Niners, Purdy Struggle in Christmas Bout vs Ravens

Week 16 - In a match-up between the top two teams in their respective conferences at 11-3 on the season, the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens met on Christmas evening for a heavyweight showdown on Monday Night Football, showcasing the NFC's best ranked offense versus the AFC's best ranked defense. After the Christmas feast concluded and all gifts were opened, all eyes were set on the star-studded meeting that also featured a trio of MVP candidates in San Francisco's Brock Purdy and Christian McCaffrey and Baltimore's Lamar Jackson. While McCaffrey had another solid performance and continued to make his case for an award that has been none too kind for any position outside of quarterback, one QB improved his candidacy in the NFL's MVP race while the other witnessed his stock take a hit. With both teams struggling early on while on offense, it was the defense that took centerstage through the game's opening quarter. 

After the 49er defense forced a three and out punt on Baltimore's opening-drive, the offense got rolling with a big play on third down as QB Brock Purdy hit tight-end George Kittle for a 58-yard gain. Able to cross midfield and threatening to score, the 49ers found themselves in the red zone before disaster struck when Purdy thought he had a wide-open Deebo Samuel in the end zone before Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton flashed in front of the intended target to make the interception. Dealing a blow to the momentum the 49ers appeared to capture out of the gates, the interception marked the first of Purdy's career on an opening-drive. Unfortunately, it would be the first of many miscues on the night by the 49ers' signal-caller who followed up one of the best games of his young career with what was undoubtedly his worst. Despite the early mistake, the San Francisco defense would pick up their QB by forcing the first 49ers safety in 88-games on the other end when Baltimore quarterback Lamar Jackson scrambled and drifted too far into the end zone before being brought down for a sack with a little help from an official who lost his footing and got in the way of the Ravens QB. Receiving the ball following the safety, the 49ers were able to add a field goal to take a 5-0 lead.

The Ravens answered by getting on the scoreboard via a Justin Tucker field goal on their ensuing possession, igniting a flame within the Baltimore offense that went on to score on seven consecutive drives, the most consecutive scoring drives against a 49ers team since 2005. San Francisco had appeared to be headed for a score of their own before Purdy had a pass batted into the air by one defender and into the lap of another. It would mark the first game of Purdy's career with multiple interceptions in the first half. Sadly, for him the nightmare and interception woes were only just beginning. Turning the turnover into points as Baltimore running back Gus Edwards ran in a touchdown from a yard out at the other end, Purdy was again intercepted on San Francisco's next possession as a pass intended for George Kittle was again batted into the air, allowing for an easy interception by Kyle Hamilton who came down with his second pick in as many quarters. This time holding Baltimore to just a field goal, the 49er offense was finally able to stop the bleeding with a touchdown of their own for the first time of the evening. After nearly taking a 39-yard carry to the house, Niners running back Christian McCaffrey punched it in one play later for the 9-yard touchdown to make it a 1-point game at 13-12. 

Adding to their lead just before halftime, the 49ers were unable to contain Lamar Jackson who helped arguably the greatest field goal kicker of all-time with a 30-yard run to setup another Baltimore field goal. Though the 49ers had the Ravens right where they wanted them, opening the second half with possession of the ball and trailing by only 4-points, the offense was unable to do anything on their first four possessions of the second half. Following San Francisco's three and out punt to begin the third quarter, the Ravens struck fast with a 39-yard gain on a pass from Jackson to Edwards who finished the drive two plays later with a 1-yard score. Purdy who had never thrown more than two interceptions in a game in his professional career, would throw his fourth pick of the night just one play later. Making quick work of the turnover, Jackson would find rookie receiver Zay Flowers in the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown. Adding another field goal one possession later, the Ravens' lead ballooned to 30-12 as San Francisco suddenly found themselves staring down their largest deficit of the season (18-points). 

Purdy and the Niner offense would finally string together their first successful drive of the second half as receiver Brandon Aiyuk hauled in a pair of big receptions for 22 and 33 yards to move the chains. However, Purdy would have to leave the game after taking a hit from Baltimore's Jadeveon Clowney on a sack that left the Niners QB with the same stinger he felt a week ago against the Cardinals. Checking into the game to replace Purdy was backup QB Sam Darnold who connected with three different receivers on a trio of short passes before throwing a strike to rookie receiver Ronnie Bell who came down with the touchdown. Inching closer and making it a two-score game with 6:23 remaining in regulation, the 49ers were able to force the much-needed punt and began to march down the field before things stalled out inside the red zone. After marching to the 1-yard line and on the doorstep of scoring, an 11-yard sack and a false start penalty suddenly found the 49ers at the 17-yard line. It was there that the 49ers would throw their fifth and final interception on the night as Darnold chucked a pass into traffic inside the end zone as the Ravens came away with the football as well as the 33-19 victory. 

Electing to sit his starting quarterback for the remainder of the night despite Purdy's willingness to reenter the game, Niners head coach Kyle Shanahan witnessed his team struggle to the tune of a season-high 5 turnovers which led to 17-points off turnovers for the opposition which was clearly the difference. In the loss, Purdy finished with a game-high 255 passing yards, 0 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and a dismal 42.6 QB rating, a far cry from his NFL leading 119.0 rating that he entered the game with. On a Christmas night that he would much rather forget, Purdy is the first 49er quarterback with a 4 interception game since Colin Kaepernick in 2015. Tight-end George Kittle led all receivers with a game-high 126 yards receiving on a team-high 7 receptions. Meanwhile, Christian McCaffrey added yet another game with over 100 scrimmage yards, rushing for 103 yards and a touchdown on 14 carries to go along with 6 receptions for 28 receiving yards, his 8th straight game with 100+ scrimmage yards which set a new team record and his 12th such game this season, the most in a season in 49ers franchise history, surpassing Roger Craig's 11 games in 1985 and 1988. 

For the Ravens, QB Lamar Jackson tossed for 252 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while adding another 45 yards rushing to lead his team on 7 carries. With the win, Baltimore recorded their first 5 game winning-streak since 2021, while also snapping San Francisco's 6-game winning-streak on the other end. Leading the league in sacks, Baltimore was able to record 4 sacks compared to San Francisco's 2, recording all four when they needed them most in the fourth quarter. The 49ers' turnover woes coupled with their inability to get the Ravens off the field as they forced a punt on Baltimore's opening-drive but not another until the 10:30 mark of the 4th quarter, did them in as they were unable to dig themselves out of a three-score hole. In what was touted as a potential Super Bowl preview, the Niners hope to see Baltimore down the road again with a different outcome in mind and a chance to redeem themselves in what would also be a rematch from Super Bowl XLVII when then Niners head coach Jim Harbaugh and the 49ers were edged by brother and current Baltimore head coach John Harbaugh and the Ravens, 34-31. 

Week 17 Preview: Now at 11-4 on the season and tied with the Philadelphia Eagles and Detroit Lions for the best record in the NFC, the 49ers still own the top seed and currently hold a tie-breaker over both clubs. Looking to maintain that top spot, San Francisco will look to bounce back in their final road game of the regular season when they make a stop in our nation's capital to take on the (4-11) Washington Commanders. Losers of six straight, the Commanders are jockeying for position near the top of the 2024 Draft board, and currently sit in the No. 3 spot if the season were to end today. However, despite their poor record and ongoing losing-streak, Washington has lost back-to-back games by one-score and have shown some improvement on offense with backup quarterback Jacoby Brissett under-center, having come off the bench in each of the last two games and nearly leading the Commanders to a comeback victory a week ago against the Jets, erasing a 27-7 halftime deficit and tying the game before eventually falling 30-27 on a last-second field goal. Brissett will get start on Sunday per Washington head coach Ron Rivera, taking over for the struggling Sam Howell. Former Commander and current 49er Chase Young will get a crack at his old team after being traded from Washington to San Francisco during the October 31 trade deadline. For the 49ers who can lock up the NFC's No. 1 seed and a first-round Bye by winning out the final two games of the regular season, the team is primed for a win to get back on track as QB Brock Purdy looks to redeem himself against the NFL's worst defense in hopes of salvaging his dwindling MVP chances. 

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Purdy Shines in Homecoming as 49ers Sweep Cards

Week 15 - A week after clinching the first playoff spot in the NFL this season following a win over rival Seattle coupled with a loss from the Green Bay Packers, the (10-3) San Francisco 49ers would have the opportunity to secure the NFC Western Division with a win on the road against the (3-9) Arizona Cardinals. With a chance to sweep the season series over the Cardinals, Sunday's game would also serve as 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy's homecoming, facing the team in his home state of Arizona for the first time of his career. Honored by the Cardinals in 2017 for being named the Arizona Football Player of the Year out of High School, and with his family and friends in attendance, Purdy would add to his MVP resume with another strong outing on Sunday. But before the Niners would go on to put up a season-high in points scored, it was the Cardinals offense that opened the game with the ball and dealt the first blow. 

With QB Kyler Murray under-center against the 49ers for the first time this season, San Francisco would match-up against the former No. 1 overall pick in 2019 for the first time in over two years. Happy to have their signal-caller back, the Cardinals offense marched with ease on their opening-drive as Murray found his tight-end Trey McBride early and often as the two connected on a 38-yard gain that set a single-season franchise record for the most receptions by a Cardinals tight-end (57). Several plays later, running back James Conner gave Arizona an early lead by finding the end zone from 2-yards out. With San Francisco's defense leading the league in rushing yards allowed per game entering Sunday at 78.3, Arizona would eclipse that mark in the first half alone as the 49ers were without their top two defensive-tackles in Arik Armstead (foot/knee) and Javon Hargrave (hamstring). Wasting little time to answer back, the 49er offense got some big runs from running back Christian McCaffrey who had another big day at the office, before Purdy found a wide-open Deebo Samuel who was able to tip-toe his way into the end zone from 12-yards out. 

Making it across mid-field on their second possession, the Cardinals showed some aggressiveness early on by electing to go for it on a 4th and 3 call from the San Francisco 42-yard line. Stepping back to pass, Murray was intercepted by 49ers cornerback Charvarius Ward who made a house-call and returned the pick-six 66-yards the other way for the go-ahead touchdown. Ward who was questionable coming into Sunday's game with a groin injury suffered on the first drive of last week's game against the Seahawks that kept him sidelined for 3+ quarters, showed that he was feeling just fine on Sunday, giving San Francisco their first defensive touchdown of the season. With a pair of Matt Prater field goals on their next two possessions, the Cardinals inched closer by making it a 14-13 ballgame. Looking to add to their lead before the half, the 49ers began to march, but endured a scare when Brock Purdy made a brief visit to the medical tent following a collision with a member of the Cardinals that led to a roughing the passer penalty. Backup QB Sam Darnold came in for three plays before Purdy reentered the game and was welcomed by a roar from the many 49er fans in attendance. Picking up right where he left off, Purdy hit tight-end George Kittle on a big third down conversion before finding McCaffrey in the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown grab. 

Receiving the ball to start the second half, the 49er offense continued to roll as Purdy and Kittle connected again on third down, picking up 35-yards on a 3rd and 11. One play later, Purdy found a wide-open McCaffrey who leaked free and back-peddled his way to make a leaping grab that caused him to fall, get back and up dart free for the 41-yard score. After exchanging punts, the Cardinals added another field goal, but could not slow San Francisco on defense as McCaffrey struck pay dirt for his third time on the afternoon. In what would be a lackluster afternoon by the 49er defense in terms of tackling as a number of San Francisco's better defenders were struggling to wrap up on Sunday, the Cardinals took advantage and were able to keep it a two-score game early in the fourth quarter when running back Emari Demercado broke free from a tackle and rushed for a 49-yard touchdown. The Niner offense would answer back with Brock Purdy's fourth and final touchdown of the afternoon on a dime into the end zone that Deebo Samuel laid out to get, giving Deebo his third straight multi-touchdown game. 

With the game now out of reach and San Francisco leading 42-22 in the fourth quarter, Mooney Ward picked off Kyler Murray for a second time, making way for Sam Darnold to finish the game under-center in place of Brock Purdy with just over six-minutes remaining in regulation. Kicker Jake Moody added a 43-yard field goal to increase San Francisco's lead before a garbage-time touchdown pass from Kyler Murray to rookie tight-end Elijah Higgins who hauled in his first career score. Leaving the desert with a 45-29 win, the 49ers completed the season sweep of the Cardinals with their sixth straight win of the season and 12th consecutive victory within the division. Two of San Francisco's leading MVP candidates led the way as quarterback Brock Purdy threw for 242 yards and 4 touchdowns without being sacked all afternoon, and running back Christian McCaffrey finished with 187 total yards and 3 total TD's, giving him a total of 20 touchdowns on the season and his 6th game with 100+ rush yards this season (the most in the NFL). With four touchdowns against Arizona in their earlier meeting this season, McCaffrey tied an NFL record for the most TD's versus one team in a season in the Super Bowl era with 7 against the Cardinals. He would tie another NFL record for the most career games with a rushing and receiving touchdown with 15. 

In the losing effort, Murray threw for 211 yards, 1 touchdown and 2 interceptions and ran for another 49 yards on 6 carries for Arizona, with 10 receptions and 102 of those yards going to tight-end Trey McBride who had a solid outing and led all receivers in both categories despite the loss. However, the Cardinals did excel with their running game on Sunday, rushing for 234 total yards compared to San Francisco's 144. Keeping Purdy on his feet throughout the entire contest, the 49ers were able to get to Murray three times, including a sack from Nick Bosa who hit double-digits this season and increased his mark for the most sacks since 2021 with 44.5. In the locker room after the game, the 49ers were given new hats and t-shirts as they celebrated the team's second straight division title and third NFC West title overall since Kyle Shanahan took over the head coaching job back in 2017. 

Week 16 Preview: The (11-3) 49ers will play host to the (11-3) Baltimore Ravens as the first two teams to punch a playoff ticket in each conference meet on Christmas Day for Monday Night Football. With both teams currently sitting atop their respective conference slotted as the No. 1 seed, both squads will look to come out with a win to stay on top in hopes of securing a first-round Bye in the playoffs. With the 49ers having already clinched the NFC West, the Ravens are looking to fend off the (9-5) Cleveland Browns for the AFC North crown. Where the 49ers will need to improve if they want to keep Baltimore QB Lamar Jackson at bey is keeping him in check with his legs as he is just as dangerous if not more when escaping the pocket and running the ball. The Ravens defense also ranks 2nd in the NFL in average yards allowed at 284.4, which will be a challenge the 49er offense will gladly welcome, serving as a tune up before the start of the playoffs. The last time these two teams met was in December of 2019 in Baltimore, a back and forth game in which the Ravens kicked a late field goal to win it in wet conditions by a final of 20-17. The 49ers will try to flip the script on Baltimore in the rematch in hopes of spreading some holiday cheer in front of the 49er Faithful of Levi's Stadium. 

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Ravens Edge 49ers with last-second Field Goal

Week 13 - Entering Week 13's heavyweight match-up between the 10-1 San Francisco 49ers and the 9-2 Baltimore Ravens, the narrative all week long was how badly Ravens QB and MVP-candidate Lamar Jackson was going to roll over one of the best defenses in the league. Coming off a 45-6 shellacking of the L.A. Rams a week earlier and riding the NFL's longest active winning streak at seven games, Jackson and the league's best offense did anything but against a stout 49er squad as the two teams went toe to toe and delivered in a potential Super Bowl preview that came down to the final seconds. Playing in less than ideal conditions as the rain wouldn't let up until late in the second half, the damp field conditions and inclement weather played a slight factor but would not take away from what would ultimately be a classic up to this point of the 2019 NFL season and a game most football fans are hoping to see again on a neutral field in Miami come February.

Opening the game on offense, the 49ers would waste little time to score, electing to gamble on an early fourth down attempt that would pay off as quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo heaved the ball 33-yards to rookie receiver Deebo Samuel who freed himself from two Baltimore defenders and found the end zone. The early gamble on fourth down would spark a theme all game long by both teams due to the poor conditions as the Ravens suddenly found themselves in unfamiliar territory, failing to score first for the first time in a game since October 13. The early score by San Francisco would also mark the first opening-drive touchdown allowed in 17 games by the Baltimore defense, snapping the longest active streak in the league. Having handled some of the league's best teams with double-digit victories over the Patriots, Texans and Seahawks, the 49ers let it be known from the onset that they wouldn't go down without a fight. With only two punts in the last three games for the Baltimore offense, things would continue to go in the 49ers' favor early on as the defense forced the Ravens to punt on their first drive. But a costly mistake on a fumble by Garoppolo, would result in the Ravens' first touchdown as Lamar Jackson capitalized on the early miscue just two plays later with a 20-yard touchdown pass to his tight-end -- Mark Andrews.

With the game tied at 7, Jackson would begin to go to work with his legs, helping march the offense into the red zone before taking it in himself for a 1-yard touchdown, giving his team their first lead of the day and setting the pace for another 100-yard rushing performance. The touchdown run by Jackson would be the 49th touchdown scored by the Baltimore offense this season, setting a franchise record for the most TD's in a single season. Looking to add to that mark with their 50th, the 49er defense would make sure the milestone wouldn't come on their watch as the Ravens were held out of the end zone the rest of the way. Trailing for the first time of the afternoon, the Niners would answer with a big score of their own from one of the most unlikeliest of heroes in third-string running back Raheem Mostert. With Matt Breida heading into Sunday morning as a game-time decision, team staff decided to scratch Breida from Sunday's game in hopes of having him at full strength and ready for Week 14 with another week's rest. In place of Breida, Mostert would not disappoint as he darted down the sideline for a game-tying 40-yard touchdown that would ignite a career day for a guy that until Sunday had been better known for being a standout player on special-teams.

With a second consecutive 13-play drive ending in only a field goal for Baltimore, the 49ers had a chance to either tie the game or take the lead heading into the half. But poor clock management by coach Kyle Shanahan and improper usage of his timeouts would cost his team valuable yards as they took their time before the half. Showing no signs of urgency, the 49er offense which took over with just under two minutes remaining, lollygagged after making it across midfield, letting precious time tick away while all three timeouts still remained as late as the 30-second mark. Making their way to the Baltimore 33-yard line, kicker Robbie Gould who missed the last three games with a quad injury, would be asked to attempt a 51-yard field goal in the rain. Instead of using those timeouts to try and gain more yards to make things easier for his rusty kicker, Shanahan, with a timeout remaining in his pocket, would watch Gould's kick sail offline and fall well short of the goalposts as his team entered the half trailing, 17-14. The miss by Gould would be his 8th of the season, setting a career-high for misses in a single season.

Having reached the end zone in each of their last four games to open the second half, the Ravens offense appeared to be heading in that direction once again until a promising drive came to a screeching halt thanks to another one of San Francisco's unsung heroes. Threatening to score with the ball at the San Francisco 33 yard-line and facing a 3rd and 1, Jackson faked a handoff and bootlegged to his left for a 14-yard gain before having the ball stripped by backup safety Marcell Harris. Entering the game just four plays earlier following an injury to Jaquiski Tartt, Harris' spectacular play would mark the first lost fumble on the year by Jackson and would give his team another opportunity to tie or take a lead. Orchestrating the longest drive of the game by either team as the 49er offense ran 14-plays that ate up 8:26 of game clock, San Francisco would make it to the red zone before settling for a field goal to tie the game at 17-all. After exchanging punts to take things into the fourth quarter, both teams would embark on six-play drives that would end on a turnover on downs. However, only San Francisco's choice of play-call would result in criticism when Shanahan raised eyebrows after dialing up a passing play on 4th and 1 from the Baltimore 35 at a time when Mostert was chewing up chunks of yardage each and every time he carried the ball.

Given a chance to milk the clock and put his team into position to win the game while keeping the ball out of the oppositions hands, the league's front-runner for MVP would do just that, spearheading a 12-play drive that included eight rushing plays, three of which by Jackson himself. And with 0:03 seconds remaining on the clock, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker who entered the game with the NFL's longest active streak of 37 consecutive made field goals in the 4th quarter, split the uprights once more as his 49-yard field goal try was never in doubt and gave his team the 20-17 walk-off victory. As his Baltimore teammates rushed the field to congratulate the Pro Bowl kicker and celebrate their franchise record-tying 8th straight win, San Francisco fell on the road for the first time this season. Falling to 10-2 on the year and having now lost two games this season by a combined six-points, the Niners once again showed why they belong in the conversation among the top teams in the league. And if the 3-point loss isn't enough to back that claim, perhaps the defense's ability to hold the league's best offense to their fewest point total and second fewest yards will do it for them.

Held to only 105 yards passing, it was Jackson's rushing ability that made him most dangerous on Sunday as he finished with a team-high 101 rushing yards on 16 carries, while scoring a touchdown both on the ground and thru the air. Garoppolo threw for 165 yards and one touchdown on 15 of 21 pass attempts, but it was backup running back Raheem Mostert who stole the show for the 49er offense, enjoying a career-high 146 yards rushing on 19 carries.

Week 14 Preview - Adding insult to injury, the Niners (10-2) would once again fail to receive any favors from the rest of the league as Minnesota, winners of 6 of their last 7 games, failed to continue their hot streak on the road against Seattle who managed to leapfrog ahead of the Niners for sole possession of first place in the NFC West. Even worse, San Francisco fell from the NFC's no. 1 seed to the no. 5 seed. But like the saying goes: If you want things done right, do them yourself. Kyle Shanahan's 49ers will be able to do just that this week when they pay a visit to New Orleans to take on Drew Brees and the Saints (10-2) in the Big Easy. With another heavyweight match-up in line for San Francisco, the two teams will clash with the chance to separate themselves from one another as the 2019 season enters its homestretch. Coming off a Thanksgiving win on the road and avenging their Week 10 loss against the division-rival Falcons, the Saints who have already clinched the NFC South division and a playoff berth, are looking to finish strong and maintain the top seed in the conference. As for the 49ers who will be happy that they won't have another rushing quarterback to face this week, will still need to bring their A-game against a Hall of Fame-bound quarterback that can still make you pay thru the air. And with one of the best play-making receivers in the business in Michael Thomas, San Francisco's banged up secondary will surely be tested in a game with playoff implications.


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49ers make Grated Cheese out of Packers in Sunday Night Beatdown

Week 12 - All season long, the San Francisco 49ers who are sitting atop the NFC standings at 9-wins and 1-loss, have been beaten like a pinata by the mainstream media for having an "easy schedule" and having not played anyone of note. But a Sunday night meeting against the 8-2 Green Bay Packers would provide Kyle Shanahan's 49ers team with yet another chance to silence the critics and put those claims to rest. With the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints both breathing down the Niners' neck in the race for the NFC's top seed, San Francisco would not receive any favors on Sunday in their hopes for home field advantage as both teams were in close games but walked away with wins as their opponents shot themselves in the foot, leaving the 49ers to fend for themselves if they wanted to maintain the NFC's no. 1 spot.

And though the game between the Packers and 49ers would go on to register the highest average total television audience delivery for a Week 12 Sunday Night Football game since 2015 (Denver vs New England), the game would turn into a one-sided affair that got ugly from the onset. Having gone four straight games without committing a turnover, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers would be in for a rude awakening as the stout San Francisco defense put an end to that mark rather quickly. On Green Bay's opening-drive, the 49ers would force a strip-sack fumble on Rodgers, snapping a streak of 39 consecutive drives without a turnover, the longest active streak in the NFL. Needing only one play to capitalize on the Packers' rare turnover would be running back Tevin Coleman who turned it into an early touchdown by reaching over the goal-line. Forcing and recovering the fumble would be the tandem of linebacker Fred Warner and defensive-end Nick Bosa who would each have a monster game for a 49er defense that shined in their only Sunday Night game of the year and one that had to be flexed into the Sunday Night slot.

Trailing 10-0, Packers first-year head coach Matt LaFleur who served alongside Kyle Shanahan during stints with the Texans, Redskins and Falcons, would elect to gamble early on in the second quarter with a 4th & 1 attempt that the 49er defense stuffed. Following a second Chase McLaughlin field goal, rookie receiver Deebo Samuel hauled in one of his two receptions on the evening and took it 42-yards to the house. Forcing their fifth three and out of the half on defense, the Niners, needing only 24-seconds, would have even more opportunity to widen their lead as QB Jimmy Garoppolo hooked up with tight-end George Kittle for a 22-yard completion that allowed them to settle for yet another field goal. By halftime, Aaron Rodgers and the Packers had only accumulated 60-yards of total offense and were held scoreless while staring at a 23-point deficit. And though they would open the second half with a touchdown on their first possession of the third quarter after a 13-play drive that chewed up over eight and a half minutes, the Niners would answer back in a fraction of the time with a two-play, touchdown-scoring drive that needed only 57-seconds. After getting on the board with a 2-yard touchdown pass from Rodgers to receiver Davante Adams, the Packer defense gave it right back as Garoppolo found a wide-open Kittle who in his first game back after missing the last two weeks with broken bones in his ankle, caught the ball and ran 61-yards for the score.

It would be a welcoming sight for Niner players and fans alike who had feared the injury to Kittle was much more serious than the team initially led on as he finished his first game back with a game-high 129 yards on 6 receptions. LaFleur would pull the plug in the 4th quarter after electing to sit his starting quarterback who finished the game with a season-low in virtually every statistical category on offense. Trailing 30-8 and in full-on desperation mode, the Packers would again go for it on 4th down, but were left disappointed as they turned the ball over on downs. Niners running back Raheem Mostert would cap off the scoring with a 15-yard score up the middle as San Francisco increased their lead to 37-8, a score they would go on to win by in route to their first 10-1 record since 1997. Holding their opponent to 8 points or fewer for the fourth time this season, the 49er defense proved to be a thorn in the side of Rodgers who grew up a Niner fan and attended nearby Cal Berkeley. Finishing with only 104 yards passing on 20 of 33 attempts, the San Francisco defense would limit Rodgers to the fewest passing yards of his career in a game in which he completed 20+ passes, as the Packers' future Hall of Fame quarterback failed to complete a single pass beyond 10-yards. 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo finished with a clean 253 yards passing on 14 of 20 attempts, 2 TD's and 0 turnovers.

Both teams struggled mightily on third down and entered the fourth quarter without a single third down conversion. It wasn't until San Francisco's final drive where they converted their first third down conversion when they converted on three in a row. Green Bay on the other hand entered the fourth quarter 0-for-10 on third down with Rodgers under center and converted their one and only third down conversion on their final drive of the game with backup Tim Boyle at quarterback. With the 29-point win, the 49ers have now outscored opponents by 169 points this season, their largest point differential through 11 games since 1948 (+210). However, it came with a loss as defensive-end Demontre' Moore was lost for the season after suffering a fractured forearm in the win and will be placed on injured-reserve. The loss of Moore who was signed just two weeks earlier, is unfortunate news for a defensive-line that was without Dee Ford on Sunday with an injured hamstring and has already lost Ronald Blair for the season.

Week 13 Preview - After holding Green Bay to under 200 yards in total offense (198), San Francisco currently leads the league in total defense (248.0 opponent yards per game), something they have not done since 1997. That's a number they hope to duplicate in Week 12 as they prepare to face the Baltimore Ravens (9-2) and their MVP candidate at quarterback in Lamar Jackson. Coming off a dominant Monday Night win on the road in L.A. against the Rams, Jackson became the youngest player in NFL history with multiple 5-passing TD games in a season and the first player with 5 TD's in his Monday Night Football debut as Baltimore handed the Rams their largest defeat in the history of the L.A. Coliseum: 45-6. San Francisco will look to slow Jackson who has the Ravens atop the AFC North and riding a 7-game winning-streak. Despite being tied with the New England Patriots for the best record in the league, odds-makers don't like the 49ers' chances in Baltimore as they open up as 6-point underdogs and are the first 10-1 team in over a decade to enter Week 13 as an underdog. With how dominant the 49ers have been on defense this year, the lone weakness I've seen has been against the running quarterback (Russell Wilson and Kyler Murray), and Lamar Jackson is that to a tee. If they can contain Jackson and prevent him from beating them with his legs, I like their chances of pulling off the upset and putting an end to Baltimore's streak. Also, with having to face the gauntlet of Green Bay, Baltimore and New Orleans in consecutive weeks, the 49ers will become the first team to play three straight games vs opponents with .800+ win percentage 10+ games into a season in the Super Bowl era.


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Blackballed

The topic of Colin Kaepernick still being without a job in the NFL a month before kickoff is one that has been weighing on my mind and one I've thought about writing about for awhile now, but the recent signing by the Miami Dolphins to bring in Jay Cutler, a guy who had to be talked out of retirement, was the final straw. Whether you like the guy or not, defend or oppose his decision to kneel during the national anthem, it's now become very obvious that the guy is being blackballed from the league. Need I remind you that Colin Kaepernick who never once has been arrested for anything, did absolutely nothing illegal when he peacefully protested by taking a stand against social injustices for the victims who aren't fortunate enough to have the outlet or stepping stone to do so and yet he's been treated like a felon.

Kaepernick, now at the ripe age of 29, has garnered very little interest from teams despite putting up solid numbers in 2016 and having very little to work with on an anemic 49ers offense. With a career record of 32 wins and 32 losses, including four playoffs wins and a trip to the Super Bowl in which Kaepernick was the deciding factor that helped San Francisco get over the hump and claim their first NFC Championship since a guy named Steve Young manned the position, the former quarterback out of Nevada boasts a resume that most players at the position could only dream about, including Cutler. And while Kaepernick might not be that same mysterious yet dominant quarterback that ran amok in the 2012 playoffs and put up record-setting numbers against the Green Bay Packers that still has cheese heads waking up in the middle of the night with cold sweats, the man still possesses more than enough talent to earn himself a job in the NFL, albeit as a starter or backup.

Even before Cutler and the Dolphins agreed on their one-year, $10 Million pact, Miami head coach Adam Gase considered both Tim Tebow who isn't even playing football these days and Kyle Orton who's last snap came in 2014, over Kaepernick. Two names that are rather laughable and who's success in the NFL pales in comparison to Kaepernick's. But hey, if a guy who's heart for the game has been questioned on multiple occasions walked away from the game of football to become a broadcaster, is known for being soft, has been much more injury prone, tends to rub his teammates the wrong way and throws for more interceptions is what Adam Gase and the Dolphins wanted and didn't mind overpaying for, then they definitely found their man in Cutler. I get it, the two spent time together in Chicago and Cutler, now 34-years of age, is familiar with the system in place, but if we're going off of numbers alone, those are tilted in Kaepernick's favor as well.

When comparing the production of the two quarterbacks since Kaepernick's first full year at the helm in 2013, Cutler has Kaepernick beat in passing touchdowns, 71 to 62, but he's also thrown almost twenty more interceptions than Kaepernick during that span, 46 to 27. And while Cutler has amassed more passing yards than Kaepernick, 11,151 to 10,422, Kaepernick more than makes up for it with his legs with 1,887 rushing yards compared to Cutler's 534, bringing the total to 14,196 total yards to 11,685 in favor of Kaepernick. Cutler who went 51-51 in his 8-year stint with the Bears, also has more fumbles lost (16), despite Kaepernick (13) having the ball in his hands a lot more as he's rushed for 8 touchdowns compared to only 3 from Cutler. Though Cutler narrowly edges Kaepernick in completion percentage by just over two percentage points, 61.9 to 59.8, Kaepernick's passer rating is more than three percentage points better at 88.9 to 85.7. Then again Kaepernick doesn't do himself any favors because he's got an afro. You know, because looks and hair styles matter in the NFL even if they'll be covered with a helmet, right?

Unfortunately, the Dolphins aren't the first team to scoff at the idea of bringing Kaepernick aboard and the guys those teams chose to sign instead are just as laughable. Before Ryan Tannehill suffered a knee injury in training camp which triggered Miami's need for a QB, the Baltimore Ravens had shown interest in Kaepernick for similar reasons as quarterback Joe Flacco has had to watch his team practice without him while he recovers from an ailing back. But once again, Kaepernick was passed on this time for a guy from the Arena Football League named David Olson. And then there's the Seattle Seahawks, a team that needs no introduction to Kaepernick or the tools he possesses having faced him several times while with the rival 49ers. Though Seattle would show Kaepernick the most interest of all and even flew him out to meet with the team personally, they would end up signing a guy who's thrown one fewer interception (12) than he has games played (13) in Austin Davis. What makes even less sense is their reasoning for signing Davis over Kaepernick as Seattle head coach Pete Carroll praised him by saying, "He's a starter in this league... I can't imagine that someone won't give him a chance to play." So apparently Carroll thinks Kaepernick's good enough to be a starting quarterback in the NFL but not good enough to be a backup. I think all that rain and precipitation Seattle is known for has clouded Carroll's head... And then there's teams like the Cleveland Browns and New York Jets, both of whom have been in need of a quarterback for years but for whatever reason aren't pounding on Kaepernick's door or willing to at least kick the tires on the QB who has more career playoff wins since he's been in the league than either team has appearances.

For a league that's been known to give second chances, a la Michael Vick who actually committed a crime but had little to no problem finding a job in the NFL after being released from prison for his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring, Kaepernick's case is a little fishy and is blackballing in its purest form. Though NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell and his panel of team owners will never admit it, it's very clear that they're trying to send a message to the rest of the league and its players that if you use their platform to protest, no matter if it's legal, you'll suffer the consequences whether fair or not.


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

Niners end skid with Win over Baltimore

Week 6 - Meeting for the first time since Super Bowl XLVII just three seasons ago, Sunday's match-up between the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, both of whom entered the game last in their respective division's at 1-4, took on the look of two entirely different teams than the ones that met in the Super Bowl. Out of the 44 starters in that Super Bowl, a combined 10 remain on that team today. And unlike that game which ended in disappointment for San Francisco fans, it was the 49ers who prevailed on Sunday. Niners QB Colin Kaepernick would build off of his best outing of the season just a week ago, a heart-wrenching loss to the Giants, with an even better performance in this one.

Throwing for a season-high 340 passing yards, Kaepernick connected on long passes to Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin who had big games against their former team as well as fullback Bruce Miller who totaled a career-best 89-yards receiving on three receptions. The biggest play of the game coming on a career-high 76-yard touchdown reception by Smith. On the play, Smith torched Ravens cornerback Shareece Wright who signed with the 49ers during the offseason and demanded to be released just a week ago. Picked up by the Ravens, the Baltimore defender was exploited all afternoon long as Boldin burned his former teammate on a 51-yard reception in the fourth quarter to put him over 100 yards receiving in the game, which then set up a 21-yard touchdown catch by Quinton Patton, the first of his career. Scrambling in and out of the pocket, Kaepernick found Patton wide-open in the end zone after Wright slipped on the play, adding salt to the wound and making his disappointing Ravens debut that much worse. The Niner defense also did their part as the Ravens ground attack was held to just 76 yards.

Baltimore's Joe Flacco threw for 343 yards and a pair of touchdowns, but was picked off twice on the afternoon. In a last-ditch effort and a chance to hand the Niners consecutive last-minute losses, the former Super Bowl MVP heaved one into the end zone only to have the ball batted down by San Francisco safety Eric Reid, sealing the victory for the 49ers. The win, San Francisco's first since Week 1, helped the Niners end a four-game losing streak and snap a six-game losing skid to the Ravens who fell to 1-5 on the season, their worst start in franchise history through the first six games. Despite having to settle for four Phil Dawson field goals in the 25-20 win, a number of nifty passes by Kaepernick, including two for touchdowns, helped stave off a 5-game losing streak and breathe life into an offense that has looked much improved from the offense that struggled out of the gates. Then again, Baltimore's defense isn't quite what it once was.

Week 7 Preview - With a short week ahead prior to the 49ers next game -- a Thursday night showdown with the arch-rival (2-4) Seattle Seahawks who are coming off a last-minute loss at home to the undefeated Carolina Panthers, San Francisco will look to claim their first win in the division and first winning-streak of 2015. While the 49ers have mirrored a completely different team this season than the one that made three consecutive trips to the NFC Championship which ended a season ago, the Seahawks have yet to look like a playoff team this season either and appear to be suffering from a Super Bowl hangover, having already blown a number of fourth quarter leads this year, including in back to back games (losses to Cincinnati and Carolina). And if not for an illegal tip in the end zone late in their Monday night meeting against the Lions three weeks ago, Seattle would be starring down a 1-5 record right now. Even given their recent struggles and new faces, these are still two teams that don't like each other as both teams look to shed the title of "last-place" in the division. 


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest 

The Magnificent Seven

Thursday evening saw the NFL kickoff the 2013 season in historic fashion as the defending Super Bowl Champion Baltimore Ravens began their title defense on the road against another AFC heavyweight in the Denver Broncos in a much-anticipated rematch of last year's AFC Divisional round match-up. Chosen by many (including myself) as the favorites in the AFC, the Broncos opened the season with a bang. With the game delayed more than 30 minutes due to lightning, there would be no power outage on the field as Peyton Manning and company brought plenty of electricity on offense. But by the looks of things at the half which saw Baltimore take a 17-14 lead into the locker room, the game seemed like just another day at the office for Peyton who had a pair of touchdown passes by halftime. However, the game would be anything but ordinary for the future Hall of Fame quarterback as he would go on to register a performance for the ages.

Seeking revenge against the team that put an end to Denver's Super Bowl hopes last year in an overtime thriller, Peyton Manning set out to dismantle the Ravens defense. He would do just that by leading his team to a 49-27 trouncing of the defending champs, completing 27-of-42 passes for 462 yards and tying an NFL record with seven touchdown passes, becoming only the sixth player in league history to do so and only the second player to accomplish the feat without throwing a single interception. Prior to Manning who logged an unheard of QB rating of 141.1, the last player to throw for seven touchdowns in a game was Joe Kapp of the Minnesota Vikings who reached the mark in 1969. Already regarded as one of the all-time greats to man the quarterback position, the 37-year old Peyton has once again defined greatness with what many are calling his best performance ever. Adding to his already decorated resume, Manning's stellar season-opener also gave him 23 career games with at least 4 touchdown passes which ties Brett Favre for the all-time mark as well as his seventh career game with at least 5 TD tosses, tying him with Drew Brees for the most ever.

Manning distributed his TD passes pretty evenly with pinpoint precision, connecting twice in the endzone with the newly added Wes Welker, Demaryius Thomas and tight-end Julius Thomas who stole the show in the first half with Andre Caldwell being the odd man out with only one score. To put Peyton's remarkable 7-touchdown performance into perspective a tad bit easier, the Kansas City Chiefs threw for a total of 8 touchdown passes all of last year. Hall of Fame QB John Elway who is now the executive vice president of football operations for the Broncos, threw for a measly 7 touchdown passes his entire rookie season in 1983. Not to discredit Peyton in anyway but though there's been more praise of the Broncos offense, it could be as much a story on the criticism of the Ravens defense. Baltimore who didn't allow their seventh passing touchdown until week 10 last season, has already seen that total reached in their first game of the year which can't bode well for a team that's predominately known for their defense. 

While the team was somewhat expected to take a step back on defense this season following the departures of Ed Reed, Paul Kruger and the retirement of Ray Lewis, nobody expected a performance or lack there of of this magnitude. After all, no Ravens team has ever allowed 49-points in their 18-year existence. But before we start dubbing the 2013 Baltimore Ravens as the worst defense ever, let's let the dust settle and see how they bounce back at home where Thursday night's game should have been played all along. After failing to strike a deal with the Baltimore Orioles who the Ravens share a parking lot with, John Harbaugh's team was forced to open the season on the road, a rarity for defending Super Bowl champion teams and the first to do it since the 2003 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But back to the man of the hour, Mr. Peyton Manning. I wish I had said this before the start of the season but I'm gonna go ahead and pick Peyton to win the MVP this year. After last night's performance, how could you not? Though the MVP voting polls aren't open just yet, the award is pretty much Peyton's to lose as he's an early favorite to win it.

Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

WHO'S GOT IT BETTER THAN THE HARBAUGH'S? NOBODY!

49ers rally to punch ticket to New Orleans - For the first time since the 1994 season the San Francisco 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. After their heart-wrenching overtime loss at home to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship just a year ago, Jim Harbaugh and company made sure not to disappoint the second time around as his team rallied late to pull off the unthinkable in Atlanta, overcoming the largest deficit in NFC Championship history. What ended up being the proudest day for the 49ers franchise since Steve Young's legendary performance in Super Bowl XXIX that solidified him as one of the game's all-time greats as well as help him get the monkey off his back, began as a nightmare.

Like they did in their divisional round meeting at home against the Green Bay Packers, the 49ers fell into an early hole. Only this time the hole would be much bigger to crawl out from. Ten points bigger as San Francisco found themselves down 17-0 in the second quarter as the Falcons scored on each of their first three possessions. But after watching the division rival Seattle Seahawks overcome a 20-point halftime deficit in Atlanta the week before, the 49ers knew that there was still hope despite no team ever coming back to win an NFC title game down by more than 14 points. With the odds stacked against him in only his 9th career start at quarterback, Colin Kaepernick refused to push the panic button and proved to be composed while in a situation that most QB's his age would fold in. With everyone expecting him to steal the show with his legs like he did the previous week at Candlestick Park where he torched the Packers for an NFL record 181 rushing yards, the speedy quarterback instead got the job done with his arm.

After finally getting on the board during their first possession of the second quarter thanks to a 15-yard touchdown run by rookie running back LaMichael James, the first of his career, the 49ers got their first stop on defense. And after watching the Falcons put up 17 straight points to open the game, San Francisco found themselves scoring 14 unanswered-points of their own as Kaepernick lobbed a pass to a wide-open Vernon Davis from 4-yards out to pull within a field goal with just under two minutes remaining in the half. But as Seattle learned the week before when Falcons QB Matt Ryan orchestrated a game-winning drive with only 31 seconds remaining in regulation, never leave enough time on the clock to allow Matty Ice to march down the field. Unfortunately for the 49ers, Ryan would do just that, capping off a 7-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown pass to tight-end Tony Gonzalez. Seemingly stealing back the momentum after San Francisco began picking up steam to pull closer, Atlanta once again found themselves leading by double-digits as the 49ers trailed 24-14 at the half.

Equally as hot as they were on offense to end the first half, the 49ers opened the second half in a similar fashion as Kaepernick came out guns blazing, completing passes of 21, 20 and 17 yards to Randy Moss and Delanie Walker, setting up Frank Gore who put an exclamation mark on an impressive opening-drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to once again bring San Francisco within a field goal. What was a turnover-free ballgame throughout the first two and a half quarters would soon evolve into a game of miscues as three of the next four possessions would end in turnovers. The first of which being a Matt Ryan interception that led to a missed field goal by David Akers. San Francisco would be given a second chance following Ryan's fumbled snap recovered by Aldon Smith but once again failed to capitalize as Michael Crabtree fumbled on the 1-yard line just three plays into the fourth quarter. But a three and out inside their own 10 yard line would prove to be harmful for the Falcons as the 49ers got the ball back with excellent field position. For the San Francisco offense, the third time would be a charm as Frank Gore broke the plain for his second touchdown on the day, giving the 49ers their first lead of the game.

It would then be up to Matt Ryan who would be called upon to lead his team on a game-winning drive for the second consecutive week, only this time with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. And after stringing together a number of plays including a controversial pass to wide-out Harry Douglas that appeared to have hit the ground but was ruled a catch with a little help of the officials, the Falcons appeared to be heading in the right direction. Marching all the way down to the 10-yard line and in need of a first down to keep the drive alive, the Falcons faced fourth down. Having been relatively quiet all game long logging only a pair of tackles, Pro-Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman would come up with the biggest play of his career, knocking down a pass to Falcons receiver Roddy White that forced an Atlanta turnover on downs, sealing the game as San Francisco completed the comeback and pitched a shutout in the second half to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years.

Quest For Six - Equally impressive is the road that the Baltimore Ravens took to become AFC Champions. After easily taking care of the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round in Baltimore, the Ravens did what they do best by taking to the road and knocking off the number one seeded Broncos in Denver, setting up a rematch of last year's AFC Championship between the Ravens and New England Patriots. After falling behind early, the Ravens pulled a similar trick from under their sleeve to that of the 49ers by not allowing the Patriots to score a single point in the second half. Three costly turnovers including interceptions on back-to-back drives doomed any chance New England had of pulling off a comeback of their own as Baltimore avenged their heart-wrenching loss that took place in the same exact stadium just a year ago by pulling off the upset.

Setting the table for what should be a hard fought battle between two of the most formidable defenses in the league, brothers John and Jim Harbaugh will meet for only the second time in their coaching careers. Though defense is what comes to mind first when mentioning these two teams, it's their quarterbacks who've gotten them where they are. Had it not been for Joe Flacco's deep desperation pass to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds remaining in Denver to send the game into overtime or Colin Kaepernick's record setting performance to oust the Packers, we'd be seeing two other teams going at. Instead we'll see a pair of teams that many predicted would meet in the Super Bowl before the season even started, including myself. Having drooled at the thought of a Harbaugh family reunion in the Super Bowl since last season, football fans and everyone that has a sibling, will finally be treated to what they've longed for.

Though both teams share the same task - win the Lombardi Trophy, one team will fall shy of the ultimate goal and will be forced to walk off the field with a bitter taste in their mouth and a heartache even more painful than the one felt after losing in the Conference Championship last season. A feeling neither organization has ever endured as the 49ers and Ravens are a combined 6-0 in Super Bowls with San Francisco winning five and Baltimore one. And while this Ravens team shares a good amount of similarities with the one that won the Super Bowl in 2000, most notably on defense, the same cannot be said for their opponent. Although they were the team of the decade during the 1980's and won a fifth Super Bowl after the 1994 season, these 49ers aren't your father's 49ers who were led by Joe Montana and Steve Young. These 49ers are being led by a new breed of quarterback. One that is just as dangerous with his legs as he is with his throwing arm. Not to discredit Steve Young who owns the NFL record for the most rushing touchdowns ever among quarterbacks, but even Young knows his running ability isn't quite up to par with Kaepernick's.

Making only his 10th career start in the NFL, Kaepernick will take the challenge of being the one who the 49ers franchise will depend on to make it a record 6-0 all-time in Super Bowl appearances. When the 49ers last went to and won the Super Bowl I was 4 years old so as you could imagine I've been waiting for this day almost my entire life. Some 18 years later my blood still runs red & gold, proving that some things never change. Something else that won't change is the 49ers undefeated mark in the Super Bowls as I have them coming out on top, 21-17. #QuestForSix


Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest

Harbaugh Family Reunion

With week 11 in the NFL coming to an end the table is officially set for Thanksgiving and I'm not talking about a turkey dinner. While everyone will be treated to the more traditional Dolphins-Cowboys and Packers-Lions games that for the first time in over a decade will showcase a relevant Detroit team, it's the later game that everyone including myself is looking forward to. An inner-conference match-up between two defensive minded heavyweights the Baltimore Ravens and the San Francisco 49ers which will feature brothers John and Jim Harbaugh facing one another in what's unofficially being dubbed the Har-Bowl.

Not only is the match up intriguing for the fact that both teams rank among the best in the league in defense, but also because it'll be the first time in NFL history that two brothers at the head coaching position will oppose one another. First year head coach Jim Harbaugh will be taking his 9-1 49ers team across the country to Baltimore where older brother John Harbaugh will look to spoil Thanksgiving for his younger brother and hand Jim his second loss of the season while hoping to improve his own teams record to 8-3. Having shared a bedroom together for over 18 years growing up in the same household there was a lot of tempers flaring between the Harbaugh brothers and come Thursday evening we can expect to see that same type of hostility carry onto the field as they both try to coach their team to victory in what should be nothing short of a hard-hitting melee.

Catch the Thanksgiving showdown on NFL Network at 5 p.m.



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Remember the Titans

Just when we thought we could finally get back to being positive, another known Celeb passed away. This time it's sports related. Steve "Air" McNair, former QB of the NFL (Houston Oilers/Tennessee Titans & Baltimore Ravens) was found lying dead in his Tennessee home with his 20 year old girlfriend on July the 4th. McNair died from (3) gunshot wounds to the head, as his girlfriend sustained 1 shot to the head, in what is now being called a Homicide-Suicide case. Who would do such a thing was the question many were asking considering the kind heart McNair had while both on and off the field. Coaches and players alike shared their sorrow in the media, and in interviews on ESPN.

A few of the later discoveries were found rather disturbing, as detectives found out days after the tragedy that the gun found under McNair's girlfriends body, was indeed hers. Records show she bought it 2 weeks prior of the shooting. Another shocking discovery found was that all of the doors and windows were locked from inside the house, preventing anyone from entering or exiting the home. Both families claim the couple had a healthy relationship, and neighbors never heard any ruckus or fighting coming from the two.

Steve was better known for his years as a Tennessee Titan and member of a 1-2-punch with former teammate and running back Eddie George. The 2 became close friends and led their team to the playoffs in 5 consecutive seasons, coming 1 yard short of tying SuperBowl XXXIV with time expiring. The reason of this tragic event may never be known. McNair was still married to his former wife, and is survived by his 3 children.