SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) – 49er defensive lineman Justin Smith is expected to play against the Seahawks in Seattle Sunday night after missing most of the second half of the Patriots game with an arm injury.

Madden said Smith is key to the success of the 49er defense.

“He raises havoc in there,” Madden said. “I think he makes all the guys around him better. They have a term, ‘eats up blocks.’ He eats up blocks on the way to sacking the quarterback or making a tackle. He dominates the inside of the line, he really does.”

Did Smith’s absence in the second half of the Patriots game help New England rally from a four touchdown deficit to tie the game?

“I think it was a part of it,” the former coach said. “But to say that if he were in there Tom Brady wouldn’t have done what he did, I don’t know that that’s true either.”

In the end, the 49ers defeated the Patriots 41-34.

Which teams have the best chance of doing well in the post-season?

“You always want to be peaking now, and the teams that are playing well, you have to kind of go with them,” Madden said. “And the teams that aren’t playing well, even though they have a good record like the Chicago Bears, they may have a tough time making it.” (7:20)

Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John’s extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.

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