The San Francisco 49ers' performance versus the New York Giants on Sunday was by no means up to par with that of a playoff team, but it was the latest must-win game that ended positively for Jim Harbaugh's club. While the offense stunk it up, it was the defense that was forced to bail the team out of the jaws of defeat yet again. By looking at the stat sheet, one would assume that the 49ers ran away with the victory but had it not been for a late interception, they wouldn't have sneaked their way past the struggling Giants on the road.
Out of the gate Colin Kaepernick and the 49er offense put together what appeared to be a promising opening-drive, but running back Frank Gore would lose his first fumble of the season when his feet got tangled up with a teammates after the hand-off. Eli Manning and the Giants would take advantage of the early miscue by marching down the field and scoring their first opening-drive touchdown in 20 games. San Francisco would answer with a trio of first half field goals by Phil Dawson to take a 9-7 lead into the half. The story heading into the game defensively was all about the return of Aldon Smith who after serving a nine-game suspension, made his season-debut. But it would be the rookie linebacker Chris Borland who would steal the show for San Francisco's defense which forced Eli Manning to throw five interceptions, tying a career-high.
With the takeaway battle in their favor: 5 to 1 and a stranglehold in the time of possession department with nearly 35 minutes compared to New York's 25 minutes, the 49er offense was only able to muster 16-points across the board. San Francisco's lone big play on offense would come in the third quarter when Kaepernick connected up the middle on a slant route to Michael Crabtree who turned on the jets and broke away from a number of defenders before stiff-arming himself free and into the end zone for the 48-yard score. The Giants would answer with a field goal before recovering the ensuing onside-kick, but three interceptions and two turnover on downs the final quarter and a half would spell doom for any chance New York had at pulling off the comeback. The fifth and final interception by Manning would come on a crucial goal-line stand by the 49er defense.
With four chances to punch in the go-ahead touchdown from the 4-yard line, the San Francisco D held their ground and forced a tipped pass up into the air on fourth down as rookie Chris Borland who had recorded his first career interception in the second quarter, came down with his second pick of the ballgame to seal the victory, 16-10. With the victory, the 49ers won their second game in a row, both of which on the road to advance to 6-4 on the year. Meanwhile, the Giants fell to 3-7 while dropping their fifth straight as they free fall in the NFC Eastern Division. Colin Kaepernick logged a turnover-free performance by throwing for 193 yards and a touchdown on 15 of 29 pass attempts compared to Eli Manning's error-filled day in which he tossed 280 yards and a touchdown on 22 of 45 passes. Niners running back Frank Gore came just 5 yards shy of tallying his third 100 yard performance of the year but all in all had a productive game outside of the early fumble.
Week 12 Preview: Following their successful 2-game road trip, the 49ers get set to return home to Levi's Field where they'll host Robert Griffin III and the 3-7 Washington Redskins. After his stellar rookie season which saw him take home NFL Rookie of the Year honors, it's hard to believe it's been over a calender year since 'Skins QB RGIII was at the helm of a victory for Washington who is 1-8 in their last 9 games started by Griffin. And given his recent struggles coupled with three consecutive strong performances by the San Francisco defense, Week 12 might not be the best of match-ups for the former Heisman Trophy winner. But more importantly for the 49ers, the team needs a bounce back performance from the offense which was unable to take advantage of a mediocre Giants defense that ranks near the bottom in every major statistical category and other than an explosive first half in New Orleans two weeks ago, has looked rather flat since coming out of their BYE Week.
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Last Friday, the Philadelphia Eagles made the puzzling decision of releasing Pro-Bowl receiver DeSean Jackson despite the 27 year old wide-out coming off of a career year in Philly. In his first year in head coach Chip Kelly's system, Jackson flourished by putting up career high's in receptions (82) and receiving yards (1,332), while tying a personal best in touchdowns (9). While you would assume the numbers would guarantee him a position on the team the following season with three years remaining on his contract, Kelly and the Eagles decided to part with their most dynamic offensive weapon. Jackson was released by the organization for what the team described as a poor work ethic and his alleged ties to gang activity. While there's no proof linking Jackson as being a gang member, both of which wouldn't nearly be enough to keep teams from wanting to add Jackson to their roster as he garnered the interest of more than eight teams according to sources.
Among those interested were none other than the Washington Redskins, longtime rivals of the Philadelphia Eagles. Having been a thorn in side of the Redskins throughout his career while a member of Washington's division rival, Jackson has always been one of those players 'Skins owner Daniel Snyder would rather have than have to face twice a year. So it was a no-brainer to go out and make a run for him the moment he became available. After meeting with team officials during the week without reaching a deal, Jackson was spotted at a D.C. nightclub with Redskins receiver Pierre Garcon, cornerback DeAngelo Hall and Washington rapper Wale, hinting that a possible deal was in the works. Days later, Jackson's agent would stop him from boarding a plane to the west coast where he was scheduled to meet with the Oakland Raiders and San Francisco 49ers, both of whom were hoping to lore the speedy wide-out back to the Bay Area where he attended the University of California Berkeley. Instead, Jackson was informed that a deal with the Redskins had been reached, inking him to a 3-year deal worth $24 Million ($16 Million guaranteed).
The acquisition of Jackson who can hurt you receiving footballs as well as returning them, bolsters an already star-studded offense that features Pro Bowl running back Alfred Morris, emerging tight-end Jordan Reed and the aforementioned Garcon. Jackson's speed and play making ability figures to make an immediate impact for a franchise that was thought to compete for a playoff spot heading into the 2013 season. One year removed from a 10-6 record and their first NFC Eastern Division title since 1999, the Washington Redskins are looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2013 in which they finished last in the division at 3-13. With the firing of head coach Mike Shanahan and the hiring of Jay Gruden, Snyder and company is hoping Jackson is another piece to the puzzle that'll put Washington back on top. Much of that will depend on the health of quarterback Robert Griffin III who clearly wasn't himself in 2013 after sustaining an injury the year before and undergoing surgery during the offseason. While appearing to be a shadow of his 2012 self physically, RGIII was no better mentally as he had the light shined on him every other day it seemed for his roller coaster relationship with coach Shanahan.
But with 2013 now in the rear view mirror and a fresh start in 2014, Griffin has to like the way things have been going thus far as Snyder and Washington GM Bruce Allen supplied their franchise quarterback with not one but two new targets to throw to in Jackson and receiver Andre Roberts formerly of the Arizona Cardinals. Despite the signings, Griffin knows not to get overly excited and has put a halt on any sort of victory parade Washington fans might already be planning as the 'Skins QB told the media, "Everyone needs to understand that we haven't won anything yet." Having garnered the reputation for winning the offseason championship on numerous occasions with sexy free-agent signings who have failed to deliver when putting on the burgundy and gold, Jackson will be given the chance to crack that spell. As the saying goes, one team's trash is another team's treasure. And granted he probably felt like he was being treated like a piece trash when being told over the phone by coach Kelly himself that he had in fact been released by the team, Jackson and Washington are hoping to make Philadelphia regret releasing their best receiver.
The most intriguing part about Jackson signing within the division is that it'll allow him to face his former team twice a year. But while most experts are deeming the addition of Jackson a disaster waiting to happen due to his unstable attitude and everything else he brings with him, I think Jackson wanting to prove everyone that's doubting him wrong, most notably his former team, will be provide plenty of fuel to spark his fire in Washington. And him knowing he'll have a two shots a year to get even with coach Kelly and the Eagles will do just that.
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Last year San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick and Washington's Robert Griffin III took the National Football League by storm. The duel-threat QB's helped their teams make it to the playoffs and even punch a ticket to the Super Bowl for Kaepernick's 49ers, while RGIII took home Rookie of the Year honors. But so far, 2013 hasn't exactly treated the pair of young, gifted quarterbacks as nicely. Aside from his Week 1 performance against Green Bay, Kaepernick has struggled mightily with a thin receive corps, whereas Griffin who's sophomore campaign has had its fair share of ups and downs, has clearly not been the same QB since undergoing surgery on his right knee. Struggles aside, one QB would have another win to hang to their total as they faced off against one another for the first time in their bright career.
During Kaepernick's struggles, it's been tailback Frank Gore and the running game that's been the catalyst to the 49ers offense and has provided for the team. Not in this one, however, as Gore was kept relatively quiet with just 31 yards on 13 carries. With the 49ers ranked last in the league in passing yards entering the week, Kaepernick would face one of his most favorable match-ups yet. Planning to exploit that and dig the Niners' mediocre aerial attack from out of the gutter, Kaepernick would log one of the finest outings of his career and easily his best since Week 1 by throwing for 235 yards and 3 touchdown while completing 15 of 24 pass attempts and amassing a career-best passer rating of 134.5. No duo has been more productive and has meant more to their teams' receive corps as Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin. And with a bulk of Kaepernick's passes going in their direction, each managed to find the end zone like they've done so often this year. Davis caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown while Boldin hauled in five receptions for a game-high 94 yards and a pair of TD's.
But where Kaepernick and the 49er offense excelled, Griffin and the Redskins struggled. Completing 17 of 27 passes, RGIII threw for only 127 yards and was picked off for the 11th time this year, more than double the amount of interceptions he threw last season. Needing a win to keep a stranglehold on a playoff spot, the 49ers defense entered Monday night's game having allowed 12.5 points per game since week 4, the fewest in the league. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive-coordinator Vic Fangio would see that number decrease as Washington was kept out of the end zone the entire game and logged only 190 yards of total offense, their lowest total since a blowout loss to the Bills in 2011. To put Griffin's awful night into perspective, Washington was held to just 30 yards of offense in the second half as the second-year QB was under constant pressure by San Francisco's swarming defense which tallied four sacks on the night. It also marked the first time an RGIII led offense was held touchdown-less in his career, including his years in college with Baylor where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2011.
The Niners also got plenty of help on defense from defensive-end Aldon Smith who in his second start since taking nearly a two month hiatus while being treated at a rehab facility, looked like the Aldon Smith of old as he recorded his first sack since Week 3. Smith would finish the game with 2 sacks and made a number of hits on the Redskins quarterback as San Francisco won, 27-6. The win was the fifth straight for the 49ers on Monday Night Football and put an end to their two-game losing skid as they improved to 7-4 on the year and more importantly held on to their wild card spot in the NFC Playoff race. As for Washington, the Redskins have now lost 4 of their last 5 games and continue to fall behind in the NFC East as they dropped to 3-8 on the year. Griffin, who's asked the Redskins coaching staff not to show tape of his negative plays during team meetings, will likely see a plethora of negative plays from this one considering that's all there was on Monday by the Washington quarterback.
Week 13 - Owning the tie-breaker over the division-rival (7-4) Arizona Cardinals for the second NFC wild card spot, the 49ers will look to improve on their record on Sunday when they return home to host another division foe in the St. Louis Rams. Sitting at the bottom of the NFC West at 5-6, the Rams have been playing their best ball of the season as of late despite being without their starting quarterback -- Sam Bradford and are coming off back-to-back blowout wins against two pretty darn good teams in the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. Earlier this season when these two teams met in St. Louis, the 49ers pulled off a blowout 35-11 win in Week 4. But with the Rams eyeing the .500 mark and hoping to play the role of spoiler, don't expect anything to be given to Colin Kaepernick and company as they return to the Stick. Week 4 saw Frank Gore explode for his first big game of the season when he torched the Rams for 153 yards rushing to go along with a touchdown. With coach Harbaugh likely to get his running back back on track after sub par performances in each of his last two outings, we could be in store for a steady diet of Gore in this one. Week 13 will also see the return of wide-out Michael Crabtree. With Kaepernick's favorite target slated to return for the first time this year since tearing his Achilles during training camp in May, we just might see a TD reception by someone not named Boldin or Davis for the first time this season.
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