Since Jim Harbaugh arrived in 2011, the 49ers have held onto the ball historically well.

They've tied an NFL record for the fewest turnovers in a season (10), committed the fewest turnovers in the league (44) and managed to do for three straight years what they never accomplished once in the franchise's first 65 seasons.

From 1946 to 2010 - from Y.A. Tittle to John Brodie to Joe Montana to Steve Young - they never had fewer than nine interceptions in a season. Since Harbaugh showed up, their interception totals, starting in 2011, are 5, 8 and 8.

So how has Harbaugh coached proper don't-turn-the-ball-over techniques? Not surprisingly, he isn't giving up trade secrets to the public.

"Remind them to protect the ball," Harbaugh said. "Daily and hourly."

This week, leading up to Sunday's NFC Championship Game in Seattle, the 49ers coaching staff might be offering up-to-the-minute reminders: The Seahawks' top-ranked defense led the NFL in takeaways (39) and interceptions (28) this season.

Unfortunately for the usually-mistake-free 49ers, they can attest to Seattle's ability to produce takeaways.

In the Seahawks' 29-3 win at Seattle in Week 2, the 49ers had five turnovers, their only game with more than three since Oct. 10, 2010, and Seattle scored 13 points off those miscues. That game followed a familiar home script for the Seahawks, who have collected 41 of their 70 turnovers since the start of the 2012 season at CenturyLink Field, where the raucous crowd can rattle opponents.

Consider Colin Kaepernick's experience in Seattle. The 49ers' quarterback has thrown four interceptions in 64 pass attempts in two career road starts against the Seahawks, averaging a pick every 16 attempts. In his other 26 career starts, including the playoffs, Kaepernick has thrown 10 interceptions in 682 attempts.

On Sunday, he'll arrive with one interception in his past 146 attempts, and memories of his last two trips to Seattle. In December 2012, the 49ers had two turnovers that led to 14 points in a 42-13 loss.

"We do have to protect the football," Kaepernick said. "That's something that we haven't done very well up there. I think going into this game we have to make sure we do that so we can come out with a win."

The 49ers have had just four turnovers in their eight-game winning streak, including one in their past five games. That near-error-free streak will be tested against a defense that includes cornerback Richard Sherman and safety Earl Thomas.

Sherman, a first-team All-Pro the past two seasons, had an NFL-high eight interceptions despite being targeted with just 59 passes, according to Pro Football Focus. Thomas, a Pro Bowl pick the past three seasons, tied for fifth in the NFL with five interceptions.

This week, NBC analyst Cris Collinsworth, who broadcast the 49ers' last two losses in Seattle, advised the 49ers to avoid Seattle's secondary, which led the NFL in opponent passer rating (63.4). The Seahawks' run defense ranked seventh in the league.

"In my heart, I think that if Colin Kaepernick throws the ball more than 20 times in this game they are going to get beat," Collinsworth said on Showtime's Inside the NFL. "This is a team you can run the ball on. San Francisco, pretend you are in college. Colin Kaepernick, run the thing 15 times if you have to. Beat them running the ball. Don't beat yourself."

The 49ers have been adept at doing just that since 2011. They haven't committed a turnover in an NFL-best 20 games during that span and are 18-1-1 in those contests.

What's the secret to their success? Offensive coordinator Greg Roman suggested his charges were adept at following a basic instruction: protect the ball.

"It's all about the players," Roman said. "The bottom line is the players must protect the football, and they've been better than anybody in the league at doing it."

0.82 Turnovers per game for 49ers the past three seasons in games not played in Seattle. 2.33 Turnovers per game for 49ers the past three seasons in games played in Seattle.