating (97.3), ranks just 23rd in third-down passer rating (73.9), and the Niners have converted just 25.3 percent (19 of 75) of their attempts on third-and-4 or longer. In their past six quarters, they've scored one touchdown while converting 5 of 21 third downs.

On third-and-long situations, the Niners lose the ability to use play action, which has been effective due to the presence of running back Frank Gore and tight ends Vernon Davis and Delanie Walker.

"I think their dropback passing game, especially on third down, needs to evolve where it's a little more in sync," Dilfer said. "It's a little more based on timing. The offensive line has to do a better job protecting in the dropback game. It's all the pieces. So their run game and play-action game has evolved very well. The third piece is that dropback passing game. ... If they show a little bit of growth in that area, I would have no problem thinking Super Bowl for this team."

That missing piece hasn't crippled the 49ers, who have eight games to get their passing game playoff-ready. Looking ahead, San Francisco has three games left against winning teams, the Giants, Ravens (6-2) and Steelers (6-3).

Two of those teams, the Ravens and Steelers, met last week, and Baltimore quarterback Joe Flacco capped a 92-yard drive with a 26-yard touchdown pass with 14 seconds left to give the Ravens a 23-20 win.

Billick believes San Francisco would be well served to win in similar fashion before the postseason begins.

"That's the remaining question for the Niners," Billick said. "When they do spread it out, can Alex step up and orchestrate that successfully? That's the missing piece that we don't know. We don't know that he can't.

"But in Baltimore, Joe Flacco has had to do that lately in order for them to win. I visited with (Ravens coach) John Harbaugh earlier in the week, and he agreed that was probably a good thing. The more they are put in that situation the better, because it's likely that will present itself during the playoffs at some point. And you want to already know you can do that successfully."

49ers today 1:15 p.m., Channel: 2 Channel: 40 (680, 107.7) Spotlight on: LT Joe Staley. The entire offensive line will actually be worth watching against a defense that leads the NFL in sacks (28). As the left tackle, though, Staley will face the stiffest challenge. Make that challenges: Staley expects to see a wave of capable pass-rushers as New York moves its linemen extensively. Staley said he could face DE Jason Pierre-Paul, who ranks third in the NFL with 9.5 sacks, DE Osi Umenyiora (six sacks in five games) and LB Mathias Kiwanuka (3.5 sacks). Said Staley, "They do a good job of rotating those guys and trying to create matchups they think are favorable for their situation. So we had to do extensive film study on everyone this week." Injury notes: 49ers - DT Ray McDonald (hamstring) is questionable and will be replaced by Ricky Jean Francois in the starting lineup for the second straight week if he's unable to play. Giants - WR Hakeem Nicks (hamstring) is questionable after missing last week's win against the Patriots, but reports indicate he is likely to play; WR Mario Manningham was added to the injury report Saturday and is questionable with a knee injury. Keys to a 49ers victory: 1. Gash the Giants on the ground: Frank Gore enters with a franchise-record five straight 100-yard games and now faces the league's 24th-ranked run defense. New York has allowed at least 98 yards to a running back in five of its past six games. 2. Keep limiting mistakes: The Niners' error-free offense will be tested against a high-pressure unit. The Giants have forced turnovers in 21 straight games, the NFL's second-longest streak. The 49ers have committed seven turnovers and rank second in the league in turnover ratio (plus-12). 3. Limit big pass plays: Unlike the past two QBs the Niners have faced, Cleveland's Colt McCoy and Washington's John Beck, New York's Eli Manning can chuck it deep. Manning has completed 42 passes of 20 or more yards this season and ranks second in the league in yards per attempt (8.5). - Eric Branch

Well grounded The 49ers are bucking the NFL's pass-first trend this season with 246 rushing attempts and 209 passing attempts through eight games. In the past two seasons, nine teams have had more rushing attempts than passing attempts. Here's a look at how those teams fared: 2010 Jets (11-5, lost in AFC Championship Game) Rush attempts: 534 Pass attempts: 525 Chiefs (10-6, lost in wild-card round) Rush attempts: 556 Pass attempts: 475 Raiders (8-8) Rush attempts: 504 Pass attempts: 491 Jaguars (8-8) Rush attempts: 512 Pass attempts: 469 2009 Bengals (10-6, lost in wild-card round) Rush attempts: 505 Pass attempts: 477 Jets (9-7, lost in AFC Championship Game) Rush attempts: 607 Pass attempts: 393 Titans (8-8) Rush attempts: 499 Pass attempts: 476 Panthers (8-8) Rush attempts: 525 Pass attempts: 465 Browns (5-11) Rush attempts: 498 Pass attempts: 443