Heading into Sunday's match up, the 49er defense knew they had their work cut out for them facing the dangerous Mike Vick. Despite suffering from a series of concussions and a contusion to his throwing hand in the first few weeks of the season, Vick expressed how healthy he felt coming into Sunday's game saying he was 100% positive he'd start. His performance would look every bit the part as he finished the game with a career-high 416 passing yards to go along with his 75 yards rushing. A number of pivotal mistakes committed by Vick's peers, however, would lead to their demise.
Heading into the locker room trailing at the half down 23-3, all Jim Harbaugh could do was hope his offense would make it to the stadium before the game had ended. Those prayers would be answered as a much more poised Alex Smith would find his groove from the third quarter on, compiling for 201 passing yards on 13-for-17 passing while leading the San Francisco offense on back-to-back touchdown drives, the first a 30-yarder to wide-receiver Josh Morgan and the second a 9-yard pass to tight-end Vernon Davis, bringing the 49ers to within a touchdown.
With both team's quarterbacks doing their part on offense, it would be the kicking units who had some explaining to do as both David Akers and Alex Henery had a hard time splitting the uprights. Akers, who served 12 seasons in Philadelphia before signing with San Francisco in the offseason as a free agent, would convert only one of his three field goal attempts as the first missed wide right and the third was blocked. As for Henery who was brought in to replace Akers, the Philly faithful saw their rookie kicker miss two costly fourth quarter field goals, failing to make it a two possession game and keeping the Niners within striking distance.
Having virtually been a non-factor on offense this season after signing a lucrative multi-year extension, 49er running back Frank Gore was subject to a possible replacement as rookie RB Kendall Hunter was doing everything right to obtain the starting role. And with coach Harbaugh deciding to go with Hunter to start the game due to a sprain to Gore's right ankle, it appeared that all Gore needed to get going was a bit of pressure. Then again the Eagles' horrid run defense helped too. After a series of runs by Hunter on San Francisco's first drive, Gore wasn't ready to give up his starting job just yet as he exploded up the gut for a 40-yard gain. The 2-time Pro Bowler out of Miami wouldn't stop there as he finished the game with 127 yards rushing and the game's go-ahead touchdown to put the Niners on top, 24-23.
Having been outscored 36-0 in the 4th quarter during their last three games (all loses), the Eagles appeared to be on their way to finally put an end to that dreadful mark until WR Jeremy Maclin was chased down and stripped from behind by 49er defensive end Justin Smith as free safety Dashon Goldson recovered the ball with just over two minutes remaining. A steady diet of run plays by Gore and Hunter would help San Francisco milk the clock and pull off the miraculous comeback that put an end to a five-game losing streak against Philadelphia. Although Alex Smith didn't dazzle like his counterpart Vick did who was picked off once, he came through big when needed and other than an early fumble was able to avoid making any costly turnovers.
Week 5 Preview: Given their week 4 success, I'd expect coach Harbaugh to utilize the home away from home method in the coming weeks when the team has back-to-back road games. As for week 5, the 3-1 49ers head back home to Candlestick Park where they'll host 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a potent mixture of both passing and rushing on offense, the 49ers will once again have their hands full on defense. But with the home crowd backing them, I like San Francisco's chances of improving to 4-1.
Prediction: 49ers: 27 - Buccaneers: 17.
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