49ers Beat Broncos behind Kittle's Record day

Week 14 - Playing with heavy hearts on Sunday following a death in the 49ers family as Tony York, brother of team owner Jed York, passed away just two days earlier on Friday at the age 35, the (2-10) Niners would return home to host the (6-6) Denver Broncos. In what's been a lost season for months now, coach Kyle Shanahan would see his offense put up numbers that he hadn't seen since taking the helm a season ago, all while looking to play the role of spoiler against a playoff hopeful Broncos team that he grew up rooting for. Facing the team his father Mike Shanahan coached to two Super Bowl titles in the 90's and the team he served as a ballboy with while growing up, Kyle would witness his star tight-end put up a record-setting performance in a rare 49er win. Another oddity would be at the quarterback position as the match-up between Nick Mullens and Case Keenum marked the first time that a pair of undrafted QB's would oppose one another since Tony Romo and Austin Davis in 2014.

Starting the game with a Robbie Gould field goal on their opening possession, the 49ers would kick start one of their better first halves of the season on both sides of the ball. After taking an early 3-0 lead, the game would quickly turn into the George Kittle show as the 49ers' second-year tight-end who's developed into one of the premier players at his position, began to run amok against the Denver defense. On a day he needed only 73-yards to tie Vernon Davis' franchise mark of 965 receiving yards for the most in a single-season by a 49ers tight-end, Kittle tallied 52-yards on the final play of the first quarter which would once again put the 49ers in field goal range. As if the big gainer wasn't enough, Mullens would connect with Kittle on the first play of their ensuing possession with an 85-yard touchdown which would be a career-long, setting the record as the longest touchdown reception by a tight-end in 49ers franchise history. San Francisco would add another touchdown before the half as Mullens found Dante Pettis in the end zone as the rookie receiver became the first 49er to log a touchdown reception in three straight games since Vernon Davis in 2013. By halftime, the Niners had gotten off to a 20-0 lead and Kittle had accumulated seven receptions for 210 yards, the most first half receiving yards by a player at any position since 1991.

Needing only four yards to tie former Broncos great Shannon Sharpe's all-time record of 214 receiving yards by a tight-end, Kittle seemed destined to break the record with a full half left to play. However, that wouldn't be the case as the game would be a tale of two halves as the 49ers dominated both the scoreboard and the box score in the first half, but would soon witness the Broncos who were snake-bitten for ten penalties in the first half including three off-sides penalties by Pro Bowler Von Miller, turn the tables in the third and fourth quarters. With San Francisco out-producing their opponent in total yards 311 to 65 (33 yards passing), it would be the most total yards put up in the first half of a game for the 49ers since 2016 and the most under coach Shanahan. Denver's second half role reversal would begin on their second possession as they marched 54-yards before rookie sensation Philip Lindsay rushed up the middle for a 3-yard score to put his team on the board. Eager to get his team closer on the scoreboard, Broncos head coach Vance Joseph who spent six seasons as an assistant with the 49ers, saw his team fall short on back to back fourth down attempts in the fourth quarter. Denver would eventually inch closer and endure better luck on fourth down, as a 4th and goal attempt from the 1-yard line ended with Keenum finding receiver DaeSean Hamilton in the end zone for the touchdown to make it a 20-14 game with under 4 minutes remaining in regulation.

With plans to milk the clock, Mullens converted on consecutive third down attempts to seal only the third win of the season for San Francisco despite being shutout in the second half. Failing to log a single reception in the second half, Kittle would fall just four yards shy of Sharpe's record. However, his 210 receiving yards were enough to break multiple franchise records previously held by Vernon Davis, such as the most receiving yards in a single-game by a 49ers tight-end (180 yards) and the most receiving yards by a tight-end in a single season (965). Kittle who entered Sunday's game leading the league in yards after catch, also became the first 49er to eclipse 1,000 yards receiving since Anquan Boldin in 2014, in what's become a Pro Bowl caliber season for the 25-year old stud. As for Nick Mullens, the 49ers QB who was coming off a 414 yard performance against Seattle a week ago, threw for 332 yards, two touchdowns and an interception in the win. Playing without Matt Breida who was sidelined with an ankle sprain, Jeffery Wilson carried the load for the Niners run game, totaling a career-high 90 yards rushing on 23 carries. The 49er defense which had one of its better performances of the season, held Keenum to 186 yards and a TD through the air, and kept Philip Lindsay to only 30 yards on the ground on 14 carries, his third fewest yards in a game this season.

Despite the win, the 49ers still remain in position for the No. 1 overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft as the Oakland Raiders also won on Sunday, defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers. For Denver who could ill afford a loss, especially to an inferior opponent, their playoff hopes were dealt a sizable blow after losing on Sunday. Dropping to 6-7 on the year, the Broncos now trail the Titans, Dolphins, Colts and Ravens for the final AFC Wild Card spot, all of which are currently 7-6.

Week 15 Preview - Two weeks after being embarrassed by the division rival Seahawks in Seattle, the 49ers will prepare to host those same Seahawks in Week 15. Winners of four straight, Seattle is coming off a 21-7 victory over the Minnesota Vikings and are playing their best ball of the season in what will likely end with an NFC Wild Card berth for Pete Carroll's team. In what'll be a rematch of 49ers cornerback Richard Sherman facing his former team, the former Seahawk great who's been engaged in a war of words with former Seattle teammate Frank Clark leading up to Sunday's game. But with Seattle currently riding a 9-game regular game winning-streak against San Francisco, the 49ers will need to step up on the field if they want to prevail in this recent tiff. One way to do that would be through another stout performance from QB Nick Mullens who's been playing solid ball as of late, and will try to steer clear of the turnovers and replicate his performance in Seattle two weeks ago when he threw for 414 yards, the most by a 49er QB since Tim Rattay in 2004.


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Rams run amok vs struggling 49ers

Week 8 - Entering Sunday's meeting versus rival St. Louis, the 49ers were hoping to claim their first division win of the season against a Rams team that had already beaten division foes Arizona and Seattle this year. Not only would San Francisco fail to hand the Rams their first loss within the division, but they would fail to sniff the end zone for the second straight week. While the Niner offense sputtered and barely made it off the plane to show up for the game, the San Francisco defense which displayed poor tackling, allowed touchdowns of 71 and 66 yards en route to an ugly 27-6 loss. 

Rams rookie running back Todd Gurley who's been a handful for the opposition since busting onto the NFL scene just three weeks ago, was a thorn in the side of his opponent once again. Gurley rushed for 133 yards on 20 carries while breaking for a 71-yard touchdown in which the 49er defense failed to land a single finger on the explosive back who shined at the collegiate level as a Georgia Bulldog. With his stellar performance, Gurley became the first rookie in NFL history to begin his career with four straight games of over 100 yards rushing. Donning their throwback blue uniforms, the St. Louis defense was also stout on Sunday, keeping their opponent out of the end zone and forcing a safety. While the Rams haven't allowed a touchdown in their last two games, the 49ers haven't scored one in their last two as QB Colin Kaepernick once again played a turnover-free ballgame, but failed to pass for 200 yards. The Niner run game was equally as ineffective as Kaepernick led the team with 28 rushing yards on an afternoon they only managed 38 in total.

San Francisco thought they had recorded their first touchdown in seven quarters when linebacker Ahmad Brooks recovered a Benny Cunningham fumble which he returned 41-yards to the end zone. The score would be negated, however, as Brooks was called for a facemasking penalty. The flag would prove to be costly as a pair of Phil Dawson field goals were all the 49ers had to show for in the team's second straight loss to the Rams. Before Sunday, San Francisco hadn't lost back to back games versus St. Louis since 2004. The two teams will meet again to close out the 2015 regular season in Week 17 @ San Francisco. With a winning record (4-3) this late in the season for the first time since 2006, St. Louis is hoping to continue their winning ways as the team hasn't accomplished a winning season since '03.

In what would ultimately be his final game in a 49ers uniform, tight-end Vernon Davis caught a game-high 6 passes for 24 yards. After spending ten seasons with the organization, it was announced on Monday that Davis, a former 1st round pick in 2006 (6th overall), was traded to the Denver Broncos along with a 7th round draft pick in exchange for two 6th rounders (2016 & 2017). Remarkably, the trade of Vernon Davis wouldn't even be the biggest news of the week for the 49ers, as that would belong to Colin Kaepernick as it was announced the same day that he would be benched for backup quarterback Blaine Gabbert, a decision made by head coach Jim Tomsula. A move that has raised quite a few eyebrows around the league as 2015 continues to be a nightmare for 49er fans. 

Injury News - For whatever reason, the NFL has yet to do something about the concrete behind the sidelines in these indoor stadiums which caused Reggie Bush to slip and fall like many before him and injuring his ACL in the process. Bush, who was carted off the field Sunday, has seen limited action with the 49ers after suffering a leg injury in Week 1 and will now be out for the season after an MRI revealed damage to Bush's left knee. Joining Bush for at least this week is rookie running back Mike Davis who will undergo surgery on his hand. Also ruled out this week on offense is Carlos Hyde (foot) and receiver Anquan Boldin who's been hampered by an ailing hamstring for a second straight week. With multiple injuries in the running back department and Jarryd Hayne assigned to the practice squad after initially being released, the 49ers signed a pair of players to man the backfield in Shaun Draughn and Pierre Thomas. Draughn has bounced around numerous teams since being drafted in 2011, most recently with the Cleveland Browns. Meanwhile, Pierre Thomas who helped the Saints to a Super Bowl victory in 2009, provides a threat in the passing game. 

Week 9 Preview - At 2-6 on the season, the 49ers look to head into their Week 10 BYE with a victory as they host the (6-2) Atlanta Falcons. Having served as one of the biggest surprises this season under first-year head coach Dan Quinn, the Falcons hope to come out of the Bay Area with a win to keep pace with the undefeated Carolina Panthers who own first place in the NFC South. While Atlanta features a much improved defense from a season ago which coach Quinn is well known for, they also have arguably the best receiver in the league in Julio Jones. The Niner defense will have to keep close tabs on the fifth year wide-out out of Alabama who caught 12 passes for 162 yards and a touchdown in a 23-20 upset loss to the Buccaneers. The 49ers will also have to establish the run game early on if they plan to make a game out of it, something they failed to do in each of their last two losses. And with a number of new faces in the backfield to kick the tires with, this'll be the perfect time to see what they have in their ground attack as Blaine Gabbert looks to revive his career at the QB position.


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Niners go Missing In Action vs Seattle

Week 7 - With both the San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks struggled out of the gates this season and sharing a 2-4 record at the bottom of the NFC West, wins have been hard to come by for the two teams recently removed from being conference powerhouses. But with the two renewing rivalries on Thursday night for the first of two meetings, one was bound to hang a 'W' in the win column while the other fell deeper into the abyss of the NFC Western division standings. And with Seattle getting the better half of their bitter rivals in three straight meetings, the results in this one would be no different. The opening-drive of the ball game resulted in a three and out for San Francisco, meanwhile, Seattle marched down the field on a 12-play drive that nearly stalled inside the 5-yard line before running back Marshawn Lynch finally reached the end zone on third down after numerous attempts. That's basically how the rest of the game would play out for both teams.

Enduring their worst start since 2011, Seattle entered Thursday's game having lost three game this season in which they held a 4th quarter lead of at least 7-points. They wouldn't have to worry about any fourth quarter collapse in this one, however, as the 49ers offense was a no-show, totaling more punts than first downs. San Francisco's defense was decent, intercepting Seattle QB Russell Wilson twice, but Seattle's was better as Colin Kaepernick was kept in check and held to only 124 yards passing. Kaepernick, who was sacked six times, struggled once again against a Seattle defense that has had his number in six of the seven meetings since he's been named the starting quarterback. Wilson didn't have a great game by any stretch either, throwing for 235 yards and a touchdown to go with two picks, but he had Marshawn Lynch to fall back on. On a night Russell Wilson was sacked five times, adding to his league-high 31 sacks this season, Lynch carried the load on offense by rushing for 122 yards and a TD on 27 attempts. Meanwhile, the 49ers ground attack accounted for only 61 yards between Carlos Hyde and Reggie Bush.

In a game that lacked flair from either side, Russell Wilson connected with receiver Tyler Lockett in the end zone from 43 yards out for a touchdown on the only big play of the evening as the 49ers fell, 20-3, and have now been outscored 56 to 13 in their last three meetings vs Seattle. Niners tight-end Vernon Davis who missed his last three games before returning to the field a week ago as he was a non-factor in the win against Baltimore, led his team in both receptions (4) and receiving yards (61) in the loss despite being linked to possible trade rumors. As for Seattle's newest offensive addition -- Jimmy Graham, the San Francisco defense kept him in check for only 31 yards receiving on two grabs. 

As for my take on Colin Kaepernick who I've been behind and defended all season long after the criticism he's received, I finally have my first beef as the Niners QB played too conservatively for my taste on Thursday and tried too hard not to throw an interception versus his nemesis which he succeeded at but in doing so, negated the possibility of any big play ability. His safe decision making was almost reminiscent of an Alex Smith led offense. It's one thing to fear disaster and not risk the gamble, but Kaepernick simply plays too scared against Seattle which showed once again as the offense was virtually nonexistent. By no means am I suggesting a change at quarterback, but perhaps a game plan different from the predictable one we saw on Thursday. Not to mention the zero rush attempts by Kaepernick all game long. In the few times Kaepernick has had success against Seattle throughout his career, he was doing it with his feet, something we saw none of in the 49ers' fourth consecutive loss to Seattle. Whether it's by design from the head coach on down to the offensive coordinator, the once upon a time "dual-threat QB" has completely deserted the rush. If the Niners aren't going to try executing a game plan that might actually work, they're better off forfeiting before kickoff. 

Injury Report - Pro Bowl safety from just a season ago -- Antoine Bethea will be lost for the year with a season-ending injury after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Thursday's game. Voted team MVP for the 49ers just a season ago, the injury to Bethea will likely open the door for rookie safety Jaquiski Tartt. 

Week 8 Preview - After experiencing the taste of victory for a brief four days before falling once more to Seattle, the 49ers will use those extra handful of days of rest when they hit the road for a meeting with the division-rival Rams (3-3). Squaring off for the first of two meetings this season, St. Louis is one of the few teams in the league that has struggled as mightily as San Francisco has on offense. With both teams ranking 31st (STL) and 32nd (SF) in average points per game, expect this one to be another defensive battle. Splitting the season series just a year ago with each team claiming road victories, a win for the Niners in this one would give them their first road victory of the season and some confidence heading into their final game before a BYE in Week 10. But in order to do that, the San Francisco defense will have to put a halt to rookie running back Todd Gurley. The Rams' first-round pick out of Georgia has been on a tear as of late since being handed the starting job, averaging over 120 yards in each of his last three games including a 2 touchdown performance in last week's win at Cleveland and a 159 yard outburst the game before.


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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 14: 49ers knock off rival Seahawks behind Gore's late run

If you're a football fan, chances are Sunday's meeting between the (8-4) San Francisco 49ers and (11-1) Seattle Seahawks was a game you've had circled on your calender for quite some time now. The same could be said for the players on both teams. Expected to be a hard fought, back and forth affair, this one would definitely live up to the hype. One thing that's certain about this rivalry over the years aside from the strong disliking for one another, is that the home team almost always comes out victorious. In fact, the home team has won 9 of the last 10 meetings this series with the only road victory coming in 2011 when the Alex Smith led 49ers won in Seattle. And with this being the last regular season game at Candlestick Park between both teams, the 49ers had plans to keep that trend alive on Sunday. With a bet in line the last time these two teams met that saw the losing quarterback shave his eyebrows, this meeting would be strictly business.

In Colin Kaepernick's first two career starts against Seattle, the 49ers were absolutely dismantled by a combined score of 71-16 as both games were played on the road with the help of the raucous 12th Man. But this one would give Kaepernick his first crack at seeking revenge at home. Needing a win to keep a stranglehold on a playoff spot in the NFC, Kaepernick and company knew it wouldn't be easy. After two Phil Dawson field goals put San Francisco up 6-0 in the first quarter, coach Harbaugh saw his team give up the lead just minutes later as Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch scored on an 11-yard touchdown run to put the Seahawks ahead. The go-ahead touchdown would spark a total of six lead-changes as each team answered one another on the scoreboard. Following another Dawson field goal, Seattle QB Russell Wilson would find a wide-open Luke Willson who's 39-yard touchdown reception put his team back on top. It would then be Kaepernick's turn to respond as he threw a strike to tight-end Vernon Davis who found the end zone for the 11th time this season with 10 seconds remaining in the second quarter, making it a 16-14 ballgame at the half. 

Though it would be Kaepernick's only touchdown pass of the afternoon, it would be vital to the 49ers' confidence as his team took both a lead and the momentum with them into the locker room. The San Francisco defense which has yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this season, faced their most formidable foe on Sunday in Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch. And with 50 yards rushing by halftime, that streak looked like it was coming to an end. But Vic Fangio's defense stepped up and made the needed adjustment by allowing Lynch to run for only 22 yards the rest of the way. Hoping to add to San Francisco's lead in the second half, Kaepernick and the 49er offense marched down the field and appeared to be heading in the right direction, but a pass down the sideline intended for Michael Crabtree would be picked off by Seattle who several drives later would retake the lead on a Steven Hauschka field goal. 

Running back Frank Gore who's been a ghost the last three weeks in the yards department, showed up on Sunday with 110 yards rushing including 51 of them on the biggest play of the game, trailing by a point with 4 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Running ahead of the pack after finding a hole, Gore made the heads up decision to put on the brakes and fall down around the 20 yard line, allowing the 49ers to eat away at the clock and give Seattle as little time to work with on offense. It would prove to be a good decision by the 4-time Pro Bowl back who eclipsed the century mark for the first time since a 101-yard performance against the Arizona Cardinals. Gore's run would be the heart and soul of an 11-play, 76-yard game winning drive against one of the best defenses in the league as 49ers kicker Phil Dawson split the uprights for the 20th consecutive time to put his team up 19-17 with 26 seconds left in regulation. With less than a minute to go and no timeouts remaining, Seattle was in need of a miracle. Corner back Eric Wright who earlier in the game departed briefly after sustaining a head injury, however, would have other plans as he saved the day with an interception on a last-ditch effort by Seahawks QB Russell Wilson with just 9 seconds remaining to seal the victory.

A win for Pete Carroll's Seahawks would've clinched the NFC West as well as a first-round BYE in the playoffs but the 49ers refused to watch their two year reign of the NFC West come to an end and witness their archrivals celebrate winning the division on their home turf. With the win, the 49ers snapped Seattle's 7-game winning streak by handing them only their second loss on the year and their fifth straight in San Francisco. The win also means the 49ers have swept their division rivals at home this season, beating the Rams, Cardinals and Seahawks in what will be the final season and the historic Candlestick Park. San Francisco hasn't lost at home to a division opponent since Seattle handed them a loss back in 2008. The win should bode well for the 49ers' confidence given another trip to the Super Bowl will likely have to go through Seattle, a team they now know they can beat. You want your team to play its best football in the month of December leading up to the stretch run just before the playoffs and Jim Harbaugh's 49ers are doing just that. After back to back losses to the Carolina Panthers and the New Orleans Saints, San Francisco has now won three straight and have a fairly favorable schedule ahead of them.  

Week 15 Preview: Standing even in the NFC Wild Card race at 9-4 with the Carolina Panthers, the 49ers head south to visit the (4-9) Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Like San Francisco, the Bucs are playing their best ball of the season having won 4 of their last 5 games after an 0-8 start. Expected by many to make a run for the playoffs in the NFC South coming into the season, Greg Schiano's Buccaneers now have their eyes set on a fresh start for next season but wouldn't mind playing the role of spoilers. 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick has seen his interception numbers decrease over the last several weeks after getting off to a sluggish start, but he'll be facing an interception happy defense in Tampa Bay on Sunday with a league leading 21 picks, including 4 in last week's win vs the Buffalo Bills. With both Darrelle Revis and former 49ers Pro Bowl safety Dashon Goldson on the opposite side of the ball, Kaepernick will have to be cautious when throwing the ball or he could be in for a long day. With that said, expect a hefty workload for running back Frank Gore who's 69 yards shy of the 1,000 yard mark. 


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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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Week 12: Kaepernick, 49ers shine in team's first Monday Night game of the season

Last year San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick and Washington's Robert Griffin III took the National Football League by storm. The duel-threat QB's helped their teams make it to the playoffs and even punch a ticket to the Super Bowl for Kaepernick's 49ers, while RGIII took home Rookie of the Year honors. But so far, 2013 hasn't exactly treated the pair of young, gifted quarterbacks as nicely. Aside from his Week 1 performance against Green Bay, Kaepernick has struggled mightily with a thin receive corps, whereas Griffin who's sophomore campaign has had its fair share of ups and downs, has clearly not been the same QB since undergoing surgery on his right knee. Struggles aside, one QB would have another win to hang to their total as they faced off against one another for the first time in their bright career.

During Kaepernick's struggles, it's been tailback Frank Gore and the running game that's been the catalyst to the 49ers offense and has provided for the team. Not in this one, however, as Gore was kept relatively quiet with just 31 yards on 13 carries. With the 49ers ranked last in the league in passing yards entering the week, Kaepernick would face one of his most favorable match-ups yet. Planning to exploit that and dig the Niners' mediocre aerial attack from out of the gutter, Kaepernick would log one of the finest outings of his career and easily his best since Week 1 by throwing for 235 yards and 3 touchdown while completing 15 of 24 pass attempts and amassing a career-best passer rating of 134.5. No duo has been more productive and has meant more to their teams' receive corps as Vernon Davis and Anquan Boldin. And with a bulk of Kaepernick's passes going in their direction, each managed to find the end zone like they've done so often this year. Davis caught four passes for 70 yards and a touchdown while Boldin hauled in five receptions for a game-high 94 yards and a pair of TD's.  

But where Kaepernick and the 49er offense excelled, Griffin and the Redskins struggled. Completing 17 of 27 passes, RGIII threw for only 127 yards and was picked off for the 11th time this year, more than double the amount of interceptions he threw last season. Needing a win to keep a stranglehold on a playoff spot, the 49ers defense entered Monday night's game having allowed 12.5 points per game since week 4, the fewest in the league. Head coach Jim Harbaugh and defensive-coordinator Vic Fangio would see that number decrease as Washington was kept out of the end zone the entire game and logged only 190 yards of total offense, their lowest total since a blowout loss to the Bills in 2011. To put Griffin's awful night into perspective, Washington was held to just 30 yards of offense in the second half as the second-year QB was under constant pressure by San Francisco's swarming defense which tallied four sacks on the night. It also marked the first time an RGIII led offense was held touchdown-less in his career, including his years in college with Baylor where he won the Heisman Trophy in 2011.

The Niners also got plenty of help on defense from defensive-end Aldon Smith who in his second start since taking nearly a two month hiatus while being treated at a rehab facility, looked like the Aldon Smith of old as he recorded his first sack since Week 3. Smith would finish the game with 2 sacks and made a number of hits on the Redskins quarterback as San Francisco won, 27-6. The win was the fifth straight for the 49ers on Monday Night Football and put an end to their two-game losing skid as they improved to 7-4 on the year and more importantly held on to their wild card spot in the NFC Playoff race. As for Washington, the Redskins have now lost 4 of their last 5 games and continue to fall behind in the NFC East as they dropped to 3-8 on the year. Griffin, who's asked the Redskins coaching staff not to show tape of his negative plays during team meetings, will likely see a plethora of negative plays from this one considering that's all there was on Monday by the Washington quarterback.

Week 13 - Owning the tie-breaker over the division-rival (7-4) Arizona Cardinals for the second NFC wild card spot, the 49ers will look to improve on their record on Sunday when they return home to host another division foe in the St. Louis Rams. Sitting at the bottom of the NFC West at 5-6, the Rams have been playing their best ball of the season as of late despite being without their starting quarterback -- Sam Bradford and are coming off back-to-back blowout wins against two pretty darn good teams in the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears. Earlier this season when these two teams met in St. Louis, the 49ers pulled off a blowout 35-11 win in Week 4. But with the Rams eyeing the .500 mark and hoping to play the role of spoiler, don't expect anything to be given to Colin Kaepernick and company as they return to the Stick. Week 4 saw Frank Gore explode for his first big game of the season when he torched the Rams for 153 yards rushing to go along with a touchdown. With coach Harbaugh likely to get his running back back on track after sub par performances in each of his last two outings, we could be in store for a steady diet of Gore in this one. Week 13 will also see the return of wide-out Michael Crabtree. With Kaepernick's favorite target slated to return for the first time this year since tearing his Achilles during training camp in May, we just might see a TD reception by someone not named Boldin or Davis for the first time this season.


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Week 6: 49ers Win third straight behind Davis' monster day

With both teams entering Sunday's game at 3-2 respectively and riding a two game winning-streak, the San Francisco 49ers hosted the Arizona Cardinals in an NFC West showdown with both teams vying for a win to gain sole possession of second place in the division and keep pace with the division-leading Seattle Seahawks. Things couldn't have been drawn up any better for the 49ers to begin the game on defense as they returned two early Carson Palmer interceptions inside the 20-yard line. But where the defense excelled, the offense struggled.

A sluggish start to the game for QB Colin Kaepernick and company enabled Arizona to stick around until late in the fourth quarter as the San Francisco offense failed to take advantage of three early trips to the red zone. The first two trips resulted in field goals by Phil Dawson while the third ended in an interception on a tipped pass intended for fullback Bruce Miller inside the end zone. But Kaepernick would eventually get things going as he began to utilize his best weapon through the air as it soon turned into the Vernon Davis show at Candlestick. The Pro Bowl tight-end would have a career day, hauling in touchdown grabs of 61 and 35 yards, logging a career-high 180 receiving yards total while displaying a flurry of acrobatic catches including one reminiscent of another bay area great by the name of Willie Mays. Davis' personal-best 180 yards receiving would also be the second most by a tight-end in the last 10 years. Despite Davis' spectacular showing, it wasn't enough to keep Arizona from nibbling at San Francisco's heels practically all game long.

Cardinals QB Carson Palmer would show flashes of why he was named to a pair of Pro Bowl's while a member of the Cincinnati Bengals by throwing for a pair of touchdowns and finishing the game with 298 yards passing to keep his team in it. But he would also have his fair share of mistakes as the 49er defense picked him off twice and sacked him in the end zone for a safety. Leading 22-20 in the final minutes of the third quarter, the Niners would get a much needed takeaway when linebacker Patrick Willis made a tackle on Larry Fitzgerald, forcing him to fumble. The fumble would be recovered by rookie safety Eric Reid who also finished with his team-leading third interception on the year in the first quarter before later being joined by Carlos Rogers who picked off Palmer two drives later for his first of the season. San Francisco won the turnover battle and forced a total of four turnovers for the second consecutive week with the help of another rookie in Corey Lemonier who was selected in the third round of April's NFL Draft earlier this year. The first-year player out of Auburn finished the game with his first career sack as well as a forced fumble and a safety while filling in for the absent Aldon Smith.

Back to the offense, Davis wouldn't be the only one who finished the game with a nice stat line as 49ers running back Frank Gore would do what he's done so often against the Cardinals by logging another stellar performance by rushing for 101 yards on Sunday. However, it would be Gore's running mate Kendall Hunter who would put the icing on the cake as Arizona trailed by two with six minutes remaining in regulation before Hunter made his way into the end zone for a late score. Kicker Phil Dawson went 3-for-3 in the field goal department including a 44 yarder to seal the 32-20 victory for the 49ers. 

Week 7 Preview: After two games at the 'Stick, Jim Harbaugh hopes to continue his teams winning ways away from home as the 49ers prepare for their first game of a two-game road trip against the (3-3) Tennessee Titans. Having been without quarterback Jake Locker the past two weeks due to a hip and knee injury, the Titans, losers of two straight, will have their QB back on Sunday much earlier than expected. But with a stout 49er defense in town, I'm not sure giving Locker the nod is a good idea given he won't be at 100%. The meeting will also mean a reunion with Titans tight-end Delanie Walker and his former team as Walker signed with Tennessee as a free-agent during the off-season. With the 49ers having success running the ball in each of their last three games, expect the trend to continue on Sunday.


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Week 5: 49ers Defense grabs Houston by the horns, 34-3.

After getting back on track in Week 4 with a blowout win on the road over the division-rival St. Louis Rams, the 49ers returned home hoping they could translate that performance against the visiting Houston Texans. Having struggled mightily at the quarterback position with Texans starting QB Matt Schaub throwing a pick-six in three consecutive games, Houston head coach Gary Zubiak saw the trend continue on Sunday night. Three plays into the Texans opening-drive, Schaub would have his first pass attempt of the game picked-off and returned 18-yards into the end zone as cornerback Tremaine Brock read the pass intended for wide-out Andre Johnson like a book, logging his first career touchdown and putting San Francisco up early. With the interception returned for a touchdown, Schaub became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw a pick-six in four consecutive games. 

Filling in for the injured Nnamdi Asomugha who missed his second consecutive game nursing a knee-injury, Brock would receive plenty of hugs and high-fives from his 49er teammates by games end as he picked-off Schaub for a second time in the second quarter. And though Schaub would be intercepted for a third time in the third quarter this time by defensive-lineman Tony Jerod-Eddie and later be replaced, Houston's struggles would go far beyond those at the quarterback position. With a lost fumble by backup running back Ben Tate and a turnover on downs in the fourth quarter to add to Houston's woeful night, the Texans would be unable to find an answer for the 49ers Frank Gore. After compiling over 150 yards in week 4, Gore followed up that performance with another solid outing by rushing the ball for 81 yards and a touchdown. 

Aside from Gore, the 49ers would be relatively quiet on the offensive side of the ball. For the second consecutive week, QB Colin Kaepernick failed to put up eye-popping numbers through the air nor did he have to. The third-year player out of Nevada had an Alex Smith-like performance in the sense that he played smart, mistake-free football. Kaepernick completed only 6 of his 15 pass attempts for 113 yards to three different receivers, but one of those passes would go for a 64-yard connection to tight-end Vernon Davis who beat man to man coverage and ran down the sidelines for the easy score, putting to rest any doubt regarding his sore hamstring that caused him to miss week 3. Davis would lead all receivers with 88 yards on a trio of receptions. 

Houston would eventually get on the board in the third quarter via a Randy Bullock field goal after hooking and missing an earlier attempt in the first quarter wide-left but it wouldn't be nearly enough as San Francisco got another solid performance from the defense despite the absence of several key defensive players. Niners kicker Phil Dawson put an exclamation mark on the game by splitting the uprights from 24 yards out late in the fourth quarter to seal the 34-3 win. With the win and a Seahawks loss, the 49ers gain a game in the NFC West standings over Seattle (4-1) who San Francisco (3-2) now trails by a game. 

Week 6 Preview:  Heading into Week 6, Jim Harbaugh's 49ers are riding their first winning-streak of the season and are coming off of back-to-back blowout wins as they get set to host the division-rival Arizona Cardinals (3-2) who have a two game winning-streak of their own. With a stingy secondary led by Pro Bowl cornerback Patrick Peterson who Colin Kaepernick will have to steer clear of considering he's amassed 3 interceptions against the Niners in his last two games, we'll likely see another average performance through the air where as a majority of the 49ers offense will come on the ground. Expect a healthy diet of Frank Gore who's rushed for 13 touchdowns in his last 13 meetings against the Cardinals as well as another stout performance by the San Francisco defense who will create plenty of problems for Arizona QB Carson Palmer who will be returning to the bay area after spending the last two seasons under center in Oakland. 

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Week 4: 49ers get back on track with blowout Win over St. Louis

The San Francisco 49ers entered Thursday night's game against the division-rival St. Louis Rams under .500 for the first time under head coach Jim Harbaugh who also endured his first set of back-to-back losses at the helm in weeks 2 and 3. Having been blown out in each of their last two outings, the 49ers were in dire need of a win to get back on track and prove to the league that last year's Super Bowl appearance was no fluke. And though Colin Kaepernick and company would eventually light up the scoreboard, something they've been unable to do since week 1, their double-digit win against the Rams was anything but flawless to start. 

One of the lone areas the 49ers struggled at in 2012 was at the kicker position. David Akers who set numerous records in his first year with the team in 2011 followed that up with a forgetful season in 2012 which resulted in the 49ers moving on from Akers and acquiring Browns Pro-Bowl kicker Phil Dawson. But so far in 2013 Dawson has had the look of anything but a Pro-Bowl kicker, missing 3 of 6 field goal tries to begin the year, begging the question if the 49ers are simply cursed at the kicker position. In the fist half it definitely appeared so as Dawson missed a 53 yard try on San Francisco's first drive on offense before later attempting and missing a 71-yard free-kick, something that's become a rarity in today's game. The last of which was successful in 1976 by Ray Wersching. The Rams would strike first on a 40 yard field goal off the foot of Greg Zuerlein who got some help from the right post, ending St. Louis' scoreless first quarter drought at 10 games. Unfortunately for Rams head coach Jeff Fisher, those would be the only points his team would score until late in the fourth quarter. 

The 49ers who've prided themselves on rushing defense over the last few years have been exceptionally bad in that category this season, allowing a league high 6 rushing touchdowns through the first three games. Also not indicative of the Niner defense is the 350+ rushing yards surrendered. And though they haven't looked like themselves out of the games in 2013, the San Francisco defense got back to their true identity on Thursday by holding the Rams to only 18 yards rushing on 19 carries despite being without Pro Bowlers Patrick Willis and Aldon Smith. Rams QB Sam Bradford was also given a hard time, throwing an interception and losing a fumble after constantly being pressured throughout the game. But the 49ers dominance on the ground attack wasn't limited to the defensive side of the ball. Running back Frank Gore who entered the game without a 100-yard performance through the first 3 weeks, surpassed the century mark in the first half alone by rushing for 107 yards by halftime before finishing the game with 153 yards and a touchdown, the 14th TD of his career against the Rams. 

Like Gore, another 49er that has made a living off torturing the Rams defense is receiver Anquan Boldin who hauled in 90 yards and a touchdown on 5 receptions. Dating back to his time spent in Arizona as a member of the Cardinals, Boldin has logged over 1,200 receiving yards against St. Louis. The duo of Gore & Boldin combined for more yards than the entire Rams offense by games end. 

As for 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick who's been under heavy scrutiny for his poor play the past two weeks, Kaepernick threw for a pair of touchdowns on Thursday after failing to reach the end zone in each of his last two games. He didn't exactly have the type of awe-inspiring performance that would cause you to pick your jaw up from off the floor but he managed to play a clean game and didn't throw a single interception after throwing four in his last two outings. After trailing early, Kaepernick and the 49ers put up a barrage of scoring-drives, tallying 28 unanswered-points in route to a 35-11 victory. The second of Kaepernick's two touchdown passes went to tight-end Vernon Davis and the running back tandem of Kendall Hunter and Anthony Dixon each finished with a touchdown run of their own. With a combined 10 points following losses in weeks 2 & 3, the San Francisco offense mustered 14 points by halftime and from there on it was smooth sailing, ending coach Harbaugh's longest losing streak at two games. The Rams who were a thorn in coach Harbaugh's foot last season, handing the 49ers a tie at Candlestick and a loss in St. Louis, were finally put in their place. 

Week 5 Preview - Having been knocked around in each of their last two games, it was nice to see the 49ers return the favor and do some bullying of their own in week 4. But a repeat of that dominance is unlikely in week 5 as the 49ers prepare to host a Houston Texans team coming off a heart-wrenching loss at home to the Seattle Seahawks in which they squandered a 20-3 lead at the half and lost 23-20. Like San Francisco, Houston was picked by many to contend for a Super Bowl title this season but have had their fair share of struggles and sit at 2-2. It's no secret that the 49ers have been at their best under coach Harbaugh when establishing the run game and feeding Frank Gore. And with a stout passing defense in town like Houston's, the 49ers will be best off doing just that, feeding Frank the Tank the ball. But like the Texans, the 49ers will also have a tall order ahead of them as Houston hopes to run the ball down San Francisco's throat with a two-headed monster of their own at running back with Arian Foster and Ben Tate. Who comes out victorious in this one is anyone's guess but one thing that's certain is that it should be a good one!

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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 stun Saints, Punch ticket to NFC title match with Giants

This past weekend we were treated to one of the more thrilling Divisional Playoff games in recent years between the New Orleans Saints and the San Francisco 49ers which had everything one could ask for including big plays, hard hits, costly turnovers and late-game heroics. What began as a one-sided error fest for the Saints, would soon turn into a teeter toter affair that came down to the final seconds of regulation and will forever be embedded in the minds of football enthusiasts and 49er fans alike. Prior to kick-off, the 49ers were ruled underdogs despite being the home team as New Orleans stormed into town riding one of the hottest streaks in all of football, winners of their last eight. Having been rather quiet virtually all year long on the offensive side of things, the 49ers would explode onto the scoreboard thanks to an Alex Smith performance that was seven years in the making.

Entering the game, Saints quarterback and potential MVP candidate Drew Brees hadn't thrown an interception during the postseason in five years and had only two picks throughout his entire postseason career (eight games). The daunting 49ers defense would add to their NFL-best 38 takeaways during the regular season by forcing Brees to throw two interceptions in the first half of Saturday's game alone before later adding three fumbles to eventually win the turnover battle, 5-0. The costly miscues would spell doom for the Saints who came into the hostile environment of San Francisco's Candlestick Park still seeking the franchise's first playoff win on the road (0-4). The Saints appeared to be on their way to their first ever road victory when Brees who finished the game with 462 passing yards and 4 touchdown passes overcame an early 17-point deficit and connected with tight-end Jimmy Graham for a 66-yard touchdown reception followed by a successful 2-point conversion to give New Orleans a 32-29 lead with 1:37 remaining on the clock.

After putting San Francisco up, 29-24, with a 28-yard touchdown run on third down with just over two minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, former number one overall pick Alex Smith would be called upon one last time to lead the 49ers to a victory and send them to their first NFC Championship since 1995. Having been M.I.A from the playoffs for nearly a decade, the 49er faithful made their presence felt as a sellout crowd of 69,732 screaming fans witnessed the 49ers become the first team in NFL history to score two lead-changing touchdowns in the final three minutes to win a playoff game as Alex Smith channeled his inner Joe Montana by finding Vernon Davis in the endzone to win the game. The 14-yard connection from Smith to Davis was reminiscent of possibly the NFL's most famous play, "The Catch" from Montana to Dwight Clark and even more so to "The Catch Part II" from Steve Young to Terrell Owens as both Owens and Davis were seen in tears following their game-winning grabs, coining Davis' catch as the third installment of "The Catch." Coincidentally this year marks the 30th anniversary of the famed play from Montana to Clark which won the NFC title game back in 1981.

Alex Smith threw for 299 yards and 2 touchdowns on 24-for-42 passing, 7 of which to Vernon Davis who finished the game with 2 touchdowns and 180 receiving yards, setting a record for the most receiving yards in a playoff game by a tight-end. Just a season removed from being pelted with boo's from the home crowd, Alex Smith has now led his team to the NFC Championship and is one win away from returning the 49ers to their sixth Super Bowl, first since the 1994 season when the proud franchise captured their 5th title. Standing in the way of San Francisco making their first Super Bowl appearance since the Steve Young era is a New York Giants squad that is also on a tear. Fresh off their defeat of the defending Super Bowl Champion Green Bay Packers, Eli Manning and the New York Giants will try to avenge their Week 10 loss to the 49ers by putting an end to the Super Bowl hopes.

Preview & Prediction: Unfortunately for them, the game will be played in the same stadium they lost at during Week 10 of the regular season by a score of 27-20. 4-0 all-time in NFC Championship games, the Giants will pay a visit to San Francisco's Candlestick Park where they've lost 11 of their last 14 games (including playoffs) since 1980. Meanwhile, the 49ers boast an all-time record of 4-3 vs New York in the playoffs, including 4-1 at home. And as if the storyline wasn't already an intriguing one, meteorologists are calling for rain which could very well play a factor in Sunday's outcome. Considering the 49ers were able to overcome the hottest quarterback in the entire league entering last week's match-up, I like San Francisco's chances of doing the same against arguably the league's second hottest quarterback in Eli Manning. New York's dominant pass rush could be quite an obstacle, however, but that won't stop me from picking the Niners to come out on top, 27-23, punching their ticket to a long awaited sixth Super Bowl. GO NINERS!


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