Heading into Monday Night's 49ers-Bears game which featured two backup quarterbacks as well as the top two scoring defenses in the league, a hard fought battle between two NFC heavyweights was expected to be on display. Instead, fans would be treated to a one-sided shellacking as only one team showed up to play. Having lost their last eight meetings in San Francisco and without Jay Cutler, the Bears would turn to Jason Campbell who last started a game in October of 2011 with the Oakland Raiders. As for the 49ers, with Alex Smith sidelined with a concussion, coach Jim Harbaugh would be forced to turn to Colin Kaepernick who's first career start would end up being one for the books.
The Chicago Bears entered Monday's game as one of only two teams who've yet to allow opponents to score on opening possessions this season (Packers the other). But a blazing start from Kaepernick would put an end to that as the second-year QB who set numerous records at the collegiate level with the Nevada Wolf Pack, got the 49ers on the board on their first four possessions sparked by a David Akers field goal on San Francisco's opening-drive. After marching down the field with ease on their first possession, Kaepernick would throw his first career touchdown pass on the following drive, a 3-yard toss to tight-end Vernon Davis. Showing no signs of a young inexperienced quarterback, Kaepernick's second possession would be even more impressive than his first as he drove the team down-field, setting up Kendall Hunter for an easy run in to cap off an 8-play, 96-yard scoring drive to put the 49ers up, 17-0, before later adding another Akers field goal.
Keeping the chain gang busy by picking up first down after first down, San Francisco's punting unit wouldn't be called upon until their fifth offensive possession, a three-and-out forced by the Chicago defense with 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter. Having been outplayed in every asset of the game in the first two quarters and a 20-0 score at the half to prove it, the Bears would face their largest deficit since 2010. A deficit that would increase to 27-0 once Kaepernick connected with Michael Crabtree in the end zone from 10 yards out. After a nightmare of a first half for Jason Campbell who tallied just 21 yards on 4-of-8 passing attempts and an interception, the only bright spot for the Bears second-string QB would be a 13-yard touchdown pass to receiver Brandon Marshall late in the third quarter. The rest of the game would be better off forgotten for Campbell who was under pressure almost all game long, mostly thanks to 49ers defensive end Aldon Smith who entered Monday's game with 9.5 sacks on the year before adding 5.5 more to pass Denver's Von Miller for the league lead with 15.
The duo of Aldon Smith and Justin Smith or better known as the "Smith brothers", would prove to be too much for a worn out Bears o-line that saw Campbell get sacked a total of six times and throw for two interceptions. The stingy 49ers defense also added a safety in the fourth quarter. With a league-best 31 takeaways, the Chicago defense would fail to add to their turnover total as Colin Kaepernick played a near perfect game, making the dominant Bears defense look rather pedestrian. With 243 yards through the air and a pair of touchdowns, Kaepernick finished Monday's stellar performance with a passer rating of 133.1. Coach Jim Harbaugh who was checked into a nearby hospital earlier in the week due to an irregular heartbeat, would have little to stress about in this one as his boys handily defeated the Bears by a score of 32-7, as Kaepernick became only the third QB over the last 10 seasons to win on Monday Night Football in his first career start.
Something Harbaugh might lose a little bit of sleep over in the near future however, is the quarterback controversy that is bound to surface once Alex Smith is cleared to play. Will he go with the guy that led the 49ers to within a game of the Super Bowl last year or this young kid coming off an impressive victory in his first career win? Whatever he decides to do, Harbaugh will be the first to tell you that having two good quarterbacks is a good problem to have.
Week 12 Preview: As the 49ers get set to hit the road for a 2-game road trip, their week 12 stop at New Orleans will be no walk in the park. After losing their first four games of the season, the Drew Brees led Saints (5-5) have recently caught fire, winning five of their last six games. And with the 49ers quarterback position currently in the air, whoever gets the nod will have to play through the raucous crowd that the Superdome has become known for over the years. Expect whoever is under center for the 49ers to get the job done on Sunday with a 24-21 win that could very well come down to the final possession.
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Are the 4-2 Oakland Raiders ready to give the reigns of their offense to a guy who hasn't practiced or taken a snap since the 2010 NFL season?
During their 24-17 route of the Cleveland Browns last Sunday in Oakland, Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell who's been decent at times but came out guns blazing to help lead his team to a stellar 4-2 record this season was carted off the field after sustaining an injury in the first half. With backup QB Kyle Boller filling in to finish the game, it would later be learned that Campbell had suffered a broken collarbone which would require surgery, thus putting him on the shelf for what looks to be the remainder of the season.
Hoping to stay afloat in the AFC West and keep within striking distance of the 4-1 San Diego Chargers, the Raiders decided to hit the free agent market in search of someone with leadership skills to fill the void of the ailing Campbell. After contacting an uninterested David Garrard who also plans to undergo surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back, the Raiders were forced to consider a trade. With just hours to spare before Tuesday's NFL trade deadline, the Raiders front office got in touch with the Cincinnati Bengals who were letting the contract and career of former Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer rot on the sidelines following a trade demand that went sour.
The Raiders got their man, but at an expensive price sending a first round draft pick (2012) and a second round draft pick that could turn into a first round pick if the Palmer-led Raiders win a Playoff game to Cincy. Though Oakland gets a much needed veteran QB to help bolster their offense, the Bengals are the ones who come out winners in this deal for the sole fact that they were willing to eat the contract of Palmer, but instead score not one, but two draft picks for virtually nothing. But that's not to take away from the Raiders either if Palmer can lead them to the promise land. Many have begun to question the decision of Oakland shipping two early draft picks for a former Pro-Bowl QB who's in his 30's and appears to have already peaked, but it should prevent the team from pushing the panic button just yet.Following a press-conference, reports first had Palmer taking snaps no earlier than next week, but after his first day of practice coach Hue Jackson appears to have a change of heart. Instead of going with the more knowledgeable Boller who's in his second year with the team and is familiar with the playbook, the Raider Nation will get to see their first glimpse of the newest member to don the black and silver as soon as Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs according to sources. With little to no chemistry with his receivers just yet, I think it's safe to say we can expect a bit of rust and cobwebs from Palmer considering it was only three days ago that he was sitting on the couch at his southern California home. However, one thing is certain this season and that's that the Raiders are all in this year. And with the recent passing of Raiders owner Al Davis, what better way to pay homage to the boss than to try and win him another Super Bowl in his remembrance.
Goodbye Russell, Hello Campbell - Continuing a busy NFL offseason that has consisted of blockbuster trades, surprising draft choices, interesting controversies, head shrugging suspensions, mind boggling scandals (see Big Ben's Big Mistake) and the constant Brett Favre talks and never ending updates that have become a daily thing by now, comes another batch of goodies. From Big Ben returning to camp and being allowed to resume in team activities, to the Oakland Raiders releasing their 2007 number 1 overall pick -- JaMarcus Russell. Less than two weeks before Russell's release, the Raiders acquired QB Jason Campbell from the Washington Redskins in exchange for a 4th round pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. This of coarse coming weeks after Washington welcomed former Eagles QB Donovan McNabb. Alongside Ryan Leaf, Russell will go down as one of the biggest busts in NFL history.
Cincy takes a Gamble - Also making headway, is the Cincinnati Bengals who signed CB Adam 'Pac-Man' Jones to a 2-year contract. Like Russell, a lot was expected from Jones when being drafted in 2005 by the Tennessee Titans as the first defensive player in the Draft and sixth player overall in the first round. But after countless incidents and suspensions, Jones' presence on the field is yet to be seen. In fact, Jones has made a bigger impact in the wrestling ring than he has on the football field. In 2007, Jones saw a brief stint on TNA Wrestling and was even a Tag Team Champion at one time before retiring from the sport. The Bengals however, are no strangers for signing players who are linked to controversy and known for having issues both on and off the field, as the team saw a total of nine separate player arrests in nine months back in 2007.
Damaged Goods - Making some of the bigger news thus far in the offseason, was the trade between the Denver Broncos and the Miami Dolphins (see Welcome to Miami). While the Dolphins dealt two draft picks to get the highly talented WR Brandon Marshall, they were unaware of the news they would receive soon after. Just weeks before the start of NFL OTA's, the Dolphins were looking forward to seeing their new star wide-out. Instead, they got word that Marshall would be out until training camp while recovering from hip surgery. Surgery the team knew nothing about when they made a trade for him just a month earlier. And it didn't help that Marshall himself didn't mention anything about undergoing surgery either. The real question is, did Denver know they were trading away damaged goods? Let's hope the Dolphins held onto their receipt...
Andy Reid & Donovan McNabb divorce - Just last week when it was announced that the Oakland Raiders emerged as the leading candidate to land Eagles QB Donovan McNabb, we thought the possibility of the 6-time Pro Bowler joining the Raider Nation was almost set in stone. Instead, a sleeper team that was hardly mentioned in acquiring McNabb if ever, ends up landing him. Although Donovan McNabb has been rumored to trades for years now, no one ever thought they would see the day their quarterback of 11-years was traded... At least I didn't. But as surprising as the actual move was, I think the destination was the most surprising. The dark horse in landing McNabb just so happened to be the Washington Redskins.With an offensive mastermind like Mike Shanahan now under the throne in the nation's capital, I think it made McNabb's decision a little bit more comfortable to take in where he'll be playing in 2010. If last year's 'Skins coach Jim Zorn was still with the team, I'm not too sure a deal would've been done and if so, I'm not quite sure how McNabb would have felt. With McNabb moving to another team within the NFC East, he will face his former team not once, but twice a year. With the 4th overall pick in this year's draft and a QB on their mind prior to McNabb's signing, it'll be interesting to see whether or not they still target a QB, with only a year left on McNabb's contract. But I'm guessing an extension will soon be on the table. Coincidentally both Sam Bradford and Colt McCoy had long scheduled visits with the team today, hours before McNabb was introduced to his new team for the first time.It might not be the Minnesota Vikings, the team McNabb preferred to be dealt for, but it sure beast the Black Hole that is the Oakland Raiders in my opinion. As for the guy who's spot McNabb will be replacing, last year's starting QB Jason Campbell might as well consider himself trade bait. The poor guy has been the team's starter for the past two seasons and didn't even know his job was soon to be taken over by Mr. McNabb before being informed by a Washington Examiner who reached home hours later over the telephone. However, Donovan made sure to also contact Campbell himself and let him know that those weren't his intentions. Campbell understood as he now begins to play the waiting game. So far of all 30 NFL teams, 5 have shown interest in the 28-year old Auburn alum. The Buffalo Bills, Oakland Raiders, Carolina Panthers, Jacksonville Jaguars and an "unknown team". All of which will be soon to make offers.If you ask me, I say both McNabb and Campbell were mistreated in this whole ordeal. And I'm not the only one who thinks so. Both Eli Manning and Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon agreed and were shocked and said, "The Eagles aren't showing him the type of respect he deserves." Donovan himself is also aboard the same ship whether he expresses it or not. After expressing that he wanted to play in Philly for the remainder of his career, one can only wonder how he feels after spending over a decade with the same team. His response to being asked for his take on Philadelphia's youth movement says it all. “They're rebuilding, and they're going young,” McNabb said. “So I never knew 33 years old was old, but I guess I'm too old.” Donovan also expects the Philly fans to embrace and cheer for him when the two teams meet at Lincoln Financial Field next season.In my last post Could Don be Gone?, I asked the question if this could be the last of the McNabb era in Philly. And well, now the answer is yes. So get rid of your McNabb jersey's and prepare for the beginning of a new era, the Kolb era.
