49ers midseason report: Gore, Bowman lead way

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The 49ers had six wins in the first half of the 2013 season, a total that doesn't include their triumph over some serious obstacles.

On Sept. 23, the team was 1-2, had lost its previous two games by a score of 56-10, and troubled All-Pro outside linebacker Aldon Smith was about to enter a treatment facility after the team's controversial decision to let him play the previous day in a loss to the Colts, two days after a DUI arrest.

"We've got some adversity, there's no question about it," coach Jim Harbaugh said at the time. "And we'll also have the rare opportunity of staring adversity in the face and whipping it. That's our goal."

Mission accomplished.

The 49ers have since reeled off five straight victories, winning by an average of 22.6 points, and are just one game behind Seattle in the NFC West at the midway point of the season. The anticipated returns of Smith and wideouts Mario Manningham and Michael Crabtree over the next few weeks have added to the optimism surrounding the team.

A reason not to get too giddy? The 49ers have beaten just one team with a winning record (Green Bay), and the teams they've toppled have a combined mark of 17-28. Their lone losses have come against Seattle and Indianapolis, who sport a combined 12-3 record.

The 49ers will soon have a chance to prove that they can beat some of the NFL's better teams: Their next two games are against Carolina (4-3) and New Orleans (6-1), with a date against Seattle (7-1) looming Dec. 8.