Week 4 -Since a dominant win in Week 1 at home against the Rams to open the season, the 49ers have yet to play again at their home field of Levi's Stadium and have yet to add another victory, entering Sunday's meeting with the (2-1) Cowboys on a two game losing skid at 1-2 on the year. But with rookie QB Dak Prescott and first round running back Ezekiel Elliott learning more and more and adapting quite well to the NFL week after week, these aren't the same exact Dallas Cowboy 49ers head coach Chip Kelly grew accustomed to facing while with the Eagles. With many claiming the Cowboys' season was done for the moment starting quarterback Tony Romo went down with a back injury during the preseason and was ruled out for 6-8 weeks, Dallas' crop of talented rookies have answered the call and have flipped the script to keep their season afloat.
After kickoff it was the home team who dominated most of the first half, as the 49ers jumped out to an early lead once Dallas' opening-drive resulted in a missed field goal by kicker Dan Bailey. The field goal attempt which went wide-left would mark the first time this season that Dallas failed to score on their opening-drive. For a team that's been terrible on third downs this year, the 49ers bucked the trend on their first offensive possession by scoring on a 33-yard touchdown on 3rd & 7 when QB Blaine Gabbert found a wide-open Jeremy Kerley who scored the easy touchdown and his first with the team to put San Francisco ahead early. After going 0-for-10 on third downs last week in Seattle, the Niners got off to a blazing start by going 6-for-6 on third downs in this one, including a touchdown ran in on 3rd & 1 by running back Carlos Hyde in the second quarter. But even with Chip Kelly's offense scoring touchdowns on each of their first two offensive possessions and Dallas facing their largest deficit of the season, the tables would be turned before the half as the Cowboys offense mustered up a pair of unanswered touchdowns of their own to tie the game at 14. With the 49ers winning an earlier challenge for Dallas having their foot on the goal line when recovering a punt that would've pinned the 49ers inside the 1-yard line, coach Kelly's decision not to challenge a punt return when Cowboys return man Lucky Whitehead's knee touched the ground after breaking a tackle, would haunt him for 11 costly yards. Then came a horrendous penalty call on the 49ers which would change the entire complexion of the game.
Facing a 3rd & 6 near midfield and yet to sniff the end zone, the San Francisco defense would come up with another stop to force a sack. What should've been a Dallas punt, turned into a momentum-swining first down as 49ers safety Jaquiski Tartt was called for "unnecessary roughness" for a baby push on Prescott while he was wrapped up. The 15-yard penalty and automatic first down would breathe new life back into the drive and allowed the Cowboys to score their first touchdown just three plays later as Prescott found receiver Terrance Williams streaking down the right sideline for a 20-yard touchdown. Making matters worse, a shanked punt on San Francisco's following drive would put Dallas in position to tie the game just before the half as the Cowboys rookie QB utilized his future Hall of Fame tight-end and the sideline to perfection in the 2 minute offense with a 1:50 remaining in the half. And with just 16 seconds to go, Prescott capitalized by connected with Brice Butler in the end zone for the game-tying touchdown.
With San Francisco's lead gone with the wind, the 49ers were in need of a jolt on offense and appeared destined for an equally fast start to begin the second half when Carlos Hyde rumbled for a 32-yard carry on the first play of the third quarter. Gabbert would follow that up with possibly the best placed pass of his career as he connected with tight-end Garrett Celek who hauled in a one-hander for a 29-yard gain on a throw that only the receiver could've caught. Unfortunately, it would be the last offensive highlight of the day for the Niners who had to settle for a Phil Dawson field goal which helped them retake the lead at 17-14. From there on the game would turn into the 'Zeke show as Elliott rushed for 50 yards on 7 carries on Dallas' following drive before finishing with 96 yards in the second half alone, capped off with a 1-yard touchdown to give the Cowboys their first lead of the game. After forcing Dallas to punt on their following drive and setting up shop near midfield thanks to a nice return from Kerley, the Niners gave the ball right back to their opponent as Gabbert went for the home run pass to Torrey Smith on first down and under-threw him as Dallas' Morris Claiborne came up with the easy interception. They would turn the turnover into three points as Bailey banged in a field goal to give Dallas a 7-point lead.
Facing four down territory, the 49ers would have one final chance as they faced a 4th and 6 call in which they would come up short as Gabbert threw shy of the first down marker and gaining only 3 yards on a pass to Smith. The game would then be iced on a 47-yard catch and go to Cole Beasley as Dallas came out on top, 24-17. Though he would have a close call during Dallas' opening-drive which almost saw 49ers Pro-Bowl safety Eric Reid come up with the first thrown interception of Prescott's career, the talented rookie saw his record streak of consecutive pass attempts without an interception to begin a career continue thru his first 131 career pass attempts as he threw for 245 yards and a pair of touchdowns without his star receiver Dez Bryant who missed the game with a knee injury. Elliott added a career-best 138-yards on the ground to best his former Ohio State teammate Carlos Hyde who rushed for 74-yards as the two met at midfield after the game to swap jerseys. With the loss, San Francisco fell to 1-3 on the year, but an even bigger blow than the loss itself would be the injury to Pro-Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman who left the game midway thru the 3rd quarter on a non-contact play. Bowman would be carted off the field with what later revealed to be a ruptured Achilles tendon which would rule Bowman out for the remainder of the season. While the injury opened the flood gates for Elliott to roam free through the middle in the second half, the bigger picture is that the 49ers will be without their emotional leader on defense going forward.
Week 5 Preview - Entering Week 4 with 8 takeaways thru the first three weeks (tied for 3rd most in the NFL), the 49ers failed to add a single takeaway in their loss to the Cowboys. They'll need to get back on track in the takeaway department if they plan to win on a short week when they host the (1-3) Arizona Cardinals on Thursday Night Football. After dominating their way to a division crown just a season ago, the Cardinals have resembled anything but a division champion this season while struggling to the tone of back-to-back losses to the Bills and Rams. Still seeking their first road win of the year, the Cardinals will be without QB Carson Palmer who suffered a concussion in Week 4 as backup Drew Stanton gets the start. As for the 49ers who had little luck against Arizona in both meetings a season ago, the Cardinals are one of the teams who have struggled just as much as they have to begin 2016 and might have a chance to come up with their second win of the year. The 49ers will also be helped out a bit on the defensive front with Aaron Lynch returning from a 4-game suspension served for violating the league's substance abuse policy. If the offense struggles, expect an appearance from 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick.
Through the first ten weeks of the NFL season no team has made a bigger turnaround than the San Francisco 49ers. After claiming their most recent victim earlier today routing the New York Giants by a final score of 27-20, the 49ers currently sit in the drivers seat in the NFC Western Division with an overall record of 8-1 and have already won more games this season than most experts predicted they'd win as well as eclipsing their win total from last year (6-10). Much of the credit for San Francisco's sudden success goes to head coach Jim Harbaugh who in his first year at the helm is slowly transforming the 49ers back into the proud franchise that made a habit out of winning during the early 80's and on into the 90's.
After taking over a depleted program at Stanford in which he helped rebuild and form what it is today, the 49ers knew what coach Harbaugh could bring to the table and they made him aware of that by offering him a 5-year, $25 Million deal during the offseason. The one thing Harbaugh has done since taking over the job other than winning of coarse is making believers out of his players most notably his quarterback Alex Smith. While many were beginning to write off the six-year QB Smith who entered the offseason a free-agent for the first time in his career, Harbaugh, a former quarterback during his playing days saw what few others saw in Alex Smith -- a second chance. Re-signing the former first overall pick of the 2005 NFL Draft was one of the first things atop Jim Harbaugh's to-do list when he landed the job and so far it's worked out quite well as Harbaugh has been able to groom Smith into the quarterback they thought they were drafting nearly seven years ago.
Though Smith hasn't put up the MVP-like numbers you'd expect from an 8-1 team, he's played smart football thus far and has avoided the forced throws and bad decisions that have haunted him throughout his professional career. And with a Pro Bowl running back in Frank Gore the burden is somewhat relieved on offense. Gore who was awarded a contract extension earlier this year has put together one of finest month and halves by any 49er running back in franchise history, logging a club record five consecutive games with at least 100 yards rushing. Even more impressive than San Francisco's offense is their defense. Led by one of the youngest and most lethal linebacker tandems in all of football, Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman, the 49er D ranks number one at stopping the run and has worked it's way up the latter in just about every single other statistical category as well.
Coming from someone like myself who's grown up a diehard 49ers fan, I can't begin to put into perspective just how impressive Harbaugh has coached this team considering the lockout-shortened offseason that did nothing but serve as an inconvenience to him and his new squad. But anyone on coach Harbaugh's coaching staff would tell you that he's not yet satisfied with the results and that there's still room for improvement as the playoffs near. Follow the team's journey as the season progresses as they get set to host the division rival Arizona Cardinals next week in San Francisco in hopes of improving their 8-1 record that ranks second in the league to only the undefeated Green Bay Packers.
Rundown: Heading into Week 8 many predicted the effects from a BYE week the week before would show early on and slow down what came in a red-hot 49ers team. But once the game started that couldn't have been any further from the truth as they carried that momentum on into Sunday's game during the early going against a 3-3 Cleveland Browns squad. With San Francisco winning the coin-toss and differing, the 49ers defense did what it's done all season long -- forcing turnovers. On only the second play of the game the stingy 49er D would force and recover a fumble thanks to Ahmad Brooks. With a chance to capitalize on the turnover Alex Smith would waste no time to take advantage of the opportunity handing the ball off to running back Frank Gore who punched it into the end zone from 4 yards out.
With their Pro-Bowl caliber running back Peyton Hillis hampered with an injury the Browns running game was in for a world of hurt facing the number one run defense in the league. With limited damage being done on the ground Cleveland was forced to try their luck through the air with QB Colt McCoy. He too would struggle, however, throwing an interception fumbling the ball a total of four times on the day including three fumbles in the first half alone. Once again turning turnovers into points, Alex Smith found an untouched Michael Crabtree in the end zone following a David Akers field goal to give San Francisco a 17-0 lead. Having been shut down on offense for the most part, Cleveland would eventually get on the board before the end of the first half as kicker Phil Dawson split the uprights from 52-yards out to make it a 14-point game at the half. The second half would be a microcosm of the first half on offense for the 49ers as neither team scored. With a decently productive first half it was almost as if Alex Smith and company had left their offense in the locker room. The Browns on the other hand would finally make some noise as McCoy found a hole for wide-out Joshua Cribbs who made it 17-10 with a 45-yard touchdown reception. The rest of the game would be all about Frank Gore. After compiling over a 100 yards in the first half alone, Gore would collect a few more yards to help him move along the latter of Niners all-time leading rushers as he surpassed Roger Craig for no. 2 on the list before finishing the game with a total of 134 rushing yards to go along with his touchdown. The impressive performance was also his fourth straight game with at least 125 yards and a touchdown.
Though he didn't have the biggest game through the air, Alex Smith did what he needed to and distributed the ball well amongst his team including a pass to not one, but two of his linemen as both Joe Staley and Isaac Sapoaga hauled in catches of 15+ yards. Kicker David Akers would make it a two possession game with a late field-goal to put the game away for good as the 49ers went on to route the Browns by a final score of 20-10. The win helped San Francisco improve to their best start since 1998 at 6-1 and increasing their lead in the division.
Week 9 Preview: In Week 9 the 49ers make a trip to the nations capital to face the 3-4 Washington Redskins.
Coming into the season nobody expected the 49ers and Lions to be a combined 9-1 heading into week 6 given their recent struggles over the past few years. And with both team's off to a hot start it would be their Sunday match up that made FOX's Game of the Week. Living up to the hype, the bout would feature two of the leagues best defenses as well as two former number one overall draft picks in quarterbacks Alex Smith and Matt Stafford. Though the QB's would have their share it would be the defenses that highlighted the games early going.
After forcing a three and out on Detroit's opening-drive, MLB Kyle Vanden Bosch would make sure the Lions offense would have a short rest on the sidelines as he got to Alex Smith on San Francisco's first play from scrimmage, stripping and recovering the fumble. Already in scoring position, the Lions offense would find little yards, but wouldn't be left empty-handed as a Jason Hanson field goal gave them an early 3-0 advantage. On their next drive Detroit would find the end-zone as Stafford connected with his tight-end Brandon Pettigrew for a touchdown. As the first quarter came to an end it was almost as if the 49ers had pushed a button to turn on their offense. Coming off of back-to-back stellar games Frank Gore would continue right where he left off, breaking free to get the 49ers in enemy territory. Soon after he would get the Niners on the board with a 1-yard touchdown run to go along with his 141 rushing yards on the day. The rest of the scoring in the first half would come from San Francisco who cut the deficit to only a point when Ray McDonald sacked Stafford in the end-zone to make it a 10-9 ball game. And just before the conclusion of the first half with seconds to spare, kicker David Akers split the uprights from 55-yards out to give the 49ers the lead heading into the half, 12-10.
Just as good as it was in the first half, the 49ers red-zone D would come thru big yet again forcing Detroit to kick a field goal. However, San Francisco would get those points right back with a field goal of their own. Finally the 49ers would see their quarterback do something he's done so few times this season -- throw an interception when he overthrew Michael Crabtree. Capitalizing on the turnover Stafford would find WR Nate Burlesson 5-yards out into the end-zone to put his team on top, 19-15. In need of some help on offense in order to take the lead with time dwindling down, the 49ers were given great field position thanks to Ted Ginn's good punt-returning running the ball back 40 yards to set Alex Smith and co. up nicely. Down by four with under two minutes left, the 49ers would be forced to try their luck with a touchdown. And on 4th and Goal from 6 yards out Smith found tight-end Delanie Walker on a slant route who barely made it across the goal-line before his knee touched the ground giving San Francisco a 22-19 lead. Stafford would be given a chance to lead his team down field though for a potential game-winning drive, but failed to convert a first down and eventually turning the ball over. The 49ers would add another three points on a late field goal by Akers, giving them a 25-19 lead that they'd hang on to as time expired.
The headline, however, would be about what transpired after the 25-19 downing of the Lions. As both coaches began to meet up at midfield for the honorary handshake, coach Harbaugh appeared a bit more fired up than many, chest-bumping and high-fiving his players. But when it came time to exchange pleasantries Harbaugh appeared to have given coach Schwartz a little slap on the back to go along with what Schwartz described as an expletive. Schwartz didn't take too kindly of it and chased Harbaugh from behind and gave him a little bump. The two then got into each others faces and exchanged words before needing to be separated by players, ushers and coaching personnel. The mob of players and coaches would make its way all the way to the tunnel area before officials stepped in. Following the incident both coaches addressed the fracas with coach Harbaugh saying he took full responsibility for his actions and roll in the scuffle, but said he wouldn't apologize. Many thought the incident would lead to disciplinary actions by the league office, but after looking into it no fines were handed down to either side.
Personally I enjoyed the publicity the Harbaugh-Schwartz incident generated and brought upon the team, but it got to the point where it began to overshadow the 5-1 start. Following the hard nosed match that resulted in a win, the 49ers head into the BYE week in week 7 in which they'll prepare to host the Cleveland Browns the week after.
Coming off an ugly yet hard fought win in Week 3 on the road against Cincinnati, instead of taking the flight back to San Francisco, 49ers head coach Jim Harbaugh decided to keep his squad out east as the team prepped for their next opponent in Youngstown, Ohio. A move which would later do wonders. Heading into Sunday's match up, the 49er defense knew they had their work cut out for them facing the dangerous Mike Vick. Despite suffering from a series of concussions and a contusion to his throwing hand in the first few weeks of the season, Vick expressed how healthy he felt coming into Sunday's game saying he was 100% positive he'd start. His performance would look every bit the part as he finished the game with a career-high 416 passing yards to go along with his 75 yards rushing. A number of pivotal mistakes committed by Vick's peers, however, would lead to their demise.
Heading into the locker room trailing at the half down 23-3, all Jim Harbaugh could do was hope his offense would make it to the stadium before the game had ended. Those prayers would be answered as a much more poised Alex Smith would find his groove from the third quarter on, compiling for 201 passing yards on 13-for-17 passing while leading the San Francisco offense on back-to-back touchdown drives, the first a 30-yarder to wide-receiver Josh Morgan and the second a 9-yard pass to tight-end Vernon Davis, bringing the 49ers to within a touchdown. With both team's quarterbacks doing their part on offense, it would be the kicking units who had some explaining to do as both David Akers and Alex Henery had a hard time splitting the uprights. Akers, who served 12 seasons in Philadelphia before signing with San Francisco in the offseason as a free agent, would convert only one of his three field goal attempts as the first missed wide right and the third was blocked. As for Henery who was brought in to replace Akers, the Philly faithful saw their rookie kicker miss two costly fourth quarter field goals, failing to make it a two possession game and keeping the Niners within striking distance.
Having virtually been a non-factor on offense this season after signing a lucrative multi-year extension, 49er running back Frank Gore was subject to a possible replacement as rookie RB Kendall Hunter was doing everything right to obtain the starting role. And with coach Harbaugh deciding to go with Hunter to start the game due to a sprain to Gore's right ankle, it appeared that all Gore needed to get going was a bit of pressure. Then again the Eagles' horrid run defense helped too. After a series of runs by Hunter on San Francisco's first drive, Gore wasn't ready to give up his starting job just yet as he exploded up the gut for a 40-yard gain. The 2-time Pro Bowler out of Miami wouldn't stop there as he finished the game with 127 yards rushing and the game's go-ahead touchdown to put the Niners on top, 24-23. Having been outscored 36-0 in the 4th quarter during their last three games (all loses), the Eagles appeared to be on their way to finally put an end to that dreadful mark until WR Jeremy Maclin was chased down and stripped from behind by 49er defensive end Justin Smith as free safety Dashon Goldson recovered the ball with just over two minutes remaining. A steady diet of run plays by Gore and Hunter would help San Francisco milk the clock and pull off the miraculous comeback that put an end to a five-game losing streak against Philadelphia. Although Alex Smith didn't dazzle like his counterpart Vick did who was picked off once, he came through big when needed and other than an early fumble was able to avoid making any costly turnovers.
Week 5 Preview: Given their week 4 success, I'd expect coach Harbaugh to utilize the home away from home method in the coming weeks when the team has back-to-back road games. As for week 5, the 3-1 49ers head back home to Candlestick Park where they'll host 3-1 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. With a potent mixture of both passing and rushing on offense, the 49ers will once again have their hands full on defense. But with the home crowd backing them, I like San Francisco's chances of improving to 4-1. Prediction: 49ers: 27 - Buccaneers: 17.
Coming off a blowout win against the rival Seahawks, San Francisco would take a trip down south to San Diego for another blowout. This one however, would come at the expense of the 49ers. After winning the coin toss, Chargers QB and potential MVP candidate Philip Rivers wasted no time connecting with one of his favorite targets, as wide receiver Vincent Jackson hauled in a 58 yard reception for an early San Diego touchdown. Jackson, who had a Pro Bowl season last year, held out for a majority of the season, missing 10 games while seeking a new deal. Having played only two games before Thursday night, Jackson had only two catches and zero touchdowns to show for. Though he would make up for time lost, finishing the game with a big night offensively. Before most of the scoring took place, a huge blow would be felt throughout the 49er defense later on in the early going of the first quarter, as one of their better players -- Justin Smith was ejected for pushing who he thought was a player, but turned out to be an official. A few drives later, the 49er offense finally appeared to get something going, kicking a field goal. However, a leverage penalty would give the 49ers a 1st and goal. After failing to reach the end-zone on three straight players, including an Alex Smith run that was first ruled a touchdown before being overturned on a Norv Turner challenge, Mike Singletary decided to go for it on forth down, but the San Francisco offense came out empty handed as they failed to score. The Chargers would tack on ten more points before the half, on a Nate Kaeding FG, and another TD pass to V-Jack, making it 17-0. Out of the locker room to start the second half and in need of some momentum, Ted Ginn appeared to have gotten the deal done, returning a kick off back for a touchdown, only to be negated by an illegal block in the back penalty. Not much would be worth noting for the 49ers after that, as San Diego's lead only grew. Vincent Jackson continued his onslaught, reeling in a career high third touchdown reception to go along with 112 yards on 5 catches, putting the game well out of reach. Filling in for the injured Frank Gore, back-up running back Brian Westbrook prevented the Niners from being shut-out for a second time this season, with a touchdown run in the 4th quarter. Though the 34-7 loss has to be deflating for a 49er team that came off a big home victory less than a week ago, the playoffs are still not out of the question depending on what the rest of the NFC West does this weekend.
Week 16 - For Week 16, the 49ers look ahead as they get set to visit St. Louis to face off against the division leading Rams who they beat at home in an overtime effort 23-20, back in Week 10. A much different team when playing at home, Sam Bradford and company plan to put an end to San Francisco's Playoff hopes.
Coming off a rather ugly, but lopsided victory on Monday night against the division rival Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers traveled to the frozen tundra of Lambeau Field to face off against the Packers who wore their throwback uni's. With both teams trailing their respective division leaders by a game in the standings, a win would keep them in the thick of things, while a loss could decide their fate in the playoff hunt. With a staggering 261 rushing yards in their last outing, the San Francisco run game would be put to the test having to go up against one of the league's better defenses.
Getting on the board first, would be the 49ers who marched down field on offense. Coming up short on third down, the newly acquired Jeff Reed who was released just weeks prior to his 49er debut, took no time fitting in, splitting the uprights for a 44 yard field goal on San Francisco's opening drive. After compiling some 50+ yards led by Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay kicker Mason Crosby tried for a 33 yard field goal to tie it, but missed. Following a handful of harmless drives, Reed would connect for another field goal, giving the 49ers an early 6-0 boost. However, a six point lead wouldn't nearly be enough, as Rodgers began to set in. A 49er penalty would give the Packers offense a free play, resulting in Rodgers finding his talented wide-out Greg Jennings 50 yards out in the end-zone overtaking the lead. Green Bay fullback John Kuhn would then tack on another seven points after a 49ers three and out. Trailing 14-6, Troy Smith took only 20 seconds to connect with his Pro Bowl tight end Vernon Davis, who dodged a tackle and scored on a 66-yard reception, as Green Bay hung on to a 1-point lead heading into the half. Starting the second half with the ball, the Packers offense would continue right where they left off, ignited by a catch and run by veteran wide receiver Donald Driver. A combination of nifty moves and shitty tackling would doom the 49ers, as Driver was able to stay in bounds and add to Green Bay's lead.
Troy Smith and company would respond with another Jeff Reed field-goal, but were unable to get anything else going on offense from there on. Meanwhile, a pair of Crosby field goals and another touchdown pass from Rodgers to Jennings padded Green Bay's lead, before a late Troy Smith interception sealed the deal. Unfortunately for the 9ers who dropped to a disappointing 4-8 record with the loss, both St. Louis and Seattle who are tied atop the division (NFC West), won on Sunday, dropping San Francisco in the standings. As for Green Bay, they trail the first place Chicago Bears by 1 game in the NFC North. The loss at Lambeau was the second in as many years, and has me wondering, what's up with the scheduling? I'm not trying to make up excuses, but two straight meetings on the road against a non-division foe is something I don't remember seeing. Not to mention in the blistering cold at Lambeau where teams not accustomed to the cold weather don't fare very well. Noteworthy - Despite the loss, Vernon Davis finished with a career high 126 yards on 4 catches to go along with his lone touchdown reception. In week 14, the 49ers will get a chance to avenge one of their bigger defeats this year, when they took a loss on the road in week 1 to the division rival Seattle Seahawks, 31-6.
When two NFL teams meet in Week 11 with identical records of 3-7, they're usually out of the Playoff hunt and looking forward to the following season. That's unless you play in the laughing stock that is the NFC West, where a record of 4-7 moves you within one game back of first place. Facing off in the desert for a Monday Night match-up, both the 49ers and Cardinals had one thing on their mind -- winning.
With an injured kicker in Joe Nedney, San Francisco would be forced to use the inexperienced Shane Andrus, who missed a 47 yarder on the 49ers opening drive. Luckily for San Francisco, Arizona would be kind enough to give the ball back, when Cardinals running back Beanie Wells fumbled the hand-off minutes later. The turnover would work perfectly for the 49ers, who were sure to execute right away, as QB Troy Smith connected with Michael Crabtree in the end-zone just one play later. The Arizona offense responded with a big passing play of their own with a 48 yard pass from Anderson to Wells which set up a Cardinal field-goal. With 49er RB Frank Gore seeing limited action due to a bother hamstring he suffered in the first quarter after compiling 52 yards, Brian Westbrook and Anthony Dixon saw a majority of the snaps, carrying the ball. A Dixon touchdown run would make it 14-3. The rest of the half would be all about the 49er defense that forced three straight three-and-outs, before Westbrook added a TD run of his own, his first as a Niner. The only threat came before half time, but the San Francisco defense put an end to the surge, forcing Jay Feely to kick a field-goal. Arizona would then intercept a Troy Smith pass that was deflected off the hands of Michael Crabtree, but was unable to capitalize due to the clutch 49er D, as both teams entered the locker room at the half with San Francisco owning a commanding 21-6 lead.
Andrus who missed a field-goal in the first quarter, would get a chance to redeem himself two quarters later. However, Arizona would have other plans as cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie got a hand on the ball, preventing San Francisco to add to their lead. Andrus would eventually make on a drive later from 38 yards out, making it 24-6. Adding to the dominant 49er defense that did a lot of what it was expected to do coming into the season, making stop after stop, linebacker Takeo Spikes intercepted a Derek Anderson pass, setting up another 49er FG. With the displeasure getting the best of the remaining Cardinal fans come the 4th quarter, Anderson was given what I like to call the Alex Smith treatment, receiving more boo's than cheers, as the Cardinals dropped their 6th straight game. Coming into Monday's game, Westbrook had only 5 carries for 9 yards as a member of the 49ers. But when given the chance, the 2-time Pro Bowler registered a total of 136 rushing yards, reaching the 100-yard plateau for the 21st time in his career, and his first since December 7th, 2008 as a member of the Eagles. Along with Gore and Dixon, San Francisco totaled 242 yards rushing. Meanwhile for the Cardinals, Arizona's tandem of Beanie Wells and Tim Hightower combined for a whooping total of 13 yards rushing, their lowest in 845 games. After the game, it was learned that the 49ers would be without their 2-time Pro Bowl running back for the remainder of the season, creating some doubt in San Francisco's chances of winning the division.
Noteworthy - SF outran Arizona, 261 yards to 13 yards, as the 49ers leave the desert unscathed. The 248 run difference was enough to make it the third largest run differential in Monday Night Football history. The biggest story other than the 49ers inching only a game behind the division leading Rams/Seahawks who are tied atop the NFC West for first place, was the 188 rushing yards San Francisco was able to pile on, despite Gore leaving in the 1st quarter with a fractured hip. After the game that many were uninterested in due to the one-sided affair, Arizona QB Derek Anderson went on a Dennis Green like tirade when being asked why he was laughing and smiling on the sideline with teammate Deuce Latui, while his team was being blown out. Anderson denied ever laughing and stormed off the podium in front of a live newsroom, as seen here:
Fresh off their first win of the season by beating their Bay Area rivals -- the Oakland Raiders, the 49ers payed a trip to Carolina to face the win-less Panthers. What looked to be an easy win for Mike Singletary's boys, would prove to be anything but. San Francisco would claw first, as QB Alex Smith connected with TE Vernon Davis for a touchdown, putting the 49ers up early. The early visit to the end-zone took only 3-plays and looked like one of the better drives put together by the 49er offense. Carolina would respond with a field-goal, before San Francisco exchanged for one of their own. WR David Gettis would then make a name for himself, catching an 18-yard pass from Panthers QB Matt Moore to tie the game at 10, as the first half concluded.
The second half would start off on a sour note for the 49er offense, as Smith was taken down for a sack, just several plays into their first possession. After being slow to get up, Smith was pulled out of the game in favor of back-up QB David Carr. While Smith rushed to the locker room to get his shoulder checked, Carr began having troubles of his own, as he began trying to find his rhythm. After being forced to punt, kicker John Kasey would give Carolina their first lead of the game with a 55-yard field-goal putting the Panthers up 13-10. Despite a 102-yard performance from 49ers running-back Frank Gore, the rest of the day for the 49er offense would be nonexistent. The only scoring on the offensive side of the ball for San Francisco would come via the field-goal. With the game tied at 13-13, 49er defensive-end Ray McDonald ran back an interception 31-yards to put the 49ers up 20-13. As the San Francisco personnel began celebrating on the sideline, the 49ers looked almost destined to win their second consecutive game. However, Matt Moore and the Carolina offense refused to lie down. With the chance to tie it midway into the fourth quarter, David Gettis who caught his first career TD reception in the second quarter, dropped what would've been a game-tying touchdown in the end-zone. But after a three and out, the 49ers were forced to punt, giving the Panthers another shot at tying the game. It wouldn't take long for Gettis to make up for that dropped touchdown earlier in the quarter, as Moore found him in the end-zone, tying the game at 20.
With just over a minute left on the game clock, David Carr was given a chance to win it for the 49ers, but instead threw a pass into double coverage resulting in an interception. Moore made the most of it and got his team into field goal range, connecting on a 35 yard pass, setting John Kasey up for a game winning 37-yard field goal with 39 seconds remaining. As Carr continued to struggle, the final seconds ticked off the clock, giving the Panthers their long-awaited first victory of the season. Meanwhile, the 49ers continue to struggle, dropping to a disappointing 1-6 record and into the cellar, owning last place in the NFC West. Week 7 Preview - The 49ers make a trip across the pond to face the Denver Broncos in London, England in what will serve as one of San Francisco's home games. With their only win of the season coming against the Oakland Raiders, the 49ers hope to repeat their success against another AFC Western division foe. For San Francisco's sake of somehow making the playoffs, let's hope a change of continent will get the 49ers back into their winning ways.
Coming into Week 5, the 49ers were still on standby for their first win of the season. And with a game against their bay area rivals -- the Oakland Raiders, both bragging rights and San Francisco's Playoff hopes were on the line. While the 49ers were coming off of a 3-point loss at home to the Vick-less Philadelphia Eagles, the Raiders were fresh off their first defeat of the division rival San Diego Chargers in over seven years. But a different Oakland team would show up on the road, not far from home.
Out of the gates, the Raiders showed an early sense of aggressiveness and trickery by utilizing a flea-flicker on the very first play from scrimmage and a reverse only a drive later. All of this would come while outplaying the 49ers on offense, 14-minutes to 3. Fortunately for the San Francisco defense, they were able to hold the Raider offense to a minimum of two field-goals. As the rain began to fall, so did the players as the game turned into a sloppy penalty-filled affair. OLB Manny Lawson then intercepted a pass from Raiders QB Jason Campbell, as Alex Smith began to do his normal race against the clock. After leading the offense all the way down the field before running out of time, the 49ers would have to settle for a field-goal as the first half concluded with a score of 6-3, Oakland. After half-time, the 49er offense would begin to show some signs of life. Although it wasn't pretty having compiled over 143 yards worth of penalties, Smith managed to connect for two touchdown passes in the second half, despite letting a lot of opportunities slip past him. Michael Crabtree would be the recipient of the first grab, by hauling in a go-ahead 32-yard TD reception before the end of the 3rd quarter. Then came Smith's favorite target Vernon Davis who sealed the deal on a late 4th quarter touchdown set up by running-back Frank Gore who finished the game with 149 rushing yards. While the 49ers put to rest any thought of going win-less all year long, they also put to rest any hope of Raider fans eying their first back-to-back wins since 2008, by keeping Jason Campbell under 100 yards passing.
Week 7 Preview - One of the biggest factors in the 49ers finally getting a win is the fact that Alex Smith had his first turnover-free game of the season. If Alex Smith and the 49er offense can avoid any confrontation with error for a second straight week in Carolina next Sunday, they should be in line for consecutive wins that will make 49ers owner Jed York's comments of, "We will win the division" look a little more believable.
After failing to make it into the win column in the first four weeks, the 49ers were hoping a return to their home field of Candlestick Park would solve their problems. Since losing to the New Orleans Saints in Week 2, the 49ers haven't played at home. And for a team that thrives a lot more at home like they do, the handful of games away from their home turf to start the season could easily sum up their 0-4 record. But when being praised as a Playoff team heading into the season, you've got to win regardless of where you're playing.
Similar to week 4 in Atlanta, the 49er offense put together a successful opening drive which was set up by Ted Ginn who returned the opening kick-off to mid-field. After hording the ball for 7-minutes, QB Alex Smith connected with WR Michael Crabtree for a touchdown giving San Francisco an early lead. It wouldn't be long though, before Philadelphia responded with a touchdown of their own. With a 17-10 lead heading into the half, Philly forced several turnovers that would come back to bite the 49ers when it was all said and done. After an interception and three fumbles, the boo-birds of Candlestick Park began letting the 49er offense hear it. Alex Smith got the brunt of it, as chants of 'We want Carr' roared throughout the stadium. Referring to back-up QB David Carr of coarse, the 49er faithful were almost given their wish. Before going to a commercial break, coach Singletary and Smith were seen arguing with one another while Carr began to loosen up. Smith returned to the game in what I was guessing was a last chance given by Singletary. Just when you thought the game was over, Smith came firing back by throwing touchdown passes in consecutive drives, bringing San Francisco within three. It seems like all Smith needed was a little fire under his ass. And with a coach like Singletary who has a lack of tolerance, who better to have in that type of scenario? Despite his late resurgence, Smith decided to play ball a little late, similar to the loss to New Orleans in Week 2, as the game turned into a race against the clock. With possession of the ball just under a minute left and a chance to win it, Smith was hit upon releasing the ball, resulting in an interception to seal the game for the Eagles who won 27-24.
What I'd like to know is what Singletary said to Smith to get him so fired up. If you were to ask me, I'd say the two need to have that exact conversation before every game from here on out. With zero wins to show for heading into week 6, it would usually be a smart time to hit the panic button. But in the weak NFC Western division which is still far from being decided, the 49ers Playoff hopes are still alive. If the 49ers were to somehow win their very winnable division, they would make the history books as the first team in NFL history to make the Playoffs after an 0-5 start. While we're on the subject of firsts, the 49ers 0-5 start to the season is their worst start since losing seven in a row in 1979. Ironically '79 was Hall of Fame coach Bill Walsh's first year with the team. And only two seasons later, the 49ers would go on to win their first of three Super Bowl's under Walsh's regime. Noteworthy - While 49er running-back Frank Gore struggled on the ground with 2-fumbles and only 52-rushing yards, wide-receiver Michael Crabree and tight-end Vernon Davis both helped Alex Smith throw for over 300 yards, by each compiling over 100-yards receiving.
Week 6 Preview - Not only are the 49ers playing at home again, but their playing against their bay area rivals -- the Oakland Raiders. After finally decided to utilize the young talent of Michael Crabtree on offense, it'll be interesting to see if he continues to turn it up against the team that passed on him in last year's NFL Draft.
The Run Down - After three consecutive losses in as many weeks for the San Francisco 49ers, Mike Singletary and company had a lot to prove if they wanted to finally get into the win column. And what better way get that first win than to defeat one of the NFC's better teams? However, with a number of weapons on offense for the Falcons, it wouldn't be easy. But after a dominant first quarter for San Francisco on both sides of the ball, scoring 14-points in a matter of minutes, it looked like the win-less 49ers were finally on their way to win number one. Alex Smith attacked the end-zone early by completing a 12-yard pass to tight-end Vernon Davis, who spun upon being tackled and extended his arm as the ball made it over the goal-line.
The defense would then do its part when USC alum Taylor Mays who made his first career NFL start, made a huge play in the end-zone by recovering a blocked punt for a touchdown, all while showing some spectacular footwork and keeping both feet in bounds. But just like every other week, the positives would be limited as the 49er scoring spree would stop there due to Alex Smith throwing two interceptions. Falcons wide receiver Roddy White who torched the 49er defense for over 200 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns last year was of no avail and played a limited role in Atlanta's passing game. That was until the game's final minutes. After scoring 13 unanswered points to bring the Falcons within 1, White made a handful of circus grabs late in the 4th quarter before finishing with 104 yards. White's biggest contribution however, would come while defending. San Francisco just about had the game won when cornerback Nate Clements intercepted what looked to be the dagger and the game winning play had he purposely went down after intercepting the ball with a minute thirty left on the clock. Instead, Clements turned it into a selfish, boneheaded move on his behalf as Roddy White chased him from behind and knocked the ball out, forcing a fumble. White's heads-up play showed shades of the 2009 season and was reminiscent of a similar play he made against the 49ers last year when he stripped the ball out of San Francisco's other cornerback -- Dre Bly. Bly showboated his way down the field thinking he had an easy touchdown, only to have the ball knocked out of his hand. Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan would then get another chance at leading the offense down field. But with the clock against them, getting into field-goal range was all Atlanta needed. With less than 10 seconds left, Matt Bryant kicked the ball 42-yards deep and through the uprights to win it. The game-winning field-goal was also Bryant's second in as many weeks, as he kicked one a week earlier against Drew Brees and the division rival New Orleans Saints. Niners head coach Mike Singletary didn't personally blame the loss on his cornerback (Clements), but we all know why the 49ers didn't pull this one out when they should have. One day after the heart-wrenching loss, the 49ers front-office stood by their head coach and expressed their support of coach Singletary, assuring him that his job is safe despite the teams 0-4 start. As well as it should be, given two of the four losses were not his fault. Week 5 Preview - While it's hard to point out the good during this rough time for us 49er fans, there is some good news in the bay area regarding the next match-up on the 49ers schedule. With Michael Vick out with an injured rib, the Eagles will start Kevin Kolb at the quarterback position. Kolb, who began the season as Philadelphia's starting quarterback, has been anything but what the Eagles were expecting from the QB they invested in after trading away Donovan McNabb. Vick on the other hand has been great since filling the void as the starter when Kolb went down with a concussion in week 1. But as the Vick injury serves as good news for us 9er fans as well as dog lovers across the globe, it can't be good for the Eagles considering he's been among the highest praised for the MVP award thus far. With Vick out and the 49ers at home, I think this is the week we finally get a W.
The Rundown - After their Monday Night loss to the reigning Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints, the 49ers found themselves in a more favorable match-up, paying a visit to Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium. However, the game itself would tell otherwise as the ghost of the 49er defense was seen once again, allowing 30+ points for the second time in three games. The offense also had its struggles as QB Alex Smith was out of sync with his receivers throughout the entire game until finally connecting with WR Josh Morgan for a touchdown on the final play from scrimmage. Other than Smith's lone TD, there weren't many positives to point out for this struggling 49er team. One of the bigger stories in the NFL thus far, is the surprising 2-0 start for the Kansas City Chiefs who did a good job on Sunday, utilizing some of the oldest tricks in the book, from the flee-flicker to the onside kick. The tough one-two punch of KC's running backs Jamal Charles and Thomas Jones contributed to the offense by each rushing for over 90 yards, with Jones reaching the end-zone in the 4th quarter on a goal line run. As both the defense and the ground attack benefited from its weak opponent, the rest was left to Chiefs QB Matt Cassel who did a good job distributing the ball equally to his wide-outs. In spite of Kansas City's best start since 2003, Cassel hasn't had the type of season one would hope for. But with 250 passing yards and 3 touchdowns to show for, Cassel had his best start yet, in route to a lopsided 31-10 victory. With nothing doing from Frank Gore and the rest of the 49ers ground attack, it would've been a good idea to rely on the passing game. But with the frustrating Alex Smith under Quarterback, it's hit or miss. Just when you hope Smith would test the opposing teams defense, he throws a little 5 yard swing pass. Something he and offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye have relied heavily on during the first several weeks to this 2010 season. And one day after 49ers head coach Mike Singletary said Jimmy Raye would remain the teams offensive coordinator all year, he fired him. With Raye out, coach Singletary promoted quarterback coach Mike Johnson to take over the reign. Although San Francisco is nowhere near the number three position they ranked in defense last year, they rank at the bottom of the chart (31st) in Points Per Game with (12.7), only behind the lowly Carolina Panthers who are also struggling and own a record of 0-3.
Week 4 Preview - While the 49ers sink to the bottom of the division and remain win-less, the Chiefs on the other hand continue to impress and now own an unbeaten record of 3-0. Which makes me ask, which of the two is more surprising? Week 4 could very well sing a similar tone with San Francisco falling to 0-4 as they prepare to pay a visit to the Georgia Dome. Of all the games last season, the loss at home to Atlanta in Week 5 proved to be one of the more cruel losses for me, having to sit threw the entire 45-10 beat down WR Roddy White and company served up. Optimistically speaking, perhaps another offensive coordinator adjustment is all the 9ers need to get back on track and into their winning ways. Let's hope so!
With a Monday Night Football game in Week 2, the 49ers were able to showcase their talented team that many predicted to win the division this season, early on in the year in front of a national crowd. But having to go up against the defending Super Bowl champion New Orleans Saints would be no easy task. For the hosting 49ers, the game got ugly quick as they faced the same demons that haunted them in week 1 -- miscues. After winning the coin toss and choosing to receive the ball, San Francisco found themselves down two points and out of a possession in the games opening minutes when 49ers center David Baas sent the ball soaring over QB Alex Smith's head and into the endzone for a safety upon hiking the ball. Minutes later, Brees would work his magic, connecting for an early touchdown pass to RB Reggie Bush, who would be carted off the field with an injury later in the game. 49ers running back Frank Gore would bounce back from his disappointing week 1 performance by compiling 112 rushing yards and scoring two of the teams three offensive touchdowns. Proving to be the conductor on offense, Gore made it a 2-point deficit heading into the half after scoring on a 12-yard touchdown pass from Alex Smith. During half-time, the 49ers were given a bit of inspiration by honoring the greatest of all-time -- Jerry Rice. However, with one missed opportunity after another, that would not be enough. Turnovers via fumbles, interceptions, and muffed punts would be the demise of the 49ers as Alex Smith failed to find his rhythm until the late minutes of the 4th quarter which would unfortunately be too late. Down by 8, Frank Gore did what he does best and ran it in for a 7-yard TD. Again, cutting the Saints lead to 2-points, the 49ers were forced to go for a 2-point conversion. Regardless of the aggressive play calling coach Singletary brings to the team, any coach in his position would have done the same. And at first, it looked like they failed to convert when a borderline pass to tight-end Vernon Davis was initially called no good. But after a SF challenge, the refs overturned the call on further review tying up the game at 22 with a little over a minute left on the clock. But with Drew Brees under control, that's all the Saints needed. Within the final minute, Brees carved the San Francisco defense that was one of the best in the league last season, when connecting with WR Marques Colston for a 30-yard pass and putting the Saints in field-goal range. As the final seconds ticked off the clock, Saints kicker Garrett Hartley kicked a field-goal that seemed to be blocked at first when a defender got a hand on it. The ball eventually split the uprights, spoiling the 49ers' home opener, 25-22 and improving the Saints to a 2-0 record. Meanwhile, as the 49ers went out in convincing fashion, they remain win-less in their first two games to start the season. With an 0-2 record to begin the year that was projected to be San Francisco's breakout season, you've gotta think winning the division and making the playoffs is a long shot given only 13% of the teams that start off 0-2 have went on to make the postseason. But considering the division the 49ers are in, the division leader could very well finish with a record under .500. However, I don't think that'll be the case, given San Francisco is bound to go some sort of winning streak. The 49ers who are yet to face a run oriented team, will have their hands full in Week 3 with Kansas City's tough tandem of running backs -- Thomas Jones and Jamal Charles. But that doesn't mean I don't think the red and gold will finally reach the win column. KC's duo of RB's should be a good test for the 49ers defense that ranked 3rd best in the league last season against the run. With that said, Go 9ers!
HOF - This Saturday August 7th, the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio will introduce seven new names to be enshrined like it does annually. The difference this year? Collectively, the class of 2010 just might be the best class the Hall has ever seen. With names such as Jerry Rice, Emmitt Smith, Russ Grim, Rickey Jackson, John Randle, Dick LeBeau, and Floyd Little, it's hard to name a better class off the top of your head. One name that sticks out in particular to 49er fans and football fans alike, is Jerry Rice. Highly regarded as the best to ever play the game, Rice was dubbed the nickname the GOAT aka the greatest of all-time. As a child growing up during his prime, I was fortunate enough to witness Rice at his very best. And with numerous records and achievements under his belt, it's hard to debate we'll ever see a player quite like Mr. Rice again.
Just to get an idea of what Jerry Rice's resume looks like, here's a few records and stats he compiled during his 20-year career in the NFL. Rice is the all-time leader in the following: Receptions (1,549), Reception yards (22,895), 100-yard Receiving games (76), Receiving Touchdowns (197), Total touchdowns (208), Yards from scrimmage (23, 540), 50+ Reception seasons (17), 1,000+ Receiving yard seasons (14), Single-season Receiving yards (1,848), and Consecutive games with a touchdown Reception (13). No three words sounded better together than "Montana to Rice", when the two 49er greats connected with one another on the field and most likely ending in the end-zone. The tandem created what many consider to be the deadliest QB-WR duo the game has ever seen. And just like Rice is regarded as the greatest WR to ever play his position, Joe Montana is regarded as the best QB to ever play the game. But that story lives to be told another day. Or another blog rather. Steve Young and Jerry Rice were also a great one-two punch. Other than Jerry's on the field success that shares the likes of 3-Super Bowl rings, a Super Bowl MVP, 13-Pro Bowl selections, 1-Pro Bowl MVP and 2-NFL Offensive Player of the Year Awards, the 1985 Rookie of the Year is also respected and known for his work ethic and dedication to the game of football. And when Jerry wasn't on the field catching balls and taking licks, he was training in the most extreme conditions, torching himself like that of none other. Just look up his infamous conditioning routine when he ran what's been called, "The Hill." Believe me, you'll get tired and worn out just reading about it. And not to be forgotten is another one of the games greats -- Emmitt Smith. Throughout his 14-year career, most notably with the Dallas Cowboys (1990-2002) before serving two seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (2003-2004) and calling it quits, Smith ran for 18,355 yards, thus making him the NFL's all-time leading rusher. Although his list of records isn't as lengthy as Rice's, they're equally remarkable. Smith tops the charts in all-time Rushing yards (18,355), Rushing attempts (4,409), Rushing touchdowns (164), and 100-yard Rushing games (78).
Emmitt's 175 total touchdowns ranks him second all-time only behind the aforementioned Jerry Rice. To add to his feats, Smith is an 8-time Pro Bowler, a Super Bowl MVP, an NFL MVP (1993), and recipient of the 1990 NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Award. Similar to his counterpart Rice, Smith is also a 3-time Super Bowl Champion and a proud owner of a Super Bowl MVP Award. Smith and Rice are the only two non-kickers to score 1,000 points in a career. And what do ya know, both starred on the hit reality series 'Dancing with the Stars'. However, Emmitt has Jerry beat as far as dancing goes as Smith was the winner of his season in the Fall of '06. Rice on the other hand was the runner-up in his try one season earlier.
How fitting is it that the greatest players at their respective positions (WR & RB) are in the same Hall of Fame class and were once upon a time on opposite ends of the greatest rivalry in the game, 49ers-Cowboys. Both of whom are also being inducted in their first year of eligibility. It's a shame when players like T.O. are dropping perfect passes or fail to show up to practice on time and rather hold out, leaving their team to suffer, while Jerry Rice practiced on his spare time at home catching bricks...BRICKS! So let this be a lesson learned to all you football players out there. Don't let not having an official pigskin around spoil your fun and just remember that the games greatest used bricks of all things. And perhaps you too could one day achieve Football immortality.
Gore to star in NFL Pro-Bowl - Just a few weeks ago prior to the end of the NFL Regular season, the list of Pro-Bowl players for each squad were announced. Upon those named to the team representing both the San Francisco 49ers and the NFC, were 49er TE Vernon Davis, LB Patrick Willis and P Andy Lee. But as reported and confirmed earlier today, RB Frank Gore will be joining his 49er teammates in his hometown of Miami Florida. Gore will replace St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson who will not be able to play due to injury. The trip to this year's Pro-Bowl will be Gore's second Pro-Bowl appearance after having been selected to the game in 2006. Although it'll be Gore's second trip to the All-Star game, it'll be his first time playing professionally in his hometown of Miami since his days in which he stared as a back at the University of Miami.
The former Hurricane rushed for 1,120 yards on 229 carries this season, tying a franchise record with a career-high 10 rushing touchdowns. Gore also registered 52 receptions for 406 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, also a career-high. Despite missing three games due to a knee injury in which he suffered on the first drive of San Francisco's visit to Minnesota in Week 3, Gore still managed to rush for over 1,000 yards, giving him four consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons (2006-2009), becoming the only player in 49ers history to reach the feat. Gore also finished his 2009 campaign with five 100-yard rushing games, tying RB Joe Perry for the most 100-yard rushing games in franchise history with 20. For what it's worth, Gore was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week in weeks 2 and 14 and ranked tied for second in the NFC in scoring with 78 points, while his 1,120 rushing yards was among the top 5 in the NFC.
With a total of four 49ers heading to Miami for this year's Pro-Bowl (The most since the team sent six 9ers in 2002), we congratulate each player for their nomination and hope them the best.Congratulations Frank the Tank!
