The San Francisco 49ers are heading into a crucial matchup against the New Orleans Saints in Week 11 after losing to the Carolina Panthers last week and the team should be a bit stronger on defense, as Aldon Smith should be getting an increased workload after returning against the Panthers on Sunday.

According to ESPN.com, Smith is expecting to play more this week than last week after being out for five games while getting treatment for substance abuse issues. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio said Smith will play much more in his second game back with the team and that is a big advantage as the team heads into a road matchup in New Orleans. The Saints play much better at home in the Superdome and it should be a very intense matchup, as the 49ers just had their winning streak snapped and they need to keep pace with the 9-1 Seattle Seahawks in the division.

Smith is one of the most talented pass rushers in the league and the team needs him on Sunday, as according to ESPN.com, he has 34 sacks in just 36 career games and he will be the best chance for the team to knocks Drew Brees off his game. The defense played solid but not great against the Panthers on Sunday in the 10-9 loss and now the team has to try and bounce back against one of the top offensive teams in the league. Smith can help disrupt the timing of Brees, which is one of the biggest keys for any team trying to take down the Saints.

The 49ers have dealt with injuries on both sides of the ball this season and having Smith back will be big, as tackle Ray McDonald may not play and the team needs everyone they can get. The 49ers may have Vernon Davis back, while Michael Crabtree is moving through his progressions and should be returning soon and the team needs to activate him by the end of November.

San Francisco is coming into a tough stretch of the schedule after playing the Panthers and that loss snapped a five game winning streak and now the team has two very tough road games to deal with. The team will play on the road against the New Orleans Saints and then against the Washington Redskins on Monday night football and after that the team has three division games in five weeks to finish things off. The team plays the Rams and Seattle Seahawks at home and then plays the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the road before hosting the Falcons and to end the season they play on the road against the Arizona Cardinals.