I get what you're saying, but playing down to lesser opponents has kind of been the Saints M.O. for years. It's always the weaker teams that worry me. I believe the team will be fired up when it's time to play the 9ers.
But what does that have to do with why 49er fans should have any reason to fear us? They see a 10-2 team that has eeked out their last two victories, almost let TB back in the game after jumping to a 20-0 lead, and took an entire half to wake up against ARZ. If SF had those as their most recent 4 victories as well as an embarrassment against a 1-7 team as their resume over the last 5 games, would you be cowering before them?