49ers Stand Strong in New York, Hold off Giants

The San Francisco 49ers' performance versus the New York Giants on Sunday was by no means up to par with that of a playoff team, but it was the latest must-win game that ended positively for Jim Harbaugh's club. While the offense stunk it up, it was the defense that was forced to bail the team out of the jaws of defeat yet again. By looking at the stat sheet, one would assume that the 49ers ran away with the victory but had it not been for a late interception, they wouldn't have sneaked their way past the struggling Giants on the road.

Out of the gate Colin Kaepernick and the 49er offense put together what appeared to be a promising opening-drive, but running back Frank Gore would lose his first fumble of the season when his feet got tangled up with a teammates after the hand-off. Eli Manning and the Giants would take advantage of the early miscue by marching down the field and scoring their first opening-drive touchdown in 20 games. San Francisco would answer with a trio of first half field goals by Phil Dawson to take a 9-7 lead into the half. The story heading into the game defensively was all about the return of Aldon Smith who after serving a nine-game suspension, made his season-debut. But it would be the rookie linebacker Chris Borland who would steal the show for San Francisco's defense which forced Eli Manning to throw five interceptions, tying a career-high.

With the takeaway battle in their favor: 5 to 1 and a stranglehold in the time of possession department with nearly 35 minutes compared to New York's 25 minutes, the 49er offense was only able to muster 16-points across the board. San Francisco's lone big play on offense would come in the third quarter when Kaepernick connected up the middle on a slant route to Michael Crabtree who turned on the jets and broke away from a number of defenders before stiff-arming himself free and into the end zone for the 48-yard score. The Giants would answer with a field goal before recovering the ensuing onside-kick, but three interceptions and two turnover on downs the final quarter and a half would spell doom for any chance New York had at pulling off the comeback. The fifth and final interception by Manning would come on a crucial goal-line stand by the 49er defense.

With four chances to punch in the go-ahead touchdown from the 4-yard line, the San Francisco D held their ground and forced a tipped pass up into the air on fourth down as rookie Chris Borland who had recorded his first career interception in the second quarter, came down with his second pick of the ballgame to seal the victory, 16-10. With the victory, the 49ers won their second game in a row, both of which on the road to advance to 6-4 on the year. Meanwhile, the Giants fell to 3-7 while dropping their fifth straight as they free fall in the NFC Eastern Division. Colin Kaepernick logged a turnover-free performance by throwing for 193 yards and a touchdown on 15 of 29 pass attempts compared to Eli Manning's error-filled day in which he tossed 280 yards and a touchdown on 22 of 45 passes. Niners running back Frank Gore came just 5 yards shy of tallying his third 100 yard performance of the year but all in all had a productive game outside of the early fumble.

Week 12 Preview: Following their successful 2-game road trip, the 49ers get set to return home to Levi's Field where they'll host Robert Griffin III and the 3-7 Washington Redskins. After his stellar rookie season which saw him take home NFL Rookie of the Year honors, it's hard to believe it's been over a calender year since 'Skins QB RGIII was at the helm of a victory for Washington who is 1-8 in their last 9 games started by Griffin. And given his recent struggles coupled with three consecutive strong performances by the San Francisco defense, Week 12 might not be the best of match-ups for the former Heisman Trophy winner. But more importantly for the 49ers, the team needs a bounce back performance from the offense which was unable to take advantage of a mediocre Giants defense that ranks near the bottom in every major statistical category and other than an explosive first half in New Orleans two weeks ago, has looked rather flat since coming out of their BYE Week.


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49ers pull off Overtime Win in Big Easy

With the San Francisco 49ers on the road in Week 10 to face the Saints in New Orleans, also known as the "Big Easy" where winning has been anything but easy for visiting teams who had not beaten the Saints in their own home since the 2012 season, the 49ers would be up for the challenge. And with both clubs at 4-4 entering the meeting, a win was almost a must for either team's playoff aspirations as teams who improve to a 5-4 record have a far greater chance at making the playoffs at a 49% clip opposed to just 13% for teams at 4-5. Not to mention the NFC Western Division the 49ers play in which has become one of if not the strongest divisions in the league. Jumping out to an early 14-0 lead, it was San Francisco who appeared to be heading in the right direction with a win to put them back over the .500 mark.

The 49er defense set the tone early as Antoine Bethea intercepted Drew Brees on the game's opening-possession for his third pick of the season and second in as many games. It would be a much needed boost for the Niner offense who was given little field to work with, capitalizing with a Frank Gore touchdown three plays later. After logging their first rushing TD since Week 3, the 49ers wasted little time to add another as Carlos Hyde punched it in from nine yards out on San Francisco's following drive. But the Saints would march right back, answering with a touchdown and a field goal to inch New Orleans closer, 14-10. Niners QB Colin Kaepernick would then orchestrate an 80-yard scoring drive which was capped off with a 15-yard TD to the trusty Anquan Boldin who oddly enough dropped several balls on the afternoon. This one, however, would be hauled in, giving San Francisco a 21-10 lead where it would remain heading into the half.

But not before giving Jim Harbaugh and company a scare as Kaepernick was sacked and stripped of the ball, giving the Saints a chance to steal the momentum just before halftime. The Niner defense would have other plans though as Brees was picked off for a second time as he threw into triple coverage on a pass attempt to tight-end Jimmy Graham in the end zone. But Brees and Graham would get their revenge in the second half as the Saints dominated the third and fourth quarters with Brees connecting with Graham on a pair of touchdowns including a 2-yard score to give New Orleans their first lead of the game with under 2 minutes remaining in regulation. With the fate of their season hanging in the balance, three consecutive drops by Boldin and Crabtree would result in a dramatic fourth and long situation in the game's final minutes. With the game on the line, Kaepernick escaped the pocket to find a wide-open Crabtree for a 51-yard gain, setting up the game-tying field goal by Phil Dawson.

With a chance to win it in regulation, Jimmy Graham hauled in a would be game-winning touchdown reception with time expiring, but an offensive pass-interference which showed Graham push off a defender, nullified the score and sent the game into overtime. After exchanging punts to begin the extra quarter, Niners linebacker Ahmad Brooks would get some sweet, sweet revenge for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty called against him in last season's meeting with the Saints when he sacked and stripped Brees of the ball. The controversial penalty which prevented San Francisco to seal the win would prove to be costly for the Niners as it gave New Orleans a second chance and eventually set up the game-winning scoring drive. Since then, no team has come close to defeating the Saints inside the Superdome. Time time around, Brooks would redeem himself with the sack and strip without being called for a penalty as the 49ers recovered the fumble. From there, coach Harbaugh wouldn't hesitate to hand it over to his kicker as Phil Dawson split the uprights from 35-yards out for the game-winning field goal to hand the 49ers the 27-24 win, snapping the Saints' home game winning-streak at 11.

The win helped put an end to San Francisco's two-game skid and put them back over the .500 mark at 5-4 as New Orleans remains in first place in the NFC South despite dropping to 4-5 on the year.

Week 11 Preview: After Sunday's win in New Orleans, it would be learned that 49ers 7-time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis who hasn't played since Week 6 with a toe injury, would be ruled out for the remainder of the year while needing surgery. The news comes as a crushing blow given the team will be welcoming back Aldon Smith in Week 11 after serving a nine game suspension and can use all the help they can get with NaVorro Bowman still sidelined. Bowman who hasn't seen any on-field action since tearing ligaments in his knee during last year's NFC title game, is still experiencing pain in his knee and is know questioning whether or not he'll return at all this season. Hopefully the rookie linebacker Chris Borland who has done nothing but shined the last two weeks can keep it up heading into Week 11's meeting with Eli Manning and the New York Giants. Standing at 3-6 and tied for last place in the NFC East, the Giants have lost four straight. And with a Giants run defense ranked dead last in the NFL, the 49ers will look to take advantage by letting loose the running back tandem of Frank Gore and Carlos Hyde which set the tone early in the win at New Orleans. 

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49ers route Rams behind big day from Kaepernick

On a night Monday Night Football celebrated its 700th game, the (3-2) San Francisco 49ers squared off against the (1-3) St. Louis Rams in a battle of NFC Western division foes. For the visiting 49ers who won both meetings between the two teams last season, it was yet another sloppy performance to begin the game as St. Louis took an early lead on their opening possession with a touchdown scoring drive. And before you knew it, the Rams had jumped out to a 14-0 first quarter advantage following an impressive drive led by St. Louis' Austin Davis who began the season as the team's third string quarterback. After handing the ball off to Benny Cunningham for the 1-yard score, Davis connected 22-yards out with receiver Lance Kendricks for the team's second touchdown in the opening period.

49ers QB Colin Kaepernick appeared to have his team heading in the right direction on their second offensive drive when he made back to back 20+ yard passes, but the second one would be fumbled by second-year tight-end Vance McDonald. The turnover would set up St. Louis' second touchdown several plays later. But from then on, the 49er defense would snap out of whatever funk they began the game with, allowing only 3 points the rest of the way. Niners running back Frank Gore who has made a living off of destroying the Rams throughout his career while logging some of his most memorable performances, was rather quiet in this one. St. Louis, who entered Monday night's match ranked 31st in run defense, logged a solid performance against a San Francisco ground attack which had averaged 145 yards rushing per game this year, holding Gore to just 38-yards on 16 carries and rookie Carlos Hyde to just 14-yards on 11 attempts. Unfortunately for the Rams defense, they would have no answer for Kaepernick and the 49ers' aerial assault.

With less than 30 seconds remaining in the first half, Colin Kaepernick hit receiver Brandon Lloyd who had broke free down the sideline and hauled in an 80-yard touchdown pass to pull his team within four points and steal away the momentum just before halftime. The 80-yard score would be Lloyd's first of the season as well as the longest touchdown of Kaepernick's career at either the college or pro level. It would also be the first 80+ yard TD pass in the last :15 seconds of the first half since the AFL/NFL merger in 1970 for the Niners. With San Francisco now in the driver's seat, beginning the second half with the ball, Kaepernick would complete the comeback by orchestrating a 12-play, 80-yard scoring drive. Having led the league in both passer rating and passing touchdowns while throwing outside of the pocket since 2012 with 21 TD's, Kaepernick added another with a beauty to his most reliable target in Anquan Boldin. But the 49ers QB wouldn't be done there. Two drives later Kaepernick would find Michael Crabtree down the middle for a 32-yard touchdown.

After a St. Louis field goal late in the fourth quarter, the Rams pulled within a touchdown and had plans of tying the game with just over a minute remaining. For the Niners who had let a pair of earlier opportunities go by the wayside when two wide-open tight-ends collided in the end zone and another on a goal-line stand, San Francisco was still seeking its first fourth quarter touchdown of the season. And thanks to rookie defensive back Dontae Johnson's pick-six, they would finally get one. On a pass intended for receiver Kenny Britt, Rams QB Austin Davis would be picked off as Johnson undercut the target and returned the interception 20-yards to seal the win. Kaepernick threw for 343 yards (the second most of his career) and 3 touchdowns while adding another 37 yards on the ground and becoming the first QB in NFL history to win his first four Monday Night Football appearances as the 49ers were able to shake off their first quarter rust. After falling behind 14-0, San Francisco scored 24 unanswered-points in route to a 31-17 win.

Coming into the game, Rams QB Austin Davis was one of only two NFL quarterbacks to throw for over 300 yards and 3+ touchdowns in two of his first 3 starts, the other being Rams great Kurt Warner back in 1999. The 49ers defense prevented that streak from reaching a third game by logging yet another stellar performance in the second half.

Week 7 Preview: With the (4-2) 49ers now riding a 3-game winning streak, they'll be put to the test in Week 7 if they plan to improve that mark as they get set to pay a visit to the Mile High city to face Peyton Manning and the 4-1 Denver Broncos. Chosen by many to potentially meet in the Super Bowl this season, the 49ers will definitely have their hands full as they look to hold off the reigning NFL MVP who's thrown at least 3 touchdowns in 6 of his last 7 games and needs only 3 TD passes to break Brett Favre's record and become the all-time leader. The San Francisco defense figures to make it a difficult task for Manning to accomplish as only three QB's have been able to register a 3 touchdown game versus the 49ers since the start of last season. However, they might be without their leader on defense as linebacker Patrick Willis who sat out of the second half of Monday night's game with a toe injury, is not expected to play on Sunday.


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49ers fold late, spoiling home-opener vs Bears

The Chicago Bears who had not beaten the San Francisco 49ers on the road since their lone Super Bowl season in 1985, had the odds stacked against them after falling behind early on Sunday night as the 49ers kicked off the grand opening of their new home -- Levi's Stadium. Facing the Bears for the first time since his coming out party in Week 11 of 2012 when he shined in place of the injured Alex Smith on Monday Night Football to eventually win over the starting QB job, Colin Kaepernick followed up a flawless Week 1 performance vs the Cowboys with one of his ugliest outings yet. Out of the gates, however, the Niners had all things working for them as they forced a three and out on Chicago's opening possession before blocking a punt which set up an easy touchdown as Kaepernick connected in the end zone with Michael Crabtree.

Hoping to crash the party, things didn't look good early for Bears QB Jay Cutler and company as Chicago was unable to put anything on the board offensively for almost the entire first half. A Phil Dawson field goal and a rushing touchdown from Frank Gore gave the 49ers a 17-0 lead as San Francisco threatened to take a big lead into the locker room at the half despite two turnovers by Kaepernick. It took them until the last minute of the first half, but the Bears were able to wake up on offense and exploit San Francisco's rookie cornerback Jimmy Ward who was outmatched by the much taller and stronger Brandon Marshall as the Pro Bowl wide-out came down with three of Jay Cutler's four touchdown passes on the evening. 

A second field goal by Phil Dawson to open up the start of the second half gave San Francisco a 20-7 lead. But where Cutler excelled in the second half, showing poise and patience, Kaepernick crumbled. The Bears, who entered the game with a record of 3-140-1 all-time when trailing by more than 16 points on the road, rallied behind a pair of 4th quarter turnovers by the 49ers QB to score 21 unanswered-points in the second half to pull out the comeback win, 28-20. By no means did Jay Cutler have a monstrous day throwing the ball as he finished with only 176 yards passing, but he managed to play mistake-free football and capitalized on good field position whether it was created by penalties (there were 26 of them overall, 16 by SF) or on turnovers. Kaepernick, who was near perfect in the season-opener, was anything but in prime time as he finished with 248 passing yards, 64 yards rushing, 1 touchdown, 3 interceptions and 1 fumble.

After allowing more than 100-yards rushing to Dallas' DeMarco Murray in Week 1, the 49er defense were lights out in defending the run, holding the Bears' Pro-Bowl running back Matt Forte to only 21-yards on 12 carries and even did a good job in containing Chicago's stellar receiving tandem in Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery who combined for only 95 yards on 8 receptions. But it's where three of those passes hauled in by Marshall were caught. Bears tight-end Martellus Bennett also caught a touchdown pass from Cutler, spoiling the debut of Levi's Stadium.

Week 3 Preview: With little time to lick their wounds and prepare for their next game, the 49ers will take a trip to the desert where they'll meet the (2-0) Arizona Cardinals who currently sit in first place in the NFC West with both San Francisco and Seattle being tagged with losses in Week 2. Despite the absence of Quarterback Carson Palmer who will also sit out vs the 49ers in Week 3 while nursing a shoulder injury, Arizona had no trouble on the road where they defeated the New York Giants, 25-14 behind backup QB Drew Stanton. Hoping to get back in the win column, the 49ers will look to make Stanton's second start of the 2014 season a rough one. 


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Kaepernick, 49ers Lambeau Leap their way past Green Bay, Prepare for Panthers.

Not even the frigid temperatures of Lambeau Field's frozen tundra could cool down Colin Kaepernick and the red-hot San Francisco 49ers. Winners of six straight, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers inched a bit closer to a third consecutive Conference Championship on Sunday after marching into Green Bay to face the NFC North's best in a rematch of last year's NFC Division round meeting. With temperatures in the single-digits (4 degrees) and wind chills that made it feel like -14 in the seventh coldest game in NFL history, very few gave San Francisco a chance heading into Sunday's game mainly due to the elements that awaited them. But little did they know the 49ers had a bad weather quarterback all along. With Packers head coach Mike McCarthy unable to solve the duel-threat Kaepernick in his first two tries, he had his fingers crossed hoping the third time would be a charm. Instead he would be left shaking his head once again.

Having established career-high's in both passing and rushing against the Green Bay Packers in his first two games facing them, Kaepernick continued his dominance against the team he grew up rooting for by beating them for the third time in as many tries. With the first two wins coming at home in Candlestick Park, the Wisconsin native completed the trifecta by beating the Packers on the road in the iconic Lambeau Field, the stadium he grew up hoping to one day call home. With a majority of the damage being done by foot in last year's NFC Division round triumph which saw Kaepernick rush for a QB record 181 yards and a pair of touchdowns, the 49ers QB switched things up in the season-opener this year by putting on an aerial assault and throwing for 412 yards and a trio of TD's. Kaepernick would do a little bit of both on Sunday, throwing for 227 yards and a touchdown and rushing for another 98 despite the freezing temperatures to once again overcome the Packers and send his team deeper into the playoffs. What may be most impressive is that he didn't need gloves or long sleeves to get the job done.

In a game that saw five lead changes, both teams would exchange punches in the fourth quarter before eventually being decided in the final seconds. San Francisco jumped out to an early lead and would be in control on both sides of the ball throughout the opening-quarter. After forcing a three and out on each of Green Bay's first three possessions to open the game, Kaepernick would orchestrate drives of 13 and 11 plays on offense while mostly feeding wide-out Michael Crabtree but would be held to a field goal both times. It wouldn't be until the start of the second quarter when Green Bay would finally get a whiff of their first first down of the game. With the 49er offense on the Green Bay 29 yard line and once again marching down the field with ease, Kaepernick would make one of his only mistakes on the day when he lofted a pass along the right sideline intended for Vernon Davis that was picked-off and brought back 17 yards by Tramon Williams. Like a flip of the switch, the turnover would breathe life into the Packers offense who up to that point had fewer yards than Williams gained on his interception return.

Suddenly Green Bay was able to move the ball on offense as quarterback Aaron Rodgers was finally able to connect for his first completion in the game. The drive that saw 14 plays would last over seven minutes before being capped off by a 5-yard touchdown pass to Jordy Nelson, just out of the reach of San Francisco defender Tremaine Brock, giving Green Bay a 7-6 lead. The 49ers would waste little time before answering back with a score of their own, however, as Kaepernick found an opening for a 42 yard gain before being brought down. Two plays later, running back Frank Gore would put his team back on top with a 10 yard touchdown run up the gut. Trailing 13-7, the Packers would pull within three by adding a Mason Crosby field goal at the end of the half. With nothing to show for from either team in the third quarter, Green Bay would strike first in the second half as fullback John Kuhn plowed into the end zone from a yard out to give the Packers the 17-13 advantage.

But like Kuhn's failed Lambeau leap attempt, Green Bay's lead wouldn't hold for long. Colin Kaepernick would need only 4 plays and a minute 45 to recapture the lead as he found tight-end Vernon Davis for the first time all game with a 28 yard touchdown pass that split two Packer defenders. Green Bay would answer with another field goal to tie it but would make the mistake of leaving too much time on the clock for the 49ers. With just over five minutes left in the fourth quarter, Kaepernick would demonstrate the patience of a veteran quarterback by making numerous plays in the clutch all while managing the clock, allowing second after precious second to tick away and giving only his team the chance of winning it in regulation. San Francisco would get a scare from their QB late in the game, however, when Kaepernick flung a pass intended for Boldin that was nearly intercepted with 4:14 left in the game. Though it wouldn't prove to be costly, it would be the final mistake of the game for Kaepernick who several plays later would make arguably the biggest play of the game.

Facing 3rd and 8 with 1:17 remaining, the 49ers were in need of another ten yards if they had plans of giving Phil Dawson a try at a go-ahead field goal attempt. Kaepernick faked a pass and broke free for an 11-yard pickup to get the first down. Frank Gore who finished the game with 66 yards rushing, would add another 12 yards on four straight carries to set up Dawson for the game-winning field goal. And from 33 yards out, Dawson would split the uprights and send his team on to the second round with the 23-20 win. Michael Crabtree would lead all receivers with 125 yards on 8 receptions in his best game back since severely tearing his Achilles tendon back in April. The 49er defense held Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers in check for the most part, holding him to just 177 yards passing and one touchdown on 17 of 26 pass attempts. Similar to Rodgers who grew up a die-hard 49ers fan and has said in the past that he gets an extra jolt when playing against his favorite childhood team who passed on him in the 2005 NFL Draft, it seems Kaepernick also gets a bit of added motivation when playing against the Packers. In his three career starts against Green Bay, Kaepernick has averaged 300.7 yards passing as well as 100.3 yards rushing while logging a passer rating of 101.2.

NFC Division Round Preview: With a date against the (12-4) Carolina Panthers scheduled in the NFC Divisional round, the 49ers will try to continue their recent dominance on the road where they've won four straight and seven in a row overall. But by no means will San Francisco have an easy task on Sunday when they take their league-best 7-2 road record with them to Carolina where they'll visit the Panthers who were 7-1 on the season at home. Sunday's meeting will also be a week 10 rematch that featured little offense and plenty of defense. In the first meeting, the 49ers were kept out of the end zone for only the second time all year and witnessed a 9-0 first half lead evaporate in what ended up being a 10-9 loss at home. After allowing 10-unanswered points, Colin Kaepernick tried leading his team down the field to win it late on a last ditch effort but would eventually be picked off by the swarming Carolina defense which sealed the victory against a shorthanded 49ers team who was missing three of its key cogs. 

Kaepernick would log a career-low 91 yards passing in that contest but was without both Michael Crabtree who was still recovering from a torn Achilles and Vernon Davis who left the game early with a concussion. Both of whom have been producing of late and plan to make all the difference the second time around. Also absent in the Week 10 meeting was Pro Bowl DE Aldon Smith who finished Sunday's win in Green Bay with 1.5 sacks. Although it's expected to be another hard fought game highlighted by defense, I think it's safe to say we'll be seeing more than just 19-points scored in this one. Look for both Colin Kaepernick and Cam Newton to try and get things done with their feet the second time around as the big plays through the air will likely be at a minimum. Also worth noting is that their 1-point loss to Carolina in Week 10 was immediately following San Francisco's BYE week. We should be able to tell early in the game if the BYE served as a positive or a negative for a Panthers squad that has little to no playoff experience.


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Week 15: 49ers trample Tampa Bay, 33-14.

After back to back losses in weeks 10 and 11, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers headed into Sunday at 9-4 having played their best ball as of late, riding a three game win-streak. A trip to Tampa Bay to face the lowly (4-9) Buccaneers would allow San Francisco a chance to keep their foot on the gas pedal with the NFL's regular season nearing its end. And through the first three quarters before encountering a minor hiccup, the 49ers would do just that. From San Francisco's very first possession of the day after forcing a Buccaneers three and out, Colin Kaepernick and company would put their foot down as the Niners QB orchestrated a successful 11-play, 62-yard drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and was capitalized with a 4-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree.

The touchdown pass would be the first to a receiver not named Anquan Boldin or Vernon Davis this season as San Francisco took an early 7-0 lead. The 49ers would string together 17-unanswered-points before Tampa Bay would get a whiff of their first scoring drive as kicker Phil Dawson connected for a 47-yard field goal followed by Niners tight-end Vernon Davis hauling in his team-leading 12th touchdown reception on a 52-yard bomb from Kaepernick on one of the prettiest connections we've seen from him all year. A touchdown pass from Bucs quarterback Mike Glennon to wide-out Vincent Jackson would put Tampa Bay on the board just before the end of the first half. Trailing 20-7, the Buccaneers would make a game out of it with a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter as Glennon hit Tim Wright from 24-yards out to pull Tampa Bay within six. But the 49ers would answer back as Kaepernick ate away at the clock by marching his team down the field with a 17-play drive that lasted over ten minutes long and ended with another field goal to make it a two possession game.

With under five minutes remaining in regulation, Tampa Bay's margin for error was as small as can be and on the ensuing kick, Greg Schiano's special-teams would commit a major gaffe, hand-wrapping a gift TD to their opponent. The Buccaneers' poor attempt at a reverse hand-off would cost them a chance at pulling off the comeback as the ball was fumbled and scooped up by Niners running back Kendall Hunter who dove into the end zone to make it a 30-14 lead. A turnover on downs by Tampa Bay on their next drive would give San Francisco the ball inside the 30 as Phil Dawson eventually kicked his fourth field goal on the day, extended his franchise-record to 24 consecutive successful FG attempts. A late interception by rookie safety Eric Reid would seal the win as the 49ers came out on top, 33-14. San Francisco's stellar defense dominated for much of the game and held Tampa Bay to a season-low 183 total net yards in route to the team's fourth straight win.

Colin Kaepernick logged a turnover-free performance by completing 19-of-29 passes for 203 yards and a pair of touchdowns while adding another 42 yards on the ground. Running back Frank Gore ran for 86 yards on the day to add to his franchise-record as he eclipsed the 1,000 yard plateau on the season for the seventh time of his career. Vernon Davis would lead all 49ers receivers with 79 yards on 5 receptions. The 49ers would receive some negative news following the game, however, as an MRI revealed fullback Bruce Miller would be out for the remainder of the season with a broken shoulder blade. Though it might not always show in the box score, Miller does all the little things that help an offense thrive and his presence will be missed.

Week 16 Preview: Despite having the day off, the 49ers will be score watching on Sunday as a loss by the Arizona Cardinals who face the daunting task of playing the Seahawks in Seattle, would guarantee a playoff berth for the 49ers. But with a win on Monday night, the Niners could punch their own ticket to the playoffs regardless of what Arizona does. Week 16 will see the 49ers host the last regular season game and quite possibly the last football game at Candlestick Park. Having called the 'Stick home for the last 43 years, the 49ers hope to bid a storybook farewell to the stadium that has played host to plenty of moments that have made the 49ers the historic franchise they are today. Monday night's game against Atlanta (4-9) will be a rematch of last year's NFC Championship, a game in which the 49ers came from behind on the road to knock off the no. 1 seeded Falcons to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl. Much like the 49ers were up until a few weeks ago, the Falcons are suffering from a shorthanded offense with their number one play maker Julio Jones out for the season. Expected by many to make another run at a potential Super Bowl appearance coming into the season, the Falcons have easily been one of the biggest disappointments in the NFL. And with their only win on the road coming against the woeful Buffalo Bills, they'll have their work cut out for them on Monday going up against a thriving 49ers team who currently stand as 13-point favorites and will be playing with high emotions in front of a raucous crowd. 


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Week 13: Davis, 49ers hurdle Rams, 23-13

Last season when the San Francisco 49ers played host to the division-rival St. Louis Rams, both teams left the field in a 24-24 tie. With the 49ers still vying for a playoff spot, Jim Harbaugh's team would make sure their last meeting at Candlestick Park against their long time division foe wouldn't end the same way it did a year ago. Coming into Sunday's meeting with the Rams, 49ers running back Frank Gore has made a habit out of torturing St. Louis throughout his career, having scored 14 touchdowns in 14 games against them. He would add to that mark in the second quarter with a 4-yard touchdown run to make it 15 touchdowns in as many games against them as San Francisco took a 13-0 lead. 

The rest of the day would be a quiet one from Gore, however, as most of his team's damage would come through the air. 49er fans were able to take a sigh of relief last week when quarterback Colin Kaepernick logged his best outing statistically since Week 1. But given the performance was against a Washington defense that ranks among the worst in the league, a similar performance against a defense like St. Louis' would be much more meaningful. And with wide-out Michael Crabtree back on the field to make his long-awaited season debut since recovering from surgery to a torn Achilles tendon some six months ago, Kaepernick had his eyes set on another good game with the arrival of his favorite target. Crabtree, who shook off some early jitters by being called for two penalties on San Francisco's opening-drive, hauled in only two passes on the day but one would be a 60-yarder as he showed off some of the speed his team has missed since his absence. 

But not even the return of Crabtree would be enough to steal the spotlight away from Vernon Davis as the game soon turned into a track meet for the 49ers tight-end. Davis caught 4 passes for 82 yards including Kaepernick's lone touchdown pass on the afternoon as he hurdled his way into the end zone, leaping over a defender for his 10th touchdown reception of the season. Davis who's arguably the most athletically gifted tight-end in the league, appears to have added the hurdle to his arsenal of moves as he hurdled not one, but two St. Louis Rams as if he was running track in the Olympics. Anquan Boldin on the other hand led the team with 9 receptions for 98 yards as Kaepernick logged another stellar performance by throwing for 275 yards on 19 of 28 pass attempts and playing mistake-free football. The Niners defense which kept Rams quarterback Kellen Clemens in check, surrendered two field goals by St. Louis kicker Greg Zuerlein before coach Harbaugh put in his second-team defense which allowed a late touchdown pass from Clemens to Brian Quick with only seconds remaining on the game clock. 

The touchdown would cut the deficit to 10 by making it a 23-13 ballgame but it would be too late as San Francisco came out on top, improving to 8-4 on the year. San Francisco's only mistake in the game would be a fumble by running back Frank Gore who logged just 42 yards as the 49ers forced three St. Louis turnovers including an interception by cornerback Carlos Rogers. Niners kicker Phil Dawson racked up three field goals in the win and has now converted on 16 consecutive tries. 

Week 14 Preview: After consecutive losses to the Panthers and Saints, the 49ers have bounced back with back to back wins and appear to be clicking on all cylinders just in time for their showdown with the Seattle Seahawks whom they plan to settle the score with after being demolished in Seattle earlier this year. Standing at 11-1 with the best record in the NFL, Pete Carroll's Seattle team is also coming off an impressive 34-7 win at home against the New Orleans Saints. With a win on Sunday, Seattle could clinch the division title at Candlestick Park, further upping the stakes and putting that much more heat on the Niners who plan to crash the party and prevent their division-rival from celebrating on San Francisco's home turf. If one thing is certain regarding these two NFC heavyweights, it's that these teams don't like one another which should setup a must-see battle. The 49ers who welcomed back wide-receiver Mario Manningham from injury several weeks ago and Michael Crabtree this past week, will now see the return of rookie wide-out Quinton Patton for the first time since he fractured his foot in Week 4. Though San Francisco's receive-corps appears to finally be healthy and in tact for the first time all season, this might not be the best week for 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick to test his arm given Seattle's tough secondary. The same goes for Seahawks QB Russell Wilson which is why this one will likely be a head-to-head match up between running back's Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch. Where this game lacks in high-flying offense, will likely be made up with plenty of big hits and lots of trash-talking. So be sure to grab your popcorn! 

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49ers, Kaepernick Run all over Green Bay to Advance to NFC Title Game

For the second straight year the San Francisco 49ers are heading to the NFC Championship and are once again one win away from their sixth Super Bowl appearance. What started off as an early scare for the 49ers and their fans alike, soon turned into the Colin Kaepenick show as the second-year QB out of Nevada turned Sunday's playoff meeting versus the Green Bay Packers into a track meet. Showing a bit of postseason jitters in his playoff debut to begin the ballgame with a number of erratic passes including a pick-six on San Francisco's opening-drive that put his team in an early hole down 7-0, Kaepernick would eventually come into his own before setting an NFL record for the most rushing yards ever by a quarterback in a single game.

Following his early mishap, Kaepernick gathered himself and answered back as if he's been starring in the league for 8 seasons rather than just 8 games in which he's started since taking over for the injured Alex Smith back in week 10. Facing a third and long situation on San Francisco's ensuing possession, Kaepernick hit his running back Frank Gore down the sideline with a lob pass for a gain of 45 yards in what would eventually be the play that would wake the QB from his slumber and help him find his groove. Three plays later Kaepernick would give the Green Bay defense a tiny dose of what they would be in store for all day long as he trotted into the end zone untouched from 20 yards out to tie the game at seven all. Equally as sluggish as Kaepernick was on the 49ers' opening-drive was the San Francisco defense which allowed back-to-back big plays to Aaron Rodgers and company, giving the lead right back. 

With special teams being a vital ingredient in the 49ers success this season, the squad made no exception on Sunday night, making a huge play on a muffed punt by the Packers' return man Jeremy Ross. After recovering the fumble inside the 10-yard line, Kaepernick capitalized on Green Bay's self-inflicted miscue by finding a wide-open Michael Crabtree who ran a slant route and split two defenders for the touchdown. Another turnover on Green Bay's ensuing possession this time in the form of an Aaron Rodgers interception would allow the 49ers to take their first lead of the evening. Already in good position near midfield thanks to the 39-yard pick-off return by Terrell Brown, Kaepernick didn't have a long way to go in order to revisit his favorite target in the end zone as he connected with Crabtree for the second time in as many possessions, this time giving San Francisco a 21-14 lead. 

But given the back and forth affair it would only be appropriate that Green Bay would respond. Leading the league in touchdown receptions this year, Packers wide-receiver James Jones continued what he's done all season long by adding a 20-yard touchdown grab to pull even. With the game tied for the third time in the first half and the two-minute warning approaching, Kaepernick had just enough time to march his team down field and put them in field goal range to give them a lead at the half. Having struggled mightily in 2012 after putting together a season for the record books in 2011, David Akers shook off the cobwebs and came through in the clutch by kicking a 36 yard field goal to give the 49ers a 24-21 lead heading into the locker room at the half. But unlike the first half which saw both teams counter one another blow for blow, the second half would be much more one-sided. 

After a Mason Crosby field goal tied the game at 24-all, the 49ers would string together three consecutive touchdown scoring drives, all of the rushing variety. While Frank Gore, Anthony Dixon and Colin Kaepernick all contributed to San Francisco scoring 21-unanswered points with big plays, none was greater than Kaepernick's quarterback-draw which he ran in from 56 yards out to give the 49ers the lead for good. Showing shades of the great Randall Cunningham who he grew up studying footage of and molding his game around, the young Kaepernick would have 181 rushing yards by the games end, setting an NFL record for the most rushing yards ever by a quarterback in a single game, shattering the previous mark of 119 yards set by Michael Vick. However, that wouldn't be the only record set in the game as the 49ers combined for a postseason franchise record 579 total yards, 323 coming on the ground. 119 of Kaepernick's 263 passing yards went to wide-out Michael Crabtree who also caught both of Kaep's touchdowns.

Packers QB Aaron Rodgers would find Greg Jennings in the back of the end zone to make it a 45-31 ballgame but it would be too late as a pair of kneel downs was all it took for the 49ers to reign victorious and punch their ticket for a second NFC Championship in as many years. With the number one seeded Atlanta Falcons taking care of the Seattle Seahawks the following day by a final score of 30-28, the table is now set for the NFC title game which will take place this Sunday at Atlanta. Having already faced some of the game's most mobile QB's this season in Robert Griffin III, Cam Newton and most recently Russell Wilson, the Falcons should have an idea of what to expect from Colin Kaepernick which is why I believe it'll come down to how well the 49ers QB does in the passing game. And after out-dueling the reigning MVP in Aaron Rodgers, I like Kaepernick's chances of duplicating his success against the Atlanta Falcons defense which allowed Seattle to come back from a 20-0 halftime deficit just a week ago. Expect a 27-23 win for the 49ers, sending the franchise to its first Super Bowl since the 1994 season.


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Week 8: Smith nearly Perfect as 49ers rollover Cardinals

Heading into Week 8's Monday Night match-up in the desert against the division-rival Arizona Cardinals, the 49ers would be given a chance to pad their lead in the NFC West standings before entering their BYE week in week 9. And with the game expected to be a close battle between two stout defenses coming in, it would instead end up being a one-sided shellacking. The story of the game, however, would be the near perfect performance from 49ers QB Alex Smith. After a career year last season in which Smith saw career-highs in just about every offensive category, 2012 has already had its fair share of ups and downs for the former number one overall pick out of Utah. 

On this night Smith would be at his best, completing 18 of 19 passes for 232 passing yards and tying a personal best with three touchdowns in the 49ers 24-3 walloping of the Cardinals. Though he didn't awe fans with his number of yards, he did with his accuracy as his 94.7 completion percentage set an NFL record with a minimum of 15 attempts. Two of Smith's three touchdown grabs were made by Michael Crabtree who racked up 5 receptions for 72 yards and proved to be a headache for Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson. Randy Moss who's seen limited action as a 49er this season saw much of the same, making only one grab but he turned it into a 47-yard touchdown, displaying cuts and juke moves that resembled the old Randy Moss. Arizona's John Skelton threw for 290 yards, but wasn't able to do much else as Aldon Smith and company kept the Cardinals QB from putting any points on the board. 

The 49ers run combination of Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter had another decent game nearly combining for 100 yards rushing, compared to Arizona's ground attack which was kept in check the entire meeting by the NFL's no. 1 ranked defense while being held to only 7 yards. Had it not been for Cardinals kicker Jay Feely who split the uprights from 28 yards out in the third quarter, the 49ers would've had their second shutout victory of the season. But as coach Harbaugh would say, a win is a win. And a win heading into the BYE week makes things that much easier and relaxing during the team's week away from competition. With a stellar defense and run game, San Francisco's air attack has been their only concern this season and has been the only thing that's kept any doubts the critics may have of the 49ers winning a sixth Super Bowl title alive. But if Smith can continue to have games similar to this one, not necessarily completing a record setting number of his passes, but playing mistake-free football and not trying to do too much with the ball, San Francisco might be on their way to their second straight NFC Championship game. 

Preview & Prediction: When the 49ers return to the playing field in Week 10, they'll host a 3-5 St. Louis Rams team that has lost three straight. And just like the 49ers, the Rams are coming off a BYE week of their own. Unfortunately for them not only will they be welcomed by another well rested team, but they'll be welcomed by arguably the best team in the league. Expect a big day from the 49ers offense which should get huge contributions from both the rushing and passing department as well as a dominant performance from the San Francisco defense that'll keep Rams QB Sam Bradford on his heels, scrambling around all game long and cause him to make numerous turnovers in a 27-6 win for the 49ers. 


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Week 5: 49ers win another blowout, Bully Bills 45-3

After a dominant shutout victory on the road last week versus the New York Jets, the 49ers would duplicate their blowout performance on Sunday at home in a much cleaner fashion with a record-setting performance from the San Francisco offense. Hosting the Buffalo Bills, Alex Smith and company would string together arguably the best overall performance on offense in 49ers franchise history. Despite the 49ers' rich history, Sunday marked the first time ever that the team compiled over 600-yards of offense, finishing with a franchise-record 621 total yards, something that even all-time greats Joe Montana and Steve Young were unable to accomplish. San Francisco's offensive onslaught was also the most yards ever allowed by a Buffalo Bills team, surpassing the previous total of 598-yards which was also against the 49ers in 1992 and just so happened to be their largest amount prior to Sunday. 

Sunday's game was a game of firsts as 49ers QB Alex Smith threw for a career-high 237-yards in the first half before finishing with 303-yards on the day. Smith, Frank Gore, Kendall Hunter, Colin Kaepernick, Anthony Dixon, Bruce Miller and Kyle Williams all contributed in the run game to total 311 yards rushing, making this the first 49ers team ever with 300 yards passing and 300 yards rushing. While Frank Gore led the way with 106-yards on the ground, both Michael Crabtree and Vernon Davis eclipsed the century mark through the air with over 100 yards receiving. Crabtree, Kyle Williams and Mario Manningham all caught touchdown passes from Smith, with Gore, Dixon and Kaepernick all scoring on runs, including Kaepernick's second touchdown run in as many weeks. 

The game wouldn't all be about offense, however, as the 49ers defense stepped up and did its part by forcing two turnovers including one fumble and one interception. Meanwhile, San Francisco's only blemish came on a Colin Kaepernick fumble during the first half. Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick who coming into the game led the league in touchdowns with 12, was unable to get anything going against the stingy 49ers D which held the Harvard alum to only 126 yards through the air and no touchdowns. Buffalo's run game which has also been among the league's best was also kept quiet as C.J. Spiller and Fred Jackson combined for only 53-yards rushing. The rest of the game would be smooth sailing as Buffalo's lone field goal came in the second quarter which at the time tied the game at three. After striking first in the first quarter with a David Akers field goal, the 49ers never looked back, scoring 42-unanswered points before going on to win, 45-3 and improving to 4-1 on the year. 

Preview & Prediction: Week 6 will see the 49ers get set to face off against the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants in a rematch of last year's NFC title game. Tied for first place in the NFC East, the 3-2 Giants are coming off a 41-27 triumph at home against the Cleveland Browns. With Eli Manning under center for the G-Men and playing just as well as anybody, at first glance I'd expect this game to come down to the wire just like it did the last two times these teams met. But coach Harbaugh who is saying Alex Smith's sprained finger on his non throwing-arm is "very much a concern" can make this game a lot more interesting if he chooses to give backup QB Colin Kaepernick more snaps than usual. Regardless of what coach Harbaugh does at quarterback, I still like the 49ers at home coming off of back-to-back blowout wins and expect them to improve to 5-1 on the year with a 24-20 victory. 

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49ers withstand Rams' late rally to win, 34-27.

For the San Francisco 49ers, a week 17 victory over the St. Louis Rams meant they could take the following week off with a BYE in preparation of the Playoffs as well as guarantee themselves home-field advantage with the NFC's no. 2 seed. And though they would face the same Rams team they shutout by a final score of 26 to 0 several weeks ago to clinch the division, St. Louis would come out swinging in the rematch in their own stadium.

With neither team's passing offense known for blowing away the opposition in the box score, it would be the quarterback's legs that were showcased in the game's early going. The 49ers who had not allowed a rushing touchdown all season long until last week's run in with Seattle's Marshawn Lynch, would witness third-string quarterback Kellen Clemons make his way into the end zone with a rushing touchdown on St. Louis' first drive on offense. Two drives later Alex Smith would answer Clemons with a rushing touchdown of his own to tie the game up at 7-7. The Rams would try to respond on the following drive with a bit of trickery by running a direct-snap play to Jerious Norwood who lobbed an errant pass intended for Clemons resulting in a Tarell Brown interception.

Coming into the game Alex Smith needed only 69 passing yards to reach the 3,000 yard plateau for the first time in his career. Smith would reach that mark two plays after the interception with a hitch pass to Michael Crabtree for a 28-yard touchdown to give San Francisco a 14-7 lead. After forcing the Rams to punt, a 44-yard reception to Vernon Davis would setup a David Akers field goal to pad the lead to 17-7. Akers would add another field goal to his resume before the half ended to give the 49ers 20 unanswered points after falling behind 7 to 0. Both team would exchange punts to open the second half until Rams kicker Josh Brown added a season-long field goal from 49 yards out to make it 20-10, but not before the 49ers defense added insult to injury to St. Louis' dismal season as the Rams Pro-Bowl running back Stephen Jackson who's been the heart and soul of the franchise for the last several years left the game with an injury after absorbing a huge hit from safety Dashon Goldson. Though he would later return to the sidelines after undergoing x-rays, the Rams all-time leading rusher would see his day end early.

The 49ers who had a trick play unsuccessfully ran on them earlier in the game would turn the tables on the Rams with a fake field goal. Head coach Jim Harbaugh who's been known for his creativity would run one of his most creative plays yet, catching the Rams defense sleeping with a direct-snap to David Akers who found a wide-open and unguarded Michael Crabtree who pranced into the end zone for his second score of the day. Having starred in 205 career games, the touchdown pass was the first of Akers' career and resembled a similar play 49ers special teams coach Brad Seeley ran several years ago against this very Rams squad when he was at the helm in New England. Another Josh Brown field goal to open the 4th quarter would make it 27-13, SF.

After being pinned deep in their own territory by a sellar punt from Andy Lee who's been magnificent all season long and will be making his third trip to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl this year, Clemons would throw his second pick of the game as Tarell Brown undercut a pass to WR Brandon Lloyd for his second interception on the day. San Francisco would capitalize on the turnover with Anthony Dixon plowing into the end zone from a yard out to increase the lead to 34-13. Just when the game appeared to be over and well out of reach, the Rams began to make some noise with Lloyd hauling in a 36-yard touchdown reception from Clemens to inch St. Louis a bit closer, 34-20. The Rams would get the ball right back with a well executed onside kick from Josh Brown. On their first play of the drive, Clemens would take a shot at the end zone where Brandon Lloyd and Tarell Brown were tangled up, resulting in a pass-interference call which then set up a Cadillac Williams rushing touchdown on the very next play to cut the deficit to 7.

With all the momentum in the world on St. Louis' side, the Rams would be hit with a reality check as their late-game heroics were derailed with Clemens leaving the game with a foot injury as Navarro Bowman recorded his one and only sack on the day. St. Louis would end up turning the ball over on downs allowing Jim Harbaugh and company to milk the clock and come out victorious. For the Rams, the loss is the 14th of the season and the 38th in three seasons under head coach Steve Spagnuolo who according to sources will be fired on the first day of the postseason which has notoriously been known as "Black Monday" when teams often fire unsuccessful coaches and general managers alike. For San Francisco's next opponent, the 49ers will host the winner of Saturday's Saints-Lions match up the following weekend.


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49ers x Week 5 x Little Too Late

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.

San Francisco 49ers x Week 6 x Crabtree

So far this Football season has been full of surprises and upsets. Through the first 5 weeks, both the Broncos (5-0) and Bengals (4-1) have been atop the list by surprising everyone in a good way as they've played better than many if not most expected. & Then there's those who haven't. I.E. The Titans. But one team that doesn't get much recognition is the Houston Texans. The Texans were in Cinci on Sunday to take on the mighty Bengals where Houston came out on top 28-17.

With the 49ers enjoying a BYE week and trying to recover from a brutal home beating by the Atlanta Falcons, they'll have their work cut out for them up against those same Texans that upset the Bengals. Houston isn't known for its defense, but rather their offense, led by quarterback Matt Schuab who threw for 392 yards on Sunday to go along with 4 touchdowns and 1 interception. However the quarterback position isn't the only weapon the Texans have on offense. Running back Steve Slaton and wide out Andre Johnson should give the Niner defense plenty to deal with.

This BYE week isn't only helpful to prepare for the upcoming opponent, but it also gives San Francisco star running back Frank Gore some more time to recover from his ankle injury, as he's expected to make a return to the field next Sunday. Another anticipated return to the field is the one Michael Crabtree will be making, as he makes his NFL debut. Little more than a week ago Crabtree and the Niners agreed to a 6-year contract. & The BYE week is that much more beneficial as it'll give Crabtree some much needed time to get familiar with the playbook. The former Texas Tech star receiver isn't expected to play much, aside from 3rd downs, but it'll still be a sight to see, watching him out there with an offense that has been relatively quiet in the passing game.

Crabtree acting Crabby

What seemed to be a dream acquisition for the 49ers, is now becoming a nightmare. Just months after being selected as the number 10 overall pick in the 1st round of the 2009 NFL Draft, 49ers rookie Wide Receiver Michael Crabtree is threatening to sit out the entire 2009-2010 NFL season. Crabtree's adviser released a statement saying his client could hold out all season long and re-enter the draft next season if he isn't offered the right amount of money.

The first mistake here is, Crabtree's adviser that released the statement is also his cousin. Another thing is, Crabtree is acting like a self centered little bitch asking for money he shouldn't even be considering, given that he was not the first wide-out taken in the draft. The number 1 wide-out taken would be Raiders WR Darrius Heyward-Bey, who signed a $23.5 million dollar deal. & That's the amount of money Crabtree is demanding, after claiming to be the better wide receiver out of the two.

Crabtree's strategy of sitting out an entire season, can very well back fire on him. There's no doubt he would be picked up next season if he does indeed decide to hold out all season long, but who would be willing to take a roll of the dice and select a wide-receiver that's been sitting on his ass all season long, without any action on the field? Not to mention the chances of Crabtree somehow injuring himself and not being able to sign a contract at all. Also, if Crabtree thinks getting drafted at the number 10 spot overall was high, I doubt he would go any lower in next year's draft. All in all, he's only hurting his own chances and continuing to prove how spoiled today's athelete's really are. If he's smart, he'll sign before it's all said and done.

Either way, Niners head coach Mike Singletary isn't letting the hold out of his 1st round draft pick get to him. After being asked what his take on Crabtree sitting out he said, "He's the last person on my mind at this moment. I have a team full of players out there on that field that are here now, and they're my only concern." Singletary is doing and saying the right thing by not letting any of this drama distract him or his team. So far without Crabtree, the Niners have opened preseason off with two wins, both being by one point each.



In other Niner news, Coach Singletary announced Monday that Shaun Hill will be the 49ers starting quarterback when the regular season starts. Both Shaun Hill and Alex Smith have been competing for the starting job in camp and preseason. The 8-year pro finished the 2008 season with a 5-3 record as the starter, including wins in four of the last five games. In his career, Hill has a 7-3 record with 2,547 yards passing and 18 touchdowns through the air.

With the 10th Overall pick, The San Francisco 49ers select...

Last week, my Niners snagged a great Draft pick with the thanks of The Oakland Raiders draft choice. With the 7th Overall pick, and the Raiders in desperate need of a Wide Reciever, Oakland chose WR Darius Heyward Bey [Maryland] over what many have said was the best overall receiver in the Draft, Michael Crabtree [Texas Tech]. The choice shocked the Football world and is forever known as one of the biggest question marks in Draft history.

Bey wasn't even projected to be chosen until the 2nd round of this year's draft, and analysts don't even have him as the 3rd or 4th best receiver in the draft. Bey is better known for his speed (40), and ran a 4.33 at the combine. But in order to use your speed, you have to catch the ball first. Analysts across the country showed no hesitation to grade the Raiders draft choice an F. The 9ers on the other hand were on the outside looking in once Texas Tech WR was still on the board when it was their time to choose. Crabtree was then taken as the 10th overall choice and is added to an offensive hungry team, in San Francisco. The Niners haven't had a pro-bowl type of wide receiver since T.O. was with the team. But many are hoping for that to change now with Crabtree on the squad. If San Francisco can get their QB situation under control, and a healthy Frank Gore, they could have a very dangerous offense.

With 3 years of college ball, Bey had a total of: 138 Receptions, 2,089 Yards, and 13 Touchdowns.

Opposed to Crabtree's 2 year college total of: 231 Receptions, 3,127 Yards, and 41 Touchdowns. You do the math...

Ahhh I already can't wait to see Crabtree in that Red & Gold uni.