Friday, November 27, 2015

Bears spoil Thanksgiving for Favre, Pack

While most of us feasted on turkey dinners and spent time with our families on Thanksgiving night while being glued to our TV's for Thursday Night Football, the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears had some unfinished business to settle in the NFC North. Free-falling from the NFC power rankings, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers suffered their most recent loss and fourth in their last five games, at home to the Chicago Bears. On a night in which they honored future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre and inducted him into their own Hall of Fame by retiring his iconic number 4, the Packers were unable to deliver a victory to the Green Bay faithful on a cold and rainy night at Lambeau.

With Packers great Bart Starr in attendance for the Favre ceremony, Green Bay's current great quarterback Aaron Rodgers had himself a sub-par performance under his own standards. In what's been a rough month for one of the NFC's heavyweights which entered Thursday night's game clinging onto a tie for first place in the NFC North with rival Minnesota, the Packers dropped consecutive games at historic Lambeau Field. Just three weeks after surrendering their first defeat to the Lions at Lambeau Field since 1991, Chicago's Jay Cutler finally escaped the frozen tundra with a win under his belt after failing in his first four attempts. Chicago's defense held off a late surge and comeback attempt by Rodgers and company when a fourth and goal attempt from the 8-yard line went sour for the cheese heads as Packers receiver Devante Adams was unable to come up with what would've been the game-winning touchdown with less than a minute remaining.
James Jones also had a go-ahead grab slip away as the ball was stripped from his grasp in the end zone a play earlier which set up the big fourth and goal try. Cutler threw for 200 yards and a touchdown in the win, besting Rodgers who appeared to be hurt after taking a sack, but came back into the game and threw for 202 yards to go along with a touchdown and a late fourth quarter interception. Packers running back Eddie Lacy rushed for 105 yards on 17 carries and caught Rodgers' lone TD pass, but lost a costly fumble in the first half. The turnover set up the Bears who capitalized on the miscue with a 7-play scoring drive which tied the game at 7 before the half as they improved to 5-6 on the year under first-year head coach John Fox. Meanwhile, Green Bay fell to 7-4 on the season with the loss and currently remain a half game behind (7-3) Minnesota for first place in the NFC North who takes on the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday. Green Bay handed the Vikings a loss in their own home just a week ago and are now hoping to get some help from the dirty birds as they try solving their own problems while currently holding onto an NFC Wild Card spot.


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Monday, November 23, 2015

49ers Trampled by Rawls' historic day

Week 11 - Entering Sunday's road game versus division rival Seattle, the 49ers were more than happy to hear that they wouldn't have to contain Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch as he was sidelined with an abdominal injury. But instead, they would receive a rude awakening. Despite being without their Pro Bowl running back in Lynch who's made a habit out of torturing the 49ers, the Seahawks did just fine on the ground on Sunday. In fact, they would do better as rookie Thomas Rawls had a historic day by rushing for a career-high 209 yards and adding another 46 yards receiving just hours after learning he would get the start. Rawls' outburst on the ground was second to only Shaun Alexander's 266 yard performance in 2001 for the best in franchise history as the undrafted rookie became only the third Sehawk to ever rush for 200 yards in a game, something Marshawn Lynch has never accomplished in his NFL career. It would also mark the first time the 49ers have ever allowed a 200-yard rusher in the history of their franchise.

Though Rawls led the way with 255 total yards and a pair of touchdowns, he wasn't the only rookie making plays as the 49er defense had a hard time figuring out Seattle's receiver and third round draft pick Tyler Lockett who caught two of Russell Wilson's three touchdown passes. For the second consecutive week, the game began with Blaine Gabbert as the 49ers starting quarterback. And before you knew it, San Francisco was starring down a 20-0 hole before the Niners finally made it onto the scoreboard. Considering the game was at Seattle's CenturyLink Field where the 49ers offense has often came up missing over the past several years, Gabbert had himself a pretty decent game throwing for a game-high 264 yards, four more than Wilson who had a near perfect day, completing 24 of his 29 pass attempts. However, Gabbert was unable to match Wilson in the touchdown department as he marched his team down the field several times but was only able to capitalize with one touchdown as he found 49ers tight-end Vance McDonald 19-yards out for a touchdown. It would be McDonald's first touchdown of his career and the only one on the day for San Francisco.
Unlike Colin Kaepernick who couldn't seem to avoid the turnovers when playing in Seattle, Gabbert logged a clean sheet as the 49ers managed to play a turnover-free ballgame. But that wouldn't matter as the San Francisco defense missed a plethora of tackles and made it far too easy for Seattle's offense to run up and down the field, eventually pulling off the 29-13 win as the 49ers once again fell flat coming out of a BYE week to fall to 3-7 on the year. Meanwhile, Seattle improved to .500 on the season at 5-5. 49ers receiver Anquan Boldin who was questionable to play prior to kickoff, managed to tough it out and finished the game with 5 receptions and 93 yards after missing the previous two games while nursing a hamstring injury. Ineffective once again, the Niners run game mustered only 59 yards as the team continues to miss their second-year running back Carlos Hyde who hasn't played since Week 7 when the 49ers hosted Seattle on Thursday Night Football.

Week 12 Preview - Heading back home to Levi's Stadium in Week 12, the 49ers will get set to host the (8-2) Arizona Cardinals who are in commanding lead of first place in the NFC Western Division and are currently riding a 4-game winning-streak after back-to-back Sunday Night wins against Seattle and Cincinnati. Having scored a league-high 40 touchdowns this season, the Cardinals offense will serve a formidable challenge for San Francisco who on the other hand has scored a league-low 13 touchdowns this year. And after the 47-7 beating the Cards served up on the Niners in Week 3, there's no better way for Jim Tomsula's team to repay Arizona than sending them back to the desert with an upset loss as San Francisco still seeks their first division win of 2015. Easier said than done, however, as the Cardinals lead the league with an average of 417 yards per game this season, an area that has been much improved over the past few weeks with Arizona recently finding its identity in the run game, coupled with QB Carson Palmer's stellar play.


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Wednesday, November 11, 2015

49ers oust Falcons in Gabbert's Debut

Week 9 - In what's been a disastrous year for the San Francisco 49ers and their fans, Sunday brought at least some excitement as the (2-6) Niners hosted the (6-2) Atlanta Falcons. Entering the match-up, the 49ers had undergone a number of changes, including one at the quarterback position. With Colin Kaepernick at the helm, the 49ers had gone 27 consecutive drives without a touchdown while losing back-to-back games which led to the benching of the player once dubbed their "franchise quarterback." Filling in for Kaepernick would be former first round pick Blaine Gabbert who was declared a "bust" after a forgetful career in Jacksonville which saw the once promising QB compile a record of 5-22 with the Jaguars. 

And if a change of scenery was all Gabbert needed to help turn things around at least for the time being, he sure got it in his new job in San Francisco. Making his first start since October of 2013, things would be slow to develop early on for the newly named starter as each of San Francisco's first two drives on offense resulted in a three and out. It wasn't until a 41-yard gain 11 minutes into the game that Gabbert began to finally resemble an NFL quarterback when he scrambled out of the pocket and threw a strike to a crossing Quinton Patton. After nearly running it in himself from 10 yards out before being stopped at the 1, Gabbert connected with tight-end Garrett Celek in the end zone early in the second quarter for the 49ers' first touchdown in over two games and Gabbert's first TD pass since Week 7 of last year. Though the second quarter score marked the ninth consecutive game without a first quarter touchdown for San Francisco, it was nice to finally watch them strike pay dirt for the first time in weeks. 
With his first touchdown pass in over a year under his belt, Gabbert wasted little time before throwing another as he found Celek in the end zone a second time just three drives later to give his team a 17-6 lead which Atlanta would bite into with a touchdown of their own before the half. Though all 17 of San Francisco's points would come in the second quarter, it would be enough to hold off Atlanta who struggled on the ground after a stellar performance by the 49er run defense which held the Falcons to just 17 yards rushing, their fewest since 2000. With more interceptions than touchdown passes in his career, Gabbert couldn't avoid the turnover bug on Sunday as his two first half touchdown passes were matched by a pair of second half interceptions, including one that put the Falcons in an opportune position to steal the win with 7 minutes remaining in regulation. Needing a win anyway they could get it, the struggling 49ers benefited from a questionable decision by Atlanta's first-year head coach Dan Quinn not to go for it on 4th and goal from the 1-yard line. Playing it safe, Quinn elected to go for the field goal to pull his team within a point and rely on his defense. 

The decision would come back to haunt him as the Niners converted a pair of first downs while milking the clock and sealing the 17-16 win. Gabbert who had lost his last 10 starts entering Sunday's game, ended that dry spell by making his debut as the 49ers starter a successful one as he recorded his first win as a starter since a win at Indianapolis on September 23, 2012. Behind an offensive-line that has been heavily scrutinized this season but didn't allow a single sack on Sunday, Gabbert threw for 185 yards while rushing for 32, trailing only RB Shaun Draughn who made his 49er debut with 58 yards on 16 carries. The 49er newcomer also caught four passes for 38 yards out of the backfield. With the win, the 49ers improve to 3-6 on the year, meanwhile Atlanta falls to 6-3, enduring their first 2-game skid of the season after getting off to a blazing 5-0 start. Receiver Julio Jones continued his stellar season by catching 10 passes for 137 yards from Falcons QB Matt Ryan who managed a turnover-free game, throwing for 303 yards and a TD in the loss.
Week 11 Preview - With a BYE in Week 10 for the 49ers, San Francisco will have plenty of time to rest up and prepare for the nightmare that is Seattle's CenturyLink Field. Having served as a dead zone for the 49ers over the last several years, the home of the (4-4) Seahawks has been none too kind to their NFC Western division rival. But with Niners head coach Jim Tomsula announcing during the week that it'll be Gabbert who will once again get the nod at QB, perhaps San Francisco will finally have some luck come their way in the Pacific Northwest as the Seahawks' home venue was a thorn in the side of Colin Kaepernick who couldn't muster up a win on the road in Seattle and struggled mightily. Though it's unlikely, a performance in Seattle for the 49ers run defense like the one we saw against Atlanta would do wonders considering it's been Marshawn Lynch who the Niners struggled against in their earlier meeting this season. San Francisco is also still seeking their first win of the season within in the division. 


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Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Rams run amok vs struggling 49ers

Week 8 - Entering Sunday's meeting versus rival St. Louis, the 49ers were hoping to claim their first division win of the season against a Rams team that had already beaten division foes Arizona and Seattle this year. Not only would San Francisco fail to hand the Rams their first loss within the division, but they would fail to sniff the end zone for the second straight week. While the Niner offense sputtered and barely made it off the plane to show up for the game, the San Francisco defense which displayed poor tackling, allowed touchdowns of 71 and 66 yards en route to an ugly 27-6 loss. 

Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley who's been a handful for the opposition since busting onto the NFL scene just three weeks ago, was a thorn in the side of his opponent once again. Gurley rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries while breaking for a 71-yard touchdown in which the 49er defense failed to land a single finger on the explosive back who shined at the collegiate level as a Georgia Bulldog. With his stellar performance, Gurley became the first rookie in NFL history to begin his career with four straight games of over 100 yards rushing. Donning their throwback blue uniforms, the St. Louis defense was also stout on Sunday, keeping their opponent out of the end zone and forcing a safety. While the Rams haven't allowed a touchdown in their last two games, the 49ers haven't scored one in their last two as QB Colin Kaepernick once again played a turnover-free ballgame, but failed to pass for 200 yards. The Niner run game was equally as ineffective as Kaepernick led the team with 28 rushing yards on an afternoon they only managed 38 in total.
San Francisco thought they had recorded their first touchdown in seven quarters when linebacker Ahmad Brooks recovered a Benny Cunningham fumble which he returned 41-yards to the end zone. The score would be negated, however, as Brooks was called for a facemasking penalty. The flag would prove to be costly as a pair of Phil Dawson field goals were all the 49ers had to show for in the team's second straight loss to the Rams. Before Sunday, San Francisco hadn't lost back to back games versus St. Louis since 2004. The two teams will meet again to close out the 2015 regular season in Week 17 @ San Francisco. With a winning record (4-3) this late in the season for the first time since 2006, St. Louis is hoping to continue their winning ways as the team hasn't accomplished a winning season since '03.

In what would ultimately be his final game in a 49ers uniform, tight-end Vernon Davis caught a game-high 6 passes for 24 yards. After spending ten seasons with the organization, it was announced on Monday that Davis, a former 1st round pick in 2006 (6th overall), was traded to the Denver Broncos along with a 7th round draft pick in exchange for two 6th rounders (2016 & 2017). Remarkably, the trade of Vernon Davis wouldn't even be the biggest news of the week for the 49ers, as that would belong to Colin Kaepernick as it was announced the same day that he would be benched for backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, a decision made by head coach Jim Tomsula. A move that has raised quite a few eyebrows around the league as 2015 continues to be a nightmare for 49er fans. 
Injury News - For whatever reason, the NFL has yet to do something about the concrete behind the sidelines in these indoor stadiums which caused Reggie Bush to slip and fall like many before him and injuring his ACL in the process. Bush, who was carted off the field Sunday, has seen limited action with the 49ers after suffering a leg injury in Week 1 and will now be out for the season after an MRI revealed damage to Bush's left knee. Joining Bush for at least this week is rookie running back Mike Davis who will undergo surgery on his hand. Also ruled out this week on offense is Carlos Hyde (foot) and receiver Anquan Boldin who's been hampered by an ailing hamstring for a second straight week. With multiple injuries in the running back department and Jarryd Hayne assigned to the practice squad after initially being released, the 49ers signed a pair of players to man the backfield in Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas. Draughn has bounced around numerous teams since being drafted in 2011, most recently with the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Pierre Thomas who helped the Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2009, provides a threat in the passing game. 

Week 9 Preview - At 2-6 on the season, the 49ers look to head into their Week 10 BYE with a victory as they host the (6-2) Atlanta Falcons. Having served as one of the biggest surprises this season under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, the Falcons hope to come out of the Bay Area with a win to keep pace with the undefeated Carolina Panthers who own first place in the NFC South. While Atlanta features a much improved defense from a season ago which coach Quinn is well known for, they also have arguably the best receiver in the league in Julio Jones. The Niner defense will have to keep close tabs on the fifth year wide-out out of Alabama who caught 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 upset loss to the Buccaneers. The 49ers will also have to establish the run game early on if they plan to make a game out of it, something they failed to do in each of their last two losses. And with a number of new faces in the backfield to kick the tires with, this'll be the perfect time to see what they have in their ground attack as Blaine Gabbert looks to revive his career at the QB position.


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