From one Jim to another

After three consecutive trips to the NFC Championship followed by a disappointing 8-8 finish in 2014, the San Francisco 49ers brain trust decided to bid a farewell to head coach Jim Harbaugh as the two sides agreed to mutually part ways. With Harbaugh landing a job with his alma mater Michigan, the 49ers were left with a head coaching vacancy. After an extensive search to find the team's next head coach which included the interviewing of 8 other candidates, the 49ers had their man all along in Jim Tomsula. A name not widely known outside of the Bay Area, Tomsula has been on the 49ers' sidelines through the teachings of several head coaches with the likes of Mike Nolan, Mike Singletary and the recently departed Jim Harbaugh. And now, team owner Jed York and GM Trent Baalke will hand the gavel to Tomsula.

Despite his inexperience, Tomsula does however have a 38-7 victory over the Cardinals under his belt in the one game that he served as an interim head coach after the firing of Mike Singletary in 2010. Before that, you'd have to go all way back to 2006 when Tomsula served as head coach of NFL Europe's Rhein Fire who finished the season 6-4 with Tomsula at the helm. But experienced or not, not a single player has expressed their doubts regarding the 49ers new hire. Players took to Twitter to congratulate and express just how happy they are for Tomsula and how excited they are to be playing under him which tells a little about the guy and how much of a players coach he is. Something Jim Harbaugh was not, according to murmurs in and out of the 49ers locker room. Since Tomsula joined the team as the defensive line coach in 2007, only the Baltimore Ravens have allowed fewer rushing yards per rush at 3.6, one tick fewer than San Francisco's 3.7.

From a fan standpoint, the decision comes as somewhat of a surprise given the 49ers aren't too far from being Super Bowl contenders once again and yet they decided to hire someone with little to no head coaching experience. Not to mention the mountain high expectations Tomsula inherits from coach Harbaugh who went 49-22-1 during his tenure with the Niners and led the team to three consecutive NFC Championships in his first three seasons, a feat no other coach has accomplished. But perhaps Tomsula's 8-year familiarity with the team and its personnel will make up for that, knowing from the inside what kinks need to be worked on in order to help the team take that final step. With defensive coordinator Vic Fangio reportedly on his way out and offensive coordinator Greg Roman already agreeing to join the Buffalo Bills under the same job title, the 49ers will feature an entirely new coaching staff under Tomsula.

Whoever Tomsula decides to hire to stand alongside him on the sidelines or in the booth, will be given the task on offense to help mentor and groom QB Colin Kaepernick to regain his form after a down season which I blame in large part on Greg Roman's misuse of the duel-threat QB and poor play-calling. As for the defensive side of things, Vic Fangio's replacement will be taking over a defense which ranked fifth overall this year despite being without one of if not the best linebacker tandems in the league for most of the season.


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49ers End Season with a 20-17 Win in Harbaugh's Final game

With the 49ers already eliminated from playoff contention, there was still plenty to play for in Sunday's season-finale against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals. While a win was needed for San Francisco to finish the season at .500, both Frank Gore and Anquan Boldin had their eyes set on reaching personal milestones. With Frank Gore needing only 38 yards rushing to reach the 1,000 yard mark for the eighth time in ten seasons and Anquan Boldin knocking on the door of back-to-back 1,000 yard seasons receiving, both would reach their quotas by the end of the day.

Entering the game, Cardinals QB Ryan Lindley had not thrown a touchdown pass in a record 228 pass attempts, the longest dry spell to begin a career. But by the time this one was over, he would throw not one but two touchdowns including one on Arizona's opening drive as he connected with receiver Michael Floyd on a flea-flicker from 20-yards out. Colin Kaepernick and the 49er offense would need only three plays to answer with a touchdown of their own as Kap found a wide-open Anquan Boldin down the middle for a 76-yard score to tie the game at 7. Though San Francisco would pull ahead with a 13-7 lead on a pair of Phil Dawson field goals in the second quarter, it was Arizona who would take a 17-13 lead into the half as Lindley connected with Floyd for a second time, this one coming from 41-yards out just before halftime.

With the 49ers having played their best ball offensively all season during the first half of games only to vanish come the start of the second half, the San Francisco offense was once again only able to score once in the second half, but it would be all they needed in this one. Kaepernick and Gore teamed up to march the team down the field with their legs before Kaepernick found a wide-open Bruce Miller in the back of the end zone for the go-ahead score. With the Niners leading 20-17, the Cardinals were given one final chance to tie or pull ahead with possession at the start of the 2-minute warning but the San Francisco defense would come up big, intercepting Lindley for a third time as safety Craig Dahl out muscled receiver John Brown for the ball in mid-air. After coming up with the game-sealing interception, Dahl sprinted to the sideline and handed the ball to coach Jim Harbaugh who was later given a Gatorade bath by his players in what many have speculated will be his final game as head coach. 

Even before the final whistle was blown on Sunday, Jim Harbaugh's future with the team was all the buzz. Another Niner who's future with the organization is questionable is that of running back Frank Gore who in the final year of his contract with the team, became one of only eleven players to rack up eight or more seasons of 1,000 yards rushing and only the second active player with such numbers alongside Steven Jackson. While it's not yet known if Sunday's 20-17 win over the Cardinals was the final game for Frank Gore in a 49er uniform or any other uniform for that matter, the 5-time Pro Bowler has proved that he still plenty of gas left in his tank. Gore finished the game rushing for 144 yards on 25 carries. Meanwhile, receiver Anquan Boldin caught two passes for 81 yards on the afternoon to become one of only four players in franchise history to log consecutive 1,000 yard seasons receiving. 

As for Colin Kaepernick who managed to play turnover-free football, the 49er QB threw for 204 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Arizona's Ryan Lindley threw for 316 yards and a pair of touchdowns while being picked off three times in a losing effort. With the win, the 49ers closed the season at .500 for an even 8-8 record and deprived the (11-5) Arizona Cardinals of their first 12-win season in franchise history.


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49ers Squander 21-point lead, Fall to Chargers

For the first time in his fourth season at the helm of the 49ers, coach Jim Harbaugh found himself coaching a game with little significance with San Francisco being eliminated from playoff contention after last week's loss to Seattle. Other than the dignity of the franchise and being guaranteed another winning season, there wasn't much to be won for the home team. As for San Diego on the other hand, the Chargers were in need of a win in order to keep their playoff hopes alive. But from the first play on, it was San Francisco who was in the drivers seat and appeared to be the ones fighting for a playoff berth.

Three plays into the game, 49ers running back Frank Gore was off to the races and would put his team on the board with a 52-yard touchdown run, his longest of the season. San Francisco would have a chance to score on back to back drives to open the game but a fumble inside the 5-yard line by fullback Bruce Miller would put an end to that. Another 49er named Bruce would have better luck, however, as Rookie wide-out Bruce Ellington who entered the game with only one touchdown on the season, scored two in this game alone. Touchdowns by Ellington through the air and on the ground coupled with the first pick-six of safety Antoine Bethea's career helped the 49ers jump out to a 28-7 halftime lead. The 28-point outburst in the first half would match the largest point total for San Francisco since Week 6, and with another full half to be played, Niner fans were hoping it would continue until the final whistle. But just like the their lead, the 49ers offense would evaporate into thin air come the start of the third quarter like its done so often this season.

After San Diego made it a two possession game with a touchdown pass from QB Philip Rivers to his trusty tight-end Antonio Gates, the 49ers would have a 63-yard Vernon Davis touchdown wiped out by a pair of offensive penalties. The Chargers would take advantage on the very next play as 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick was sacked and stripped of the ball which rolled into the end zone recovered by San Diego, pulling them within a touchdown. With all the momentum quickly shifting in San Diego's favor, the 49ers were in need of a big play. They would get just that two plays later on their ensuing drive. Though it would take Colin Kaepernick until Week 16 to log his first rushing touchdown of the season, he would make it a memorable one, proving he hasn't lost a beat one bit by setting a franchise record for the longest run by a 49ers QB as he found an opening and bolted for a 90-yard touchdown run. The highlight worthy play would also mark the second longest run from scrimmage in 49ers history.

Unfortunately for the Niners, it would be the last time they'd see the end zone with another full quarter to play as they were shutout in the fourth quarter. Despite intercepting Philip Rivers three times on the evening, they would be no match for the 5-time Pro Bowl QB in the fourth quarter who came through in the clutch. After connecting with Gates in the end zone for the second time of the game, Rivers orchestrated a drive worthy of a Hollywood script. Twice were the Chargers pinned with their backs against the wall late in the fourth quarter facing fourth and long with the San Diego QB converting both times, capped off with a game-tying touchdown pass to Malcolm Floyd with 32 seconds remaining in regulation. Kaepernick and company would do their best to try and give kicker Phil Dawson an opportunity to be the hero but with the clock against them, a 60-yard field goal attempt was the best they could get him which he missed.

With the game headed into sudden death overtime, it was the Niners who won the coin-toss and appeared to once again have fortune on their side. But a 20-yard pickup near midfield would end sour as second-year receiver Quinton Patton fumbled the ball. Several plays later, Chargers kicker Nick Novak would kick his team to victory with a game-winning 40-yard field goal, preserving his team's season and keeping their playoff hopes alive as San Francisco lost their fourth straight. It would be the second largest comeback in Chargers franchise history and just the second time ever that the 49ers blew a game when leading by 21 or more at the half. For Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers, the loss is a punch in the gut to a team that has prided themselves on defense over the last few years but couldn't hang onto a three touchdown lead at Home with numerous chances to win.

The 49ers out-rushed their opponent 355 yards to 98, setting a franchise record for yards rushed in a single-game, but it would be the QB position which made the difference in the end. Philip Rivers finished the game throwing for 354 yards, 4 touchdowns and 3 interceptions as his team improved to 9-6 on the year, meanwhile the 49ers fell to 7-8 on a night that QB Colin Kaepernick threw for 114 yards and a touchdown while rushing for another 151 yards and a TD. Running back Frank Gore tallied 158 yards on the ground, needing only 38 yards to reach the 1,000 yard mark for the eighth time in his 10-year career. 

Week 17 Preview: Hosting the 11-4 Arizona Cardinals in the final game of the season for the 49ers, Jim Harbaugh's club will face a banged up Arizona team that has limped its way to the end of the regular season most notably at the Quarterback position. With both Carson Palmer and Drew Stanton sidelined with injuries, the Cardinals are down to their third-string QB -- Ryan Lindley. And considering he's still seeking his first career touchdown pass, I'd like to think the 49ers can end the year on a high note with a win to closeout the season. But I also wouldn't put it past San Francisco's offense to go missing again come the second half which could spell a fifth straight loss if they don't score enough points in the first half. At the end of the day, I'd be very surprised if Frank Gore doesn't finish the game with 1,000 yards on the season and the 49ers aren't at an even .500 record. 


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Niners lose third straight, Fall short of Playoffs

After being embarrassed in their own house two weeks ago on Thanksgiving night, the San Francisco 49ers had revenge in mind heading into Sunday's road meeting versus the archrival Seahawks. But with the game taking place at Seattle's Century Link Field which has been none too polite to the Niners over the last few seasons, and San Francisco's playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Jim Harbaugh's team welcomed the challenge. Having been beat down in each of their last two regular season meetings at Seattle, the 49ers had plenty of fight in them in what would be a sloppy first half for both sides.

With Seattle taking a 3-0 lead on a Steven Hauschka field goal, a gutsy 4th and 1 call early in the second quarter would pay dividends for Harbaugh and the Niners as running back Frank Gore picked up the first down and then some, plowing into the end zone to give San Francisco a 7-3 lead which they would take into the half. Looking to answer before heading to halftime, Seattle QB Russell Wilson marched his team down the field and into field goal range, but overthrew his receiver as 49ers safety Eric Reid came up with the interception and nearly took it to the house with time expiring before running out of room to run. A pick-six would've done wonders for the 49ers who couldn't get anything going and were shutout in the second half. Though Colin Kaepernick managed to play a turnover-free ballgame, while throwing for 141 yards and rushing for another 46, it wouldn't be enough to edge out a victory.

Suffering from a depleted offensive-line missing two starters in Anthony Davis and Marcus Martin, the 49ers were unable to contain Seattle's defense as the most sacked quarterback in the league was taken down another six times on Sunday. Furthermore, the Niner offense was held to just 67 yards in the second half. And where San Francisco struggled, Seattle excelled, scoring touchdowns on back to back drives in the third and fourth quarters. But with the 49ers still alive late in the game, something they haven't been able to say in each of their past two regular season meetings in Seattle, a controversial call would spell doom for the visiting team. Leading 10-7 in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks would benefit from a bogus roughing the passer penalty on third down which gave Seattle a new set of downs inside the 10-yard line. The call would be reminiscent of the horrendous roughing the passer penalty called on Ahmad Brooks' sack of Drew Brees in New Orleans last year and would help assist the Seahawks in scoring the game-sealing touchdown two plays later, making it a 17-7 game instead of 13-7 had Seattle kicked a field goal. 

With San Francisco down to their third-string running back as Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde were each ruled out with an injury before the start of the fourth quarter, the Niners never had a chance of pulling off the comeback and ultimately fell, 17-7, eliminating them from playoff contention. Dropping to 7-7 on the year, the loss marks the first three-game losing-streak since the start of the Harbaugh era. Meanwhile, Seattle improves to 10-4 and remains very much alive in the race for the NFC West. Standing at 11-3 with the NFL's best record, the Arizona Cardinals still hold a 1-game lead in the division and host Seattle next week in a game that will most likely decide who wins the West. 

Week 16 Preview: Despite being eliminated from playoff contention, the Niners are looking to close the season strong as they hope to finish the season with a winning record. And with a win on the road this Saturday, the 49ers could at least guarantee themselves a .500 record. But they'll be facing an 8-6 San Diego Chargers team that hopes to keep their own playoff hopes alive with a win. Experiencing a two-game skid of their own, Chargers QB Philip Rivers will have to play with a win or go home mentality with the Denver Broncos having already clinched the AFC Western division and a Wild Card berth still in reach. But with the 49ers holding opposing quarterbacks to a stingy 156 passing yards at Home this season, Rivers might be in for a long night, not to mention he'll be without his best receiver in Kennan Allen who's sidelined with an injury. 


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Kaepernick, 49ers hit Rock Bottom in loss to Raiders

Battle of the Bay - After being humiliated in their own home on Thanksgiving in a loss at the hands of bitter rival Seattle, the 7-5 49ers took a trip across the bay to face the 1-11 Oakland Raiders who were coming off of a 52-0 shellacking versus the St. Louis Rams. Entering the game, San Francisco was set to square off with a dismal Raiders team which owns the worst record in the league and has been the laughing stock of the NFL for the greater part of the last decade. With every game being a must-win for the 49ers who entered Sunday's game trailing several teams in the Wild Card race, Jim Harbaugh's club could ill-afford another loss, let alone one to the worst team in the league. But even Oakland's struggles wouldn't be enough to help pull Colin Kaepernick and the declining 49er offense from out of the pits as the team hit rock bottom.

Kaepernick would be intercepted on the first play of the game to put his team in an early hole as Oakland capitalized with a 57-yard chip-shot field goal from kicker Sebastian Janikowski. The 49er offense would get it together two drives later as Kaepernick found fullback Bruce Miller for a go-ahead 8 yard touchdown, but it would be the lone bright spot on the day for the San Francisco offense. The lead wouldn't last for long, however, as Raiders rookie QB Derek Carr answered with his first of three touchdown passes on the afternoon. Then, for the first time in what seemed like practically the entire season, Kaepernick used his legs to put the team in scoring position as the 49ers tied the game on a Phil Dawson field goal just before the half. After forcing a three and out on Oakland's first possession of the second half, San Francisco had a chance to put up more than a field goal but the 49er offense would sputter in the red zone like they've done so often this year and was forced to settle for three. 

Trailing 13-10, Derek Carr would orchestrate back to back touchdown scoring drives to pull Oakland ahead as the 49ers found themselves trailing by double-digits with just over 10 minutes to play. With their backs against the wall, San Francisco would dig themselves an even deeper hole as Phil Dawson missed wide-left on a 47-yard field goal attempt that would've brought the Niners within 8-points. Kaepernick would get one final chance to inch his team closer in hopes of pulling off the comeback but would be intercepted for the second time, sealing Oakland's second victory of season, 24-13, and putting San Francisco on the brink of playoff elimination for the first time under head coach Jim Harbaugh. 

While the 49ers struggled through the air, totaling only 174 yards from Kaepernick, they had success when rushing the ball. The only problem being they didn't run the ball enough for whatever reason. On just 12 carries, Niners running back Frank Gore tallied 63 yards compared to the 76 yards Oakland's Latavius Murray rushed for on 23 carries. But the story of the game would be the quarterback position as Derek Carr had arguably his best performance as a pro, outplaying his counterpart Colin Kaepernick by throwing for 254 yards, 3 touchdowns and zero turnovers compared to Kaepernick's 174 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions. Carr was also only sacked once for 9 yards opposed to the five times Kaepernick went down for a loss of 23 yards. With the loss, the 49ers fell to 7-6 on the year. Sadly, the standings wasn't the only area the team took a loss in as San Francisco's already depleted o-line took another hit as rookie center Marcus Martin left Sunday's game with a knee injury. His status on whether or not he'll be back when the 49ers hit the field in Week 15 is not yet known. 

Week 15 Preview: Though the 49ers still have slim chance of making the playoffs this season, they'll have to win out if they plan to keep coach Harbaugh's streak of consecutive trips to the title game alive. A task that'll be none too easily to accomplish given San Francisco's remaining schedule. And their Week 15 visit in Seattle will be their toughest task yet as the 49ers take the field on the road against the Seahawks (9-4) for the first time since losing the NFC Championship game last January. A 49er win would not only do wonders for San Francisco's dwindling playoff hopes, but it would also put a dent in Seattle's bid to win the NFC Western Division as they still trail the Arizona Cardinals by a game. But in order to do that, they'd have to put up more of a fight than the pathetic 19-3 showing that took place just a couple weeks ago on Thanksgiving. 


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49ers Kick their way to Victory vs Chiefs, 22-17

With the San Francisco 49ers hosting the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, the buzz heading into the game should have been about Chiefs QB Alex Smith going toe to toe versus his former team for the first time since they drafted him number one overall in the 2005 NFL Draft. Instead, the headlines were focused on Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh who according to reports is no longer wanted in the 49er locker room which resulted in 49ers CEO and team owner Jed York coming to the aid of his head coach via Twitter where he tweeted just hours before Sunday's game, "Jim is my coach. We are trying to win a SB, not a personality or popularity contest. Anymore questions?"

And for the second consecutive game, coach Harbaugh's players came to the rescue on the field. But before the game had ended and players met at midfield to shake hands and exchange pleasantries, the Niners were hoping to add Alex Smith's name to the long list of QB's taken first overall that have lost in their first game vs the team which drafted them. But early on, it was Smith who took it to his former team as he marched the Kansas City offense 81 yards down the field for a successful drive ending with a 2-yard touchdown pass to his tight-end Travis Kelce. The man who replaced Smith as the starting quarterback in San Francisco, Colin Kaepernick, would respond with a scoring drive of his own as veteran kicker Phil Dawson connected with his first of five field goals, including two from beyond 50 yards in what would be a busy day at the office. Kaepernick's lone touchdown pass on the day would come just before the end of the first half as he found Stevie Johnson in the end zone for the second consecutive week to put his team ahead heading into the locker room, 13-10. 

The Chiefs would storm back on offense, opening the second half the same way they did the first -- with a touchdown, this time of the rushing variety as rookie running back De'Anthony Thomas took his only rushing attempt of the ballgame 17-yards to the house for a touchdown. Then came a trio of big plays for the 49ers in the fourth quarter, the first of which coming on a gutsy fourth and 1 call as Harbaugh elected to go with the fake punt on a direct snap to safety Craig Dahl who rushed up the middle for the first down. Several plays later, receiver Brandon Lloyd would come up with yet another acrobatic catch as he leaped into the air and came down with the ball for a 29-yard gain. After regaining the lead with another field goal, the 49ers were in position to improve their lead on what would've been a 54-yard field goal attempt with just over 4 minutes remaining in the fourth, but K.C. would be called for a crucial 12 men on the field penalty which gave San Francisco an automatic first down. The Niners would end up getting a field goal out of it anyway, but the penalty extended the drive and allowed the 49ers to burn another two minutes off the clock.

With just over two minutes remaining and no timeouts left, the ball was in the hands of Alex Smith who had a chance to mimic Joe Montana's game-winning drive in 1994 to beat the 49ers in his second season with the Chiefs and his first meeting versus San Francisco. But that would be too good to be true as Smith instead overthrew a pass on second and 10 that Niners cornerback Perrish Cox picked off for his third interception of the season, tying him for the league lead. From there, all the 49ers had to do was kneel the ball as the clock hit double-zero with San Francisco prevailing, 22-17. Running back Frank Gore totaled over 100-yards in rushing for the second straight game and the Niner defense managed to keep the speedy Jamaal Charles to 84 total yards on the afternoon. Kaepernick logged a turnover-free ballgame by throwing for 201 yards and a touchdown compared to Smith's 158 yards passing, 1 touchdown and 1 interception. And the San Francisco defense once again came through in the fourth quarter, shutting out the opposition. The win was also the first in five games for the Niners without their Pro Bowl tight-end Vernon Davis while under coach Harbaugh. 

Week 6 Preview: With back to back wins at home for the Niners, Colin Kaepernick and company will look to make it three straight as they hit the road to pay St. Louis a visit in an NFC Western Divisional showdown on Monday Night Football. With QB Sam Bradford out for the season for the (1-3) St. Louis Rams, the 49er defense will focus their attention on Austin Davis who rallied his team to three second half touchdowns in Week 5 @ Phillly and nearly pulled off a 27-point comeback before falling short, 34-28. As for San Francisco, coach Harbaugh and company will be keeping close tabs on TE Vernon Davis for a second consecutive week. One name that will without a doubt see action on Monday night is RB Frank Gore who has had some of his biggest games against the Rams including a 153-yard performance last season. Expect the 49ers to continue the trend in this one. 


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Niners Defense holds off Eagles in 26-21 Win

Entering Sunday's meeting between the 1-2 San Francisco 49ers and the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles (3-0), Jim Harbaugh's team was in desperate need of a win in order to stage off the critics that have begun to worry about Harbaugh's grasp on the locker room and question whether or not his team is still the serious title contender they've been in each of the last three seasons under his tutelage. It didn't look good out of the gates for the home team as the 49ers fell behind despite a valiant effort on defense. In just the small sample size we've been given this season, the Eagles and 49ers have been polar opposites on offense. While Philadelphia has been a notoriously slow starting team this year only to erupt in the second half, San Francisco on the other hand has been known to get off to a blazing start only to vanish following halftime. However, the tables would be turned and the roles would be reversed in this one as Philly jumped out in front early on.

Sporting the NFL's number one offense and the league's top ranked passer entering Sunday, it would be everything but Philadelphia's offense, however, that put points up on the board. After forcing a three and out on defense, the Eagles' special-teams unit stepped up huge by blocking and recovering an Andy Lee punt inside the end zone for a touchdown. It would be the first punt blocked for a score allowed by San Francisco since 1990. Though the 49ers would answer with a field goal and would take the lead on the first play of the second quarter, they would enter the half trailing 21-13 as QB Colin Kaepernick threw a pick-six that Eagles safety Malcolm Jenkins returned 53-yards for a touchdown followed by an 82-yard punt return for a score by the speedy Darren Sproles. But unlike previous games this year, the 49ers would come alive in the second half as safety Antoine Bethea forced a fumble that was recovered by Perrish Cox on their own 23 yard line.

Several plays later, Kaepernick would pull his team within a point as he scrambled on third down, finding one of his newest targets in receiver Stevie Johnson who's fancy footwork helped him stay in bounds inside the end zone for the first time this year to make it a 21-20 ballgame. After scuffling on offense in each of their last two games, the 49ers went back to basics, running the ball and feeding Pro Bowl running back Frank Gore. And boy did it ever pan out as Gore logged his first 100-yard game on the season, finishing with 119-yards on 24 carries. But his biggest play came in the passing game when he hauled in a career-best 55-yard touchdown reception, the longest by a back this season. Though it was definitely a play worthy of the highlight reel, it's not one Kaepernick will want to teach his kids as he awkwardly threw across his body and across the field, something QB's are usually told not to do. But hey, it worked.

While both the defense and special teams did their part, Quarterback Nick Foles and the Eagles offense was held in check by a stout 49er defense that logged without a doubt its best performance of the season, forcing four takeaways including interceptions by Antoine Bethea and Perrish Cox and not allowing a single point. Running back LeSean McCoy was also shutdown for the second consecutive week, rushing for only 17 yards on 10 carries as the Niner defense held head coach Chip Kelly's high-octane offense to just 213 yards, the second fewest yard total under the second-year Eagles coach. San Francisco dominated the time of possession: 42:17 to 17:43 and ultimately took the lead on two of Niners kicker Phil Dawson's four field goals, helping them take what was being labeled a must-win game, 26-21. Kaepernick threw for 218 yards, 2 TD's and 1 interception on the afternoon while also rushing for another 58 yards on 7 carries. 

Week 5 Preview: With their first win at Levi's Stadium under their belt, the 49ers will now aim for their first multi-game winning streak of the season as they get set to welcome former Niner QB Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs in a battle of 2-2 teams hoping to win their third game of the season. Coming off a big win of their own, a 41-14 shellacking of the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, the Chiefs will look to improve on their impressive performance and keep pace with the Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers in the AFC West. One player that might not play in next week's game is 49ers tight-end Vernon Davis who Alex Smith gelled with quite well during his time under center in San Francisco. Davis left Sunday's game after taking a knee to the back and has been ruled questionable for Week 5. VD was one of two Niners injured in the win vs Philly, the other being right tackle Anthony Davis who was rolled up under on a Kaepernick sack. The status of both players will be watched carefully before kickoff as both players would be missed if unable to play. 


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Poor officiating, play calling costs Niners second straight

For the first time since the start of the Jim Harbaugh era in San Francisco, the 49ers are below .500. Their 1-2 record could easily be 3-0 if not for two key factors that have haunted the 49ers in each of their last two games -- penalties and the disappearance of the Niners offense that is still seeking its first score in the fourth quarter this season. For Colin Kaepernick and company, the story has been: play dominantly in the first two quarters, only to roll over and play dead in the second half where they've been outscored 52-3 through the first three weeks of the season. This is evident to the +43 point differential the Niners own in the first half of games where they've outscored opponents, 59-16.

After allowing a field goal on Arizona's game opening drive, Kaepernick led the 49er offense on consecutive 80-yard touchdown drives in each of their first two possessions by finding Michael Crabtree in the end zone for one and handing it off to rookie running back Carlos Hyde on the other. San Francisco took a 14-6 lead into the locker room at the half where they would appear to leave their offense and the ability to score like they've done so often this year. Even without one of his favorite targets in Pro-Bowl tight-end Vernon Davis, Colin Kaepernick managed to have a nice game throwing the ball, completing 29 of 37 pass attempts for 245 yards and a career-high 78.4 completion percentage, but it came at a cost. The 49ers QB ran the ball a total of 12 times, three times more than running backs Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde combined and as a result, abandoned a key component that the San Francisco offense thrives on and is when the 49ers are at their best. Just the latest not so brilliant decision by Niners offensive-coordinator Greg Roman. All-time 49ers rusher Frank Gore who saw only six carries for 10 yards on the afternoon, watched much of the game from the sidelines and was none to pleased about the team's pass-happy offense and chose not to talk to the media following Sunday's game.

And then there was the officiating which for the second straight week proved to be a thorn in the side of the 49ers who lead the league in penalties and were penalized another nine times for 107 yards. One penalty that proved to be costly among the countless other bogus calls called on defense, was one called against Niners receiver Anquan Boldin who was tacked for unnecessary roughness which knocked San Francisco out of the red zone. They eventually had to settle for a field goal attempt which was then blocked, preventing the Niners from scoring in the fourth quarter for the third time in as many games this season as Jim Harbaugh's team was outscored 17-0 in the second half. A number of other penalties were called on multiple clean hits on the quarterback that were called otherwise, giving Arizona good field position throughout much of the game. Filling in for the injured Carson Palmer, Cardinals backup QB Drew Stanton logged his second straight game without a turnover, throwing for 244 yards and a pair of TD's, both to rookie wide-out John Brown in the 23-14 win. For Arizona who enters Week 4 atop the NFC West at 3-0 and with a BYE week, the victory snaps a four-game losing streak to the Niners and marks just their second win vs San Francisco in 11 tries.

Week 4 Preview: Turning the page to next week, the 49ers return home to Levi's Stadium where they hope to win their first game in their new home. It won't come easy, however, as Jim Harbaugh's club welcomes Chip Kelly's 3-0 Philadelphia Eagles. Having been a shell of their first half selves in all three games this season, San Francisco can ill afford another performance in Week 4 as it just so happens that Philly is the best second half team in the league thus far, having outscored opponents by 50-points after halftime. Oh and just to throw it out there, referee Ed Hochuli who will be in charge of officiating next week's game will be leading an officiating crew that averages 19.5 penalties a game this year... One name the 49ers will have a close eye on entering the game will be their very own Vernon Davis who sat out of Week 3's loss with an injured left ankle. Without Davis in the lineup, the 49ers are 0-4 under coach Harbaugh.


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Niners 2014 Preview

With the NFL's preseason officially in the books, the San Francisco 49ers can now focus their attention on the regular season and the Dallas Cowboys who they'll be facing in the season-opener this Sunday as the Quest for Six begins once again. Entering his fourth season at the helm of the Niners, head coach Jim Harbaugh enters the year with the highest winning-percentage among active coaches at 36-11-1 during the regular season. Having coached his team to the NFC title game in each of his first three seasons in the city by the bay, making it to a Super Bowl two seasons ago and coming up short while losing to the eventual Super Bowl champs all three years, Harbaugh and company is hoping that this will be the year that they get it done.

With defense being the focal point for the 49ers since the start of the Harbaugh era, its the offense that created all the buzz over the offseason. And after signing quarterback Colin Kaepernick to a new six-year, $126 Million contract ($61M guaranteed), could you expect anything different? Already with a number of viable targets to throw to for the 26-year old QB, 49ers GM Trent Baalke wasted little time before making sure the guy who he and coach Harbaugh believes to be their franchise quarterback for many years to come, was spoiled with another receiver. On Draft night, the 49ers acquired wide-out Stevie Johnson from the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a conditional fourth round pick in next year's Draft. Another pair of receivers will who be joining the team this year is rookie Bruce Ellington who the 49ers took in the 4th round of May's Draft out of South Carolina and the return of former 49er Brandon Lloyd.

Though Kaepernick has already shown an unparalleled talent which makes him equally as dangerous both running and throwing the ball, coach Harbaugh believes he can be even better and that a breakout on top of what he's already accomplished is on the rise. Then again, why wouldn't he, granted Kaepernick was the first offensive player coach Harbaugh ever drafted in the NFL when the 49ers took him in the second round, 36th overall in 2011. There's no doubt, however, that the Niners offense is at its best when their run game is clicking on all cylinders. And with Frank Gore showing no signs of slowing down last year, rushing for over 1,000 yards for the third consecutive season and being named to his fifth Pro-Bowl, we can expect much of the same from San Francisco's ground attack. Gore's workload might not need to be as heavy this season, however, with backup running back Carlos Hyde showing during the preseason that he'll be ready when called upon. The rookie out of Ohio State was selected in the second round, 57th overall and was the top ranked running back on most boards in April's Draft. Marcus Lattimore who sat out his rookie season all of last year is currently on the PUP list and is hoping to make his NFL debut this season as well, leaving LaMichael James' role in question.

As good as San Francisco's defense has been in each of the last three seasons, they'll be without a number of key players when the season kicks off come Sunday. NaVorro Bowman, Aldon Smith, Glenn Dorsey and Ray McDonald (pending suspension) are just a few of the names Vic Fangio's defense will have to do without for the first half of the 2014 season. Bowman, who's still recovering from tearing the ACL and MCL in his left knee during the NFC Championship, isn't expected to be ready until around Week 9. Glenn Dorsey who suffered a torn biceps is expected to miss at least eight games while Aldon Smith faces a nine game suspension for his involvement in an incident at an L.A. airport and a DUI charge dating back to 2013. Meanwhile, Ray McDonald was the first player to be hit with the NFL's newly adopted rules against domestic violence which will cause him to miss six games. But with his suspension still pending, McDonald appears to be in line to start the season-opener. Though it may sound like the 49ers have a depleted lineup defensively, it just means the next group of guys will have to step up. Rookie linebacker Chris Borland who impressed the coaching staff during the 49ers preseason finale victory over the Texans will be called upon to fill in for the injured Bowman, while Tank Carradine and Quinton Dial are next in line to fill the void left by Smith and Dorsey.

There was also some positive news just in time for the regular season as guard Alex Boone who was displeased with his current contract, ended his holdout with a new 2-year deal. Boone is definitely a player coach Harbaugh wanted to have on the field given he's started every game in each of the past two seasons.

With San Francisco's schedule none to easy this season based off of the defenses they'll be facing in their own division alone which includes the always friendly trip to Seattle and road games @ Denver and New Orleans just to name a few, I see the 49ers finishing the season with the same exact record they did a year ago at 12-4. Whether or not that'll be enough to dethrone the defending Super Bowl champion Seahawks from the NFC West throne is anyone's guess. But regardless if they have to make the playoffs by way of a division winner or with a wild card berth, I'm sticking to what I predicted immediately following February's Super Bowl by predicting a 49ers-Colts Super Bowl. The Chargers are another team I was strongly considering and could very well represent the AFC in the big game as well. 


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49ers Family Fued

Only a month after the last snap of the 2013 NFL season and into the offseason and we've already got one of the more juicy coaching situations developing in the Bay Area. Since the firing of coach Steve Mariucci following the 2002 season, the San Francisco 49ers have looked high and low in search of a winning head coach to no avail. That was until 2011 when the 49ers handed the reigns to Jim Harbaugh who made the leap to the pros after a successful run at Stanford where he coached the program to its first Bowl win since 1996. Even prior to his tenure at Stanford, Harbaugh had tasted victory while at the University of San Diego where he won consecutive Pioneer League titles. So it was no surprise Harbaugh translated his winning ways to the professional level. The speed he did it in, however, was.

Sure he inherited a team rich in young talent, but it was one in need of guidance which Harbaugh supplied along with a system to buy into. Since the marriage that landed him in San Francisco, the 49ers have been one of the most winningest teams in the National Football League. Through three seasons, the 49ers are 41-14-1 (including playoffs) and have made it to three straight NFC title games as well as a Super Bowl appearance under Harbaugh who was named Coach of the Year in his first season and has done virtually everything but hoist the Lombardi Trophy. Something he came one play shy of in 2012. All things considered, the 49ers have finally found themselves a stable coach. However, reports as recent as last week had the 49ers front-office on the verge of sending Harbaugh on his way. News broke out that the relationship between Harbaugh and Niners GM Trent Baalke was a rocky one and has been for some time once trade talks began brewing with San Francisco possibly shipping Harbaugh to Cleveland after the Browns contacted the 49ers and inquired about their coach.

The negotiations that didn't last long before being put to bed were more than enough to send the sports world and social media networks alike, buzzing for days. Team owner Jed York confirmed the story by saying talks were made and discussions were had but nothing further came of it. But the first mistake the 49ers made was listening to the offer in the first place which regardless if the deal goes through or not, can only spell doom for a front-office and their relationship with a head coach moving forward, not to mention one that has already bumped heads with the GM. With the 49ers on the cusp of greatness and a sixth Super Bowl title on the horizon, the team would be stupid to show Harbaugh the door simply because there's no better coach that's currently available to fill the void.

As for those that are pointing the finger at Harbaugh and believe he's the one threatening to leave in favor of a head coaching position in the college ranks, consider this: Never has an NFL coach that endured such success as Harbaugh has, downgraded back to coach at the collegiate level. Why would one possibly leave a team that has made it to three straight NFC Championships and is nesting one of the brightest nucleus' of young NFL players for a college program he would have to recruit for and more than likely build from the ground up? Reports also claim Harbaugh has demanded that he wants more power in the organization as well as more money, both of which the 49ers coach has denied ever saying during an interview with Sports Illustrated where he also had nothing but positive things to say about the organization. Unlike many other feuds we've seen between a head coach and the front-office, Harbaugh has not lost the locker room as 49ers receiver Anquan Boldin told reporters shortly after agreeing to re-sign with the team on a two-year, $12 Million deal. Boldin who led the team in receiving this past season, also explained that coach Harbaugh was one of the main reasons he decided to return in the Bay Area for two more years instead of testing the market as a free-agent.

The funniest part of all might be that the media which has portrayed this whole thing as the downfall of the franchise, has already declared Harbaugh close to being on his way out after this season despite the two years remaining on his contract. The premature assumptions of Harbaugh needing an extension before his current contract is up only fuels this overblown story about the Niners possibly looking to shop their coach. A lot can happen in the course of a year including a Super Bowl victory which would be the perfect antidote to solve the ongoing dispute between Harbaugh and Baalke who's done nothing but draft star-studded talent since being named GM in 2005. While it's the GM who 49ers owner Jed York feels isn't going anywhere anytime soon and has leaned on the side of Harbaugh being the more expendable of the two according to sources, there's plenty of time between now and the start of the season for both sides to mend fences and squash this whole beef if in fact there is one. 

Though often having a flair for the dramatic, Harbaugh has described both he and Baalke as being, "two competitive people that want the same thing." If that's true, they'll settle their differences and work things out for the betterment of the team. As long as San Francisco is putting up W's in the win column, the two can and will coexist on the team's quest for six. 


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Niners pummel Panthers, Plan date with Seattle for the NFC Title.

Standing in the way of Jim Harbaugh and the San Francisco 49ers making a third straight NFC Championship appearance on Sunday was Cam Newton and the Carolina Panthers. Seeking revenge for a 10-9 loss suffered at Home while shorthanded against Carolina in Week 10, the 49ers entered their NFC Divisional round meeting with the Panthers as the league's most dominant road team. Having won seven consecutive games entering Sunday, four of which on the road, the 49ers made themselves feel right at home against an inexperienced Carolina team coming off a first-round BYE.

Niners QB Colin Kaepernick who was held to less than 100 yards passing in the Week 10 meeting vs the Panthers, got things started early on offense as San Francisco opened the game with a 49-yard field goal by Phil Dawson. As for Kaepernick's QB counterpart -- Cam Newton making his playoff debut would make a number of early mistakes, showing jitters on Carolina's first possession as Patrick Willis came up with an interception on a tipped pass that was thrown behind the intended receiver. Despite the good field position, the 49ers would once again have to settle for a field goal, taking a 6-0 lead. It would be a sign of bad things to come for the Panthers who for the first time all year would allow points on each of their opponents first two possessions. After the early mishap, Carolina stringed together a series of first downs on the ensuing drive before being stuffed on the 1-yard line. Facing fourth and 1, Newton talked coach Ron Rivera better known as "Riverboat Ron" into going for it. The Panthers coach would stick true to his name and take the gamble, only to see his QB get stopped in his tracks as the San Francisco defense denied him of the touchdown from 1 yard out with the goal-line stand.

But just like they did last week against Green Bay, the 49ers would witness a 6-0 lead evaporate into thin air as Carolina stormed right back with a go-ahead touchdown pass from Newton to receiver Steve Smith from 31-yards out. However, it would be their only touchdown on the day as Carolina would be stood up on the 1-yard line for the second time in the game before walking away with a field goal to make it a 10-6 Panthers lead. But San Francisco would steal the lead back and regain momentum heading into the half as Kaepernick repeatedly fed wide-out Anquan Boldin with pass after pass before connecting with Vernon Davis in the corner of the end zone for the go-ahead score. The catch was initially ruled incomplete but the officials would review the play and eventually signal for the touchdown as Davis clearly dragged his back foot in bounds before stepping out, giving the 49ers a 13-10 lead heading into the half. The flashes of offense Carolina showed in the first half would be nonexistent in the second half, meanwhile San Francisco stuck to their game plan on offense as Kaepernick hit Boldin with a 45-yard reception that set the 49ers up inside the 5-yard line before Kaepernick took it in himself to add to his team's lead.

Kaepernick who shared dorm rooms with Cam Newton in 2011 during the NFL combine and was taken 35 spots behind the Carolina QB in the NFL Draft which he didn't take kind to, gave Newton what he described as a "shout out" by putting the finishing touches on his touchdown run by mocking Newton's signature Superman celebration before giving it a twist followed by his signature kiss of the bicep. Antics that you would normally declare out of line were anything but in this chippy contest as it was Carolina who opened the game with an attitude. But like their offense, that attitude would also disappear in the second half as the Panthers found themselves trailing, 23-10. Any chance Carolina had of pulling off the comeback would be wiped out late in the fourth quarter as Newton sailed a pass over the head of his tight-end Greg Olsen, intercepted by Donte Whitner, sealing the 49ers dominant second half and more importantly the victory as San Francisco scored 17-unanswered points to close out the game.

For the second straight contest, Colin Kaepernick didn't exactly log an awe-inspiring performance through the air but he got the job done, completing 15 of 28 pass attempts for 196 yards, 136 of them to Anquan Boldin on 8 receptions, and a touchdown while adding only 15 yards rushing. Aside from Boldin, no other 49er receiver hauled in more than three receptions or logged more than 30 yards receiving on the day. Running back Frank Gore contributed 84 yards on the ground on 17 carries.

With the win, the 49ers have now punched their ticket to the NFC Championship for the third consecutive season and become the first team to reach at least three straight conference championships since the Philadelphia Eagles made four consecutive appearances from 2001-04. Jim Harbaugh also becomes the first coach in NFL history to reach three consecutive title games in his first three seasons at the helm. Since their last loss in Week 12, the 49ers have been on a roll winning 8 straight with a point-differential of +81.

NFC Championship Preview: The 49ers win over Carolina now sets up a showdown between two defensive heavyweights in Seattle and San Francisco, a match-up fans have been licking their chops for since the start of the season. Not only will Sunday's game feature two teams and fan bases that dislike each other but a pair of coaches that dislike one another as well dating back to Harbaugh's time at Stanford and Pete Carroll's stay at USC. Since Kaepernick took over the reigns of the starting quarterback position, the 49ers are a perfect 3-0 in road playoff games and have already eclipsed the win total of Joe Montana and Steve Young combined who finished 1-7 in road playoff games while under center in San Francisco. But his next task will be by far the hardest as the 49ers take a stroll to the familiar but unfriendly confines of Seattle's CenturyLink Field, a place Kaepernick has played in twice and left empty handed both times as Seattle outscored San Francisco by a combined score of 71-16. Usually the story line when these two teams meet is a lot like this: the home team wins. A trend the 49ers plan to change now that they've got some unfinished business in mind and are looked upon as being the league's most prominent road team. 

Could the third time be a charm for Kaepernick and co.? If so, the 49ers can become the first team in the Super Bowl era to win road games in four consecutive weeks. However, it won't be easy to accomplish and could very well come down to how well they defend Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch. The 49ers who haven't allowed a 100 yard rusher all season long, know they'll have their work cut out for them on Sunday as they face a tall order in Lynch who owns three 100-yard performances against the 49ers dating back to 2011. Another factor will be how well the San Francisco offense can block out the noise level created by Seattle's raucous crowd, something that'll be easier said than done considering the Seahawks box office banned ticket sales to California natives in hopes of keeping 49er fans as far away from the game as possible. One thing the 49ers won't have to worry about, however, is Seahawks receiver Percy Harvin who will miss Sunday's game with a concussion. With two of the game's brightest young quarterbacks in Kaepernick and Russell Wilson set to take center stage and face off against one another, the game could very well come down to which QB can out perform the other down the stretch and not turn the ball over. 

As we seen demonstrated in Week 16 when the Arizona Cardinals left the hostile environment of the 12th Man with a win, Seattle, like any team can be beaten at home. But given it'll be a playoff atmosphere, the odds will be that much harder to overcome. A challenge coach Harbaugh and his team will gladly welcome. Don't expect a shortage of trash-talking in this one. #QuestForSix


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Week 16: Niners, Bowman bid Farewell to Candlestick in dramatic fashion.

Prior to Monday night's meeting between the (10-4) San Francisco 49ers and the (4-10) Atlanta Falcons, you couldn't have scripted a better ending to take place than the one that played out in front of a sellout crowd on national television with a playoff berth on the line. Playing host to a record 36th Monday Night Football game in the same building that saw NFL greats such as Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice etch their name into the record books over the 40+ years the 49ers called Candlestick Park home, a few of the game's brightest young stars would put their own finishing touches on the stadium's rich history on Monday night. On an evening in which the 49ers franchise and their fans reflected on some of the game's greatest memories of all time, the team made sure to add a few more in this one. With Joe Montana's game-winning touchdown pass to Dwight Clark in 1982 simply known as "The Catch," NaVorro Bowman's game-sealing pick-six interception might be better described as, "The Pick."

With San Francisco greats such as Rice, Young, Willie Mays and Willie McCovey all on hand to soak in the final regular season game and quite possibly the last game ever played at the 'Stick, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh knew a loss wouldn't be acceptable, especially given it was his 50th Birthday. And though his team would eventually award him with the best Birthday gift possible -- a win, the Atlanta Falcons nearly crashed the party. Seeking revenge for their 28-24 loss to the 49ers in the NFC Championship last January that prevented the Falcons from advancing to the Super Bowl, Atlanta would give San Francisco all that they bargained for, leaving the 49er faithful on the edge of their seats up until the final minutes of the game. After opening the game with a successful drive that San Francisco kicker Phil Dawson finished by converting on a 49 yard field goal, Colin Kaepernick and the 49er offense would hit a dry spell, failing to score again in the first half as it was Atlanta who would take a 10-3 lead with them into the half after benefiting from a bogus penalty on Niners cornerback Donte Whitner who was penalized on a clean hit to Falcons running back Steven Jackson. Jackson would punch it into the end zone from two yards out on the following play.

After a sluggish first half, Kaepernick and company made the needed adjustment on offense as 49ers wide-out Michael Crabtree hauled in passes of 47 and 19 yards, setting up Anquan Boldin's sixth touchdown reception of the season to tie the game at 10. San Francisco would take the lead one drive later as Phil Dawson split the uprights for his 26th consecutive made field goal attempt. Kaepernick would then find the end zone with his feet, striking pay dirt from 4 yards out as the 49ers put up 17 unanswered-points and found themselves ahead, 20-10. But Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan would refuse to just lie down as he connected with his favorite target on the night in receiver Roddy White from 39 yards out for the touchdown. Having torched the 49ers for big gains in the past, White would ultimately finish the game with 141 yards on 12 receptions. San Francisco's running back tandem of Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter would then make their presence felt as Hunter followed up a handful of Gore runs with a 45-yard gain that setup his team inside the 5 yard line and in position to score yet again.

They would do just that two plays later as Gore plowed into the end zone, making it a 27-17 ballgame. With just over 5 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, Atlanta would make a surge as another stellar offensive drive orchestrated by Matt Ryan ended with another trip to the end zone, this time to future Hall of Fame tight-end Tony Gonzalez. Trailing by a field goal, Atlanta attempted and recovered an onside kick that just squeaked past Pro Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman, giving Ryan the ball back with tremendous field position and a chance to take the lead and pull off the upset with just two minutes left on the clock. With Matt Ryan and the Falcons offense staring down the end zone with the game on the line in the winding minutes much like they were in the NFC title game last season, Atlanta would once again be stopped in their tracks. NaVorro Bowman who had a chance to recover the onside kick and put the game away just minutes earlier would eventually redeem himself with the biggest play of his career since the one that forced an Atlanta turnover on downs in last year's NFC Championship.

Ryan's pass intended for receiver Harry Douglas was knocked free by corner back Tremaine Brock and into the hands of Bowman who with nothing but real estate ahead, ran it back 89-yards, sealing the win and sending Candlestick Park into a frenzy as San Francisco punched their ticket to the playoffs for the third consecutive year. Kaepernick logged another turnover-free performance by throwing for 197 yards and a touchdown on 13 of 21 pass attempts in the 34-24 win. Kaepernick also contributed on 51 of San Francisco's 199 total yards rushing on the evening. Frank Gore led the way with 97 rushing yards and Kendall Hunter added 51 of his own. Anquan Boldin caught six passes for 72 yards and a touchdown, helping him eclipse the 1,000 yard mark for the sixth time in his career and the first since 2009. Vernon Davis failed to log a single reception for the first time this season, meanwhile Michael Crabtree surpassed the century mark for the first time in 2013 with 102 yards receiving on five receptions. While it's not yet known if Candlestick has seen its final game ever given a playoff game is still possible, if this was the 'Stick's last game, it sure was a classic and is one Niner fans will have stashed away in their memory for quite some time. Since 1950, no team has won as many games in their home stadium as the 49ers have in Candlestick Park (205).

Week 17 Preview: With San Francisco now 11-4 on the year and officially in the playoffs, Sunday's regular season finale in Arizona to face the Cardinals is no longer a must win game but a win could definitely improve their seeding. With the NFC's number one seed still a possibility if both Seattle and Carolina lose on Sunday and San Francisco wins, coach Harbaugh's squad will undoubtedly head into battle with a 'win or go home' mentality. The same could be said in regards to the NFC Western Division crown which is still up for grabs. But Sunday's foe will be playing for more than just a number, they'll be playing for their playoff livelihood. Currently standing at 10-5 on the year, the Arizona Cardinals are playing as well as anybody right now having won three in a row and four out of their last five. A 49ers win on Monday was especially important because the Cardinals are playing with as much confidence as anybody after doing what no team has done since 2011 when they went into Seattle and came out victorious. With the eyes of Arizona's head coach Bruce Arians set on a playoff berth in his first year at the helm, a win would also do wonders for his chances of taking home Coach of the Year honors. Expect a physical game dominated by defense that could very well come down to the final possession.


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Week 6: 49ers Win third straight behind Davis' monster day

With both teams entering Sunday's game at 3-2 respectively and riding a two game winning-streak, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West showdown with both teams vying for a win to gain sole possession of second place in the division and keep pace with the division-leading Seattle Seahawks. Things couldn't have been drawn up any better for the 49ers to begin the game on defense as they returned two early Carson Palmer interceptions inside the 20-yard line. But where the defense excelled, the offense struggled.

A sluggish start to the game for QB Colin Kaepernick and company enabled Arizona to stick around until late in the fourth quarter as the San Francisco offense failed to take advantage of three early trips to the red zone. The first two trips resulted in field goals by Phil Dawson while the third ended in an interception on a tipped pass intended for fullback Bruce Miller inside the end zone. But Kaepernick would eventually get things going as he began to utilize his best weapon through the air as it soon turned into the Vernon Davis show at Candlestick. The Pro Bowl tight-end would have a career day, hauling in touchdown grabs of 61 and 35 yards, logging a career-high 180 receiving yards total while displaying a flurry of acrobatic catches including one reminiscent of another bay area great by the name of Willie Mays. Davis' personal-best 180 yards receiving would also be the second most by a tight-end in the last 10 years. Despite Davis' spectacular showing, it wasn't enough to keep Arizona from nibbling at San Francisco's heels practically all game long.

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer would show flashes of why he was named to a pair of Pro Bowl's while a member of the Cincinnati Bengals by throwing for a pair of touchdowns and finishing the game with 298 yards passing to keep his team in it. But he would also have his fair share of mistakes as the 49er defense picked him off twice and sacked him in the end zone for a safety. Leading 22-20 in the final minutes of the third quarter, the Niners would get a much needed takeaway when linebacker Patrick Willis made a tackle on Larry Fitzgerald, forcing him to fumble. The fumble would be recovered by rookie safety Eric Reid who also finished with his team-leading third interception on the year in the first quarter before later being joined by Carlos Rogers who picked off Palmer two drives later for his first of the season. San Francisco won the turnover battle and forced a total of four turnovers for the second consecutive week with the help of another rookie in Corey Lemonier who was selected in the third round of April's NFL Draft earlier this year. The first-year player out of Auburn finished the game with his first career sack as well as a forced fumble and a safety while filling in for the absent Aldon Smith.

Back to the offense, Davis wouldn't be the only one who finished the game with a nice stat line as 49ers running back Frank Gore would do what he's done so often against the Cardinals by logging another stellar performance by rushing for 101 yards on Sunday. However, it would be Gore's running mate Kendall Hunter who would put the icing on the cake as Arizona trailed by two with six minutes remaining in regulation before Hunter made his way into the end zone for a late score. Kicker Phil Dawson went 3-for-3 in the field goal department including a 44 yarder to seal the 32-20 victory for the 49ers. 

Week 7 Preview: After two games at the 'Stick, Jim Harbaugh hopes to continue his teams winning ways away from home as the 49ers prepare for their first game of a two-game road trip against the (3-3) Tennessee Titans. Having been without quarterback Jake Locker the past two weeks due to a hip and knee injury, the Titans, losers of two straight, will have their QB back on Sunday much earlier than expected. But with a stout 49er defense in town, I'm not sure giving Locker the nod is a good idea given he won't be at 100%. The meeting will also mean a reunion with Titans tight-end Delanie Walker and his former team as Walker signed with Tennessee as a free-agent during the off-season. With the 49ers having success running the ball in each of their last three games, expect the trend to continue on Sunday.


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Week 4: 49ers get back on track with blowout Win over St. Louis

The San Francisco 49ers entered Thursday night's game against the division-rival St. Louis Rams under .500 for the first time under head coach Jim Harbaugh who also endured his first set of back-to-back losses at the helm in weeks 2 and 3. Having been blown out in each of their last two outings, the 49ers were in dire need of a win to get back on track and prove to the league that last year's Super Bowl appearance was no fluke. And though Colin Kaepernick and company would eventually light up the scoreboard, something they've been unable to do since week 1, their double-digit win against the Rams was anything but flawless to start. 

One of the lone areas the 49ers struggled at in 2012 was at the kicker position. David Akers who set numerous records in his first year with the team in 2011 followed that up with a forgetful season in 2012 which resulted in the 49ers moving on from Akers and acquiring Browns Pro-Bowl kicker Phil Dawson. But so far in 2013 Dawson has had the look of anything but a Pro-Bowl kicker, missing 3 of 6 field goal tries to begin the year, begging the question if the 49ers are simply cursed at the kicker position. In the fist half it definitely appeared so as Dawson missed a 53 yard try on San Francisco's first drive on offense before later attempting and missing a 71-yard free-kick, something that's become a rarity in today's game. The last of which was successful in 1976 by Ray Wersching. The Rams would strike first on a 40 yard field goal off the foot of Greg Zuerlein who got some help from the right post, ending St. Louis' scoreless first quarter drought at 10 games. Unfortunately for Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, those would be the only points his team would score until late in the fourth quarter. 

The 49ers who've prided themselves on rushing defense over the last few years have been exceptionally bad in that category this season, allowing a league high 6 rushing touchdowns through the first three games. Also not indicative of the Niner defense is the 350+ rushing yards surrendered. And though they haven't looked like themselves out of the games in 2013, the San Francisco defense got back to their true identity on Thursday by holding the Rams to only 18 yards rushing on 19 carries despite being without Pro Bowlers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith. Rams QB Sam Bradford was also given a hard time, throwing an interception and losing a fumble after constantly being pressured throughout the game. But the 49ers dominance on the ground attack wasn't limited to the defensive side of the ball. Running back Frank Gore who entered the game without a 100-yard performance through the first 3 weeks, surpassed the century mark in the first half alone by rushing for 107 yards by halftime before finishing the game with 153 yards and a touchdown, the 14th TD of his career against the Rams. 

Like Gore, another 49er that has made a living off torturing the Rams defense is receiver Anquan Boldin who hauled in 90 yards and a touchdown on 5 receptions. Dating back to his time spent in Arizona as a member of the Cardinals, Boldin has logged over 1,200 receiving yards against St. Louis. The duo of Gore & Boldin combined for more yards than the entire Rams offense by games end. 

As for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who's been under heavy scrutiny for his poor play the past two weeks, Kaepernick threw for a pair of touchdowns on Thursday after failing to reach the end zone in each of his last two games. He didn't exactly have the type of awe-inspiring performance that would cause you to pick your jaw up from off the floor but he managed to play a clean game and didn't throw a single interception after throwing four in his last two outings. After trailing early, Kaepernick and the 49ers put up a barrage of scoring-drives, tallying 28 unanswered-points in route to a 35-11 victory. The second of Kaepernick's two touchdown passes went to tight-end Vernon Davis and the running back tandem of Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon each finished with a touchdown run of their own. With a combined 10 points following losses in weeks 2 & 3, the San Francisco offense mustered 14 points by halftime and from there on it was smooth sailing, ending coach Harbaugh's longest losing streak at two games. The Rams who were a thorn in coach Harbaugh's foot last season, handing the 49ers a tie at Candlestick and a loss in St. Louis, were finally put in their place. 

Week 5 Preview - Having been knocked around in each of their last two games, it was nice to see the 49ers return the favor and do some bullying of their own in week 4. But a repeat of that dominance is unlikely in week 5 as the 49ers prepare to host a Houston Texans team coming off a heart-wrenching loss at home to the Seattle Seahawks in which they squandered a 20-3 lead at the half and lost 23-20. Like San Francisco, Houston was picked by many to contend for a Super Bowl title this season but have had their fair share of struggles and sit at 2-2. It's no secret that the 49ers have been at their best under coach Harbaugh when establishing the run game and feeding Frank Gore. And with a stout passing defense in town like Houston's, the 49ers will be best off doing just that, feeding Frank the Tank the ball. But like the Texans, the 49ers will also have a tall order ahead of them as Houston hopes to run the ball down San Francisco's throat with a two-headed monster of their own at running back with Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Who comes out victorious in this one is anyone's guess but one thing that's certain is that it should be a good one!

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