SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) - There's a price to pay for those who venture across the middle of the San Francisco 49ers' defense.

Dashon Goldson and Donte Whitner are making sure of that.

The territory patrolled by the pair of hard-hitting safeties has become a danger zone this season for San Francisco opponents, several of whom have had to be helped off the field after getting leveled by one of the two veterans - or both at the same time.

Their impact was felt simultaneously by the New Orleans Saints last week, when one of Goldson's big hits led to an interception that Whitner returned for the touchdown that put the 49ers in control on their way to a 31-21 victory.

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