Week 11: 49ers lose second straight after Bogus call in the Bayou

Entering Sunday's game, the San Francisco 49ers had their work cut out for them as they were given the daunting task of having to face the (7-2) New Orleans Saints at home where they're unbeaten in five games this season. Expected to be a showdown between two NFC heavyweights, it wouldn't be long before the officials made a plethora of terrible calls from beginning to end, none worse than the one with 3:12 remaining in the fourth quarter as the 49ers appeared to be on their way to putting an end to New Orleans' perfect home record. Leading 20-17, Niners linebacker Ahmad Brooks who earlier in the game collected his first interception of the season, sacked Saints quarterback Drew Brees, forcing him to fumble on third down as the ball was recovered by Patrick Willis near midfield.

However, there would be a flag on the play as the officials called for a personal foul on Brooks for illegal contact despite him hitting the quarterback cleanly without any helmet to helmet or hands to the head contact. One word to describe the call -- bad. How bad you ask? So bad that two former Pro Bowl linebackers in Ray Lewis and Tedy Bruschi both offered to pitch in and help Brooks pay for the ridiculous $15,750 fine that is being issued for the hit. The penalty would negate the sack and forced fumble that would've setup Colin Kaepernick and the San Francisco offense at midfield and in position to potentially add to their lead and put the game away for good. Instead, Brees and the Saints were awarded the ball back with an extra 15-yards as they eventually tied the game five plays later thanks to a Garrett Hartley field goal. In an attempt to make up for the call, the officials missed what should have been a safety on the 49ers as Kaepernick got away with an intentional-grounding call inside the five yard line.

After a punt following a three and out on San Francisco's ensuing drive, the 49ers would shoot themselves in the foot when Kaseem Osgood interfered with the Saints' Darren Sproles who had called for a fair catch. The 15-yard penalty put New Orleans near midfield and with a 1:40 remaining, Drew Brees did the rest, marching his team down field and once again setting up his kicker Garrett Hartley for the game-winning field goal as time expired. Brees threw for 1 touchdown and 1 interception while compiling 305 yards through the air, giving him eight games with at least 300 yards passing this season, trailing only Peyton Manning who's eclipsed the 300 yard mark nine times this year. As for Kaepernick, the struggling QB threw for a pair of touchdowns and just one interception but only amassed 127 yards passing. Through the air, Kaepernick has yet to connect with someone in the end zone not named Anquan Boldin or Vernon Davis this season as all 11 of his passing touchdowns have been thrown in their direction. That trend continued in this one as both Boldin and Davis hauled in a TD reception.

The 49ers who scored 17 of their 20 points off turnovers, got things started in the second quarter as they cashed in on a muffed punt by Saints receiver Lance Moore. Two plays later, Kaepernick would find Boldin from 11-yards out in the end zone for his first receiving touchdown since week 4. Jim Harbaugh and company would get a huge sigh of relief in the second quarter when Kaepernick was picked off by Corey White who filling in for the injured Jabari Greer, dove in front of Mario Manningham for the interception and returned it 43 yards before leaping into the air and losing the ball just before crossing the goal line. The ball sailed into the end zone and out of bounds for a touchback as San Francisco retained possession. But that would be the only break in favor of the 49ers all afternoon long. Though it's hard not to blame the loss on the bogus call that cost the 49ers a possession and the chance to add to their lead, Kaepernick and co. let a number of opportunities slip through their hands on Sunday. Literally. Midway through the fourth quarter, Kaepernick had a wide-open Frank Gore who had nothing but real estate ahead of him but he was unable to corral the low pass as San Francisco dropped its second straight game, 23-20, falling to 6-4 on the year and tying them for second place in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals, winners of three straight.

But back to the Ahmad Brooks hit. Over the last several years, the NFL has made strides in protecting players most notably at quarterback. With hits to the knees outlawed as well as those to the helmet and head area, defensive players are already given a tiny area on the body in which they can hit the quarterback. And with the player in motion, that area becomes even smaller given they can duck at anytime. But with these new rules in place where almost every hit on a quarterback is illegal it seems, the defensive player is left with little to work with when it comes to making a play on the quarterback. Of course we'd all love to see an end to the devastating concussions that have proven to be even more serious to a players long-term safety, the latest banning of hits on the quarterback is beginning to take away from the game as well as the play we know as the "sack." Keep that word in mind because at this rate it might be erased from both the game and our memories as we know it, given the recent direction of the NFL and their overly obsessive love craze for protecting the quarterback. Franchise player or not, those at the quarterback position knew what they were signing up for the moment they put on a helmet and pads for the very first time, just like their peers at every other position on the gridiron. It's game changing plays like this that are causing teams key games all too often and are making it easier for people like me to become less of a fan of a sport I've been watching and have loved since a child. So don't be surprised if and when the NFL adopts a two-hand touch or flag football type of deal for the quarterback position. *Rant over*

Week 12 Preview - Entering the 2013 NFL season, many believed the Washington Redskins would be one of the teams the San Francisco 49ers would have to fend off if they planned on winning a second consecutive NFC Championship. That couldn't be any further from the truth as the 'Skins currently sit at the bottom of the NFC Eastern division standings at 3-7. In what's been an up and down season for Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III, the former Heisman Trophy winner and last year's Offensive Rookie of the Year has had a hard time adjusting to his one dimensional ways as his surgically repaired knee has kept him immobile for the most part. With three of San Francisco's remaining six games against NFC Western division opponents and the Arizona Cardinals breathing on the back of their neck with their eyes set on a wild card spot, the 49ers cannot afford to lose a game against a sub .500 opponent. But with this one being on Monday Night Football and on the road in the nation's capital, you better believe RG3 and company will give it their all. With upcoming dates with the Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks all ahead for San Francisco, this will be one of the more favorable match-ups for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick. 


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