One last go around - For 17 seasons, longtime Yankees closer Mariano Rivera has dominated the American League landscape with his devastating cutter, sawing off broken bats and fooling batters while on his way to becoming baseball's all-time saves leader with 608 career saves. Saturday afternoon, however, the 43-year old Panama native held a press-conference in front of the media where he announced his plans to retire at the conclusion of the 2013 MLB season, ending the distinguished career that began with the New York ball club in 1995. With plans to retire after the 2012 season last year, Rivera, a 12-time All-Star was forced to rethink his retirement when those plans came to an abrupt stop after suffering a knee injury while shagging balls prior to a game in Kansas City on May 3, which turned out to be a torn ACL that put the 17-year veteran on the shelf for the remainder of the season. Having been the poster boy for success during much of his career, many thought there was no way that one of baseball's most celebrated players would go out like that.
They would be right as Rivera refused to let his decorated big league career end at the hands of an injury, shooting down all rumors of that being the last we saw of the one they call 'Mo' toeing the rubber in the ninth inning with the game on the line. "I'm not going down like this," Rivera told the baseball world after undergoing knee surgery in June. And after those words left his mouth, the sun came out and the birds began to sing like a scene from a Disney movie. But like all Disney movies which feature a happy ending, the only way to properly end this saga will be for the Yankees to send their closer on a horse riding in the sunset with a sixth World Series title under his belt. With Rivera calling it an "honor to put on the pinstripes," it's been nothing short of an honor for us baseball fans to watch him take the hill during the ninth inning and do what he's done his entire career -- win ball games. And though I'm not a fan of the Yankees personally, I think I can speak for everyone when I say Mo wore the pinstripes the way they were meant to be worn -- with class. After watching another one of baseball's all around good guys take the field for one last hurrah in 2012, Mo could expect similar treatment to that of Chipper Jones who received gifts from every National League organization last season in what was his final year in the big leagues before calling it quits.
One gift that won't be given to him, however, is a sixth World Series Championship and is one he and his teammates want more than anything else. Unfortunately it won't be an easy task as the Yankees will be without much of their power hitters to start the year. With Mark Teixeira out 8 to 10 weeks with a strained tendon in his right wrist, Curtis Granderson sidelined until May with a fractured right forearm and Alex Rodriguez not expected back until mid-season at the very least while recovering from hip surgery, the Yankees will depend heavily on Robinson Cano to provide much of the pop for the Bronx Bombers. They'll also be looking for some much needed production from players such as Ichiro Suzuki, Travis Hafner and Kevin Youkilis, all of which were All-Stars for their respected former clubs. Not to be forgotten is Derek Jeter who himself is recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the ALCS last season and Brett Gardner who when healthy can run the base paths with the best of them. As for the pitching staff, Phil Hughes is expected to miss his first start of the regular season while battling back problems.
The injury bug has been so contagious to the Yankees organization as of late that even Yankees GM Brian Cashman hit the disabled-list with a broken leg and dislocated ankle suffered during a sky-diving stunt. For their sake, I hope this isn't a bad omen of things to come for those who support the pinstripes. And for the first time in awhile, the Yankees are entering the season as underdogs to make it out of their division on top with the recent retooling of the Toronto Blue Jays who many are expecting to contend for a title.
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With less than two months remaining on the NBA's regular season schedule, the Los Angeles Lakers who entered the 2012-13 season as the consensus favorites to win it all this year or at the very least compete for a 17th NBA title are on the brink of failing to make the playoffs. Currently sitting at 28-30, coach Mike D'Antoni's Lakers trail the 8th seeded Houston Rockets by 2.5 games in the Western Conference standings. Having played inconsistent ball all season long, it wasn't until just recently that the Lakers who's roster consists of two former MVP's in Steve Nash and Kobe Bryant and the best center in the league in Dwight Howard began playing like it. And not to be forgotten is All-Star Pau Gasol who's on the shelf with a foot injury.
In need of some inspiration, the Lakers got plenty of just that on Monday after learning that longtime owner Jerry Buss had passed away at the age of 80. In their first game following the All-Star break, the Lakers played host to the hated Boston Celtics. With emotions running high, Kobe Bryant and company payed homage to their late owner of 30+ years by defeating the rival Celtics who Dr. Buss said he bought the Lakers some 34 years ago to beat, 113-99. Following the win, Kobe would go on to make a guarantee that the Lakers would in fact make the playoffs and will fear no team in their way. Though over time we've learned to believe anything and everything the Black Mamba tells us, his most recent promise is one that won't be a cake walk to fulfill as half of the Lakers' remaining schedule will be games on the road (12-of-24) as well as games versus teams that would make the playoffs if the season ended today.
Their emotional win in honor of Jerry Buss versus the Celtics appeared to be the shot in the arm that Dwight Howard and company desperately needed as the Lakers went on to win their next two games against the Portland Trailblazers and on the road versus the Dallas Mavericks before witnessing their three game winning-streak hit a skid at the hands of the Denver Nuggets. While they've played better ball as of late winning 11 of 15 games since January 25 entering Monday's meeting at Denver, a streak bested by only the Heat and Spurs during that stretch, the Lakers will need to treat every game from here on out with a win or go home mentality and play with that same hunger that they played with against the Celtics. And with their final game of the season at home against the Houston Rockets we could be in store for some late-season drama down the stretch.
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49ers rally to punch ticket to New Orleans - For the first time since the 1994 season the San Francisco 49ers are going to the Super Bowl. After their heart-wrenching overtime loss at home to the New York Giants in the NFC Championship just a year ago, Jim Harbaugh and company made sure not to disappoint the second time around as his team rallied late to pull off the unthinkable in Atlanta, overcoming the largest deficit in NFC Championship history. What ended up being the proudest day for the 49ers franchise since Steve Young's legendary performance in Super Bowl XXIX that solidified him as one of the game's all-time greats as well as help him get the monkey off his back, began as a nightmare.
Like they did in their divisional round meeting at home against the Green Bay Packers, the 49ers fell into an early hole. Only this time the hole would be much bigger to crawl out from. Ten points bigger as San Francisco found themselves down 17-0 in the second quarter as the Falcons scored on each of their first three possessions. But after watching the division rival Seattle Seahawks overcome a 20-point halftime deficit in Atlanta the week before, the 49ers knew that there was still hope despite no team ever coming back to win an NFC title game down by more than 14 points. With the odds stacked against him in only his 9th career start at quarterback, Colin Kaepernick refused to push the panic button and proved to be composed while in a situation that most QB's his age would fold in. With everyone expecting him to steal the show with his legs like he did the previous week at Candlestick Park where he torched the Packers for an NFL record 181 rushing yards, the speedy quarterback instead got the job done with his arm.
After finally getting on the board during their first possession of the second quarter thanks to a 15-yard touchdown run by rookie running back LaMichael James, the first of his career, the 49ers got their first stop on defense. And after watching the Falcons put up 17 straight points to open the game, San Francisco found themselves scoring 14 unanswered-points of their own as Kaepernick lobbed a pass to a wide-open Vernon Davis from 4-yards out to pull within a field goal with just under two minutes remaining in the half. But as Seattle learned the week before when Falcons QB Matt Ryan orchestrated a game-winning drive with only 31 seconds remaining in regulation, never leave enough time on the clock to allow Matty Ice to march down the field. Unfortunately for the 49ers, Ryan would do just that, capping off a 7-play, 80-yard drive with a touchdown pass to tight-end Tony Gonzalez. Seemingly stealing back the momentum after San Francisco began picking up steam to pull closer, Atlanta once again found themselves leading by double-digits as the 49ers trailed 24-14 at the half.
Equally as hot as they were on offense to end the first half, the 49ers opened the second half in a similar fashion as Kaepernick came out guns blazing, completing passes of 21, 20 and 17 yards to Randy Moss and Delanie Walker, setting up Frank Gore who put an exclamation mark on an impressive opening-drive with a 5-yard touchdown run to once again bring San Francisco within a field goal. What was a turnover-free ballgame throughout the first two and a half quarters would soon evolve into a game of miscues as three of the next four possessions would end in turnovers. The first of which being a Matt Ryan interception that led to a missed field goal by David Akers. San Francisco would be given a second chance following Ryan's fumbled snap recovered by Aldon Smith but once again failed to capitalize as Michael Crabtree fumbled on the 1-yard line just three plays into the fourth quarter. But a three and out inside their own 10 yard line would prove to be harmful for the Falcons as the 49ers got the ball back with excellent field position. For the San Francisco offense, the third time would be a charm as Frank Gore broke the plain for his second touchdown on the day, giving the 49ers their first lead of the game.
It would then be up to Matt Ryan who would be called upon to lead his team on a game-winning drive for the second consecutive week, only this time with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line. And after stringing together a number of plays including a controversial pass to wide-out Harry Douglas that appeared to have hit the ground but was ruled a catch with a little help of the officials, the Falcons appeared to be heading in the right direction. Marching all the way down to the 10-yard line and in need of a first down to keep the drive alive, the Falcons faced fourth down. Having been relatively quiet all game long logging only a pair of tackles, Pro-Bowl linebacker NaVorro Bowman would come up with the biggest play of his career, knocking down a pass to Falcons receiver Roddy White that forced an Atlanta turnover on downs, sealing the game as San Francisco completed the comeback and pitched a shutout in the second half to punch their ticket to the Super Bowl for the first time in 18 years.
Quest For Six - Equally impressive is the road that the Baltimore Ravens took to become AFC Champions. After easily taking care of the Indianapolis Colts in the Wild Card round in Baltimore, the Ravens did what they do best by taking to the road and knocking off the number one seeded Broncos in Denver, setting up a rematch of last year's AFC Championship between the Ravens and New England Patriots. After falling behind early, the Ravens pulled a similar trick from under their sleeve to that of the 49ers by not allowing the Patriots to score a single point in the second half. Three costly turnovers including interceptions on back-to-back drives doomed any chance New England had of pulling off a comeback of their own as Baltimore avenged their heart-wrenching loss that took place in the same exact stadium just a year ago by pulling off the upset.
Setting the table for what should be a hard fought battle between two of the most formidable defenses in the league, brothers John and Jim Harbaugh will meet for only the second time in their coaching careers. Though defense is what comes to mind first when mentioning these two teams, it's their quarterbacks who've gotten them where they are. Had it not been for Joe Flacco's deep desperation pass to Jacoby Jones with 31 seconds remaining in Denver to send the game into overtime or Colin Kaepernick's record setting performance to oust the Packers, we'd be seeing two other teams going at. Instead we'll see a pair of teams that many predicted would meet in the Super Bowl before the season even started, including myself. Having drooled at the thought of a Harbaugh family reunion in the Super Bowl since last season, football fans and everyone that has a sibling, will finally be treated to what they've longed for.
Though both teams share the same task - win the Lombardi Trophy, one team will fall shy of the ultimate goal and will be forced to walk off the field with a bitter taste in their mouth and a heartache even more painful than the one felt after losing in the Conference Championship last season. A feeling neither organization has ever endured as the 49ers and Ravens are a combined 6-0 in Super Bowls with San Francisco winning five and Baltimore one. And while this Ravens team shares a good amount of similarities with the one that won the Super Bowl in 2000, most notably on defense, the same cannot be said for their opponent. Although they were the team of the decade during the 1980's and won a fifth Super Bowl after the 1994 season, these 49ers aren't your father's 49ers who were led by Joe Montana and Steve Young. These 49ers are being led by a new breed of quarterback. One that is just as dangerous with his legs as he is with his throwing arm. Not to discredit Steve Young who owns the NFL record for the most rushing touchdowns ever among quarterbacks, but even Young knows his running ability isn't quite up to par with Kaepernick's.
Making only his 10th career start in the NFL, Kaepernick will take the challenge of being the one who the 49ers franchise will depend on to make it a record 6-0 all-time in Super Bowl appearances. When the 49ers last went to and won the Super Bowl I was 4 years old so as you could imagine I've been waiting for this day almost my entire life. Some 18 years later my blood still runs red & gold, proving that some things never change. Something else that won't change is the 49ers undefeated mark in the Super Bowls as I have them coming out on top, 21-17. #QuestForSix
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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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For the second year in a row the San Francisco 49ers are NFC Western Division Champions. After punching their ticket to the playoffs last season which ended a nine year playoff drought, head coach Jim Harbaugh entered his second season at the helm of the 49ers with lofty expectations and was considered by many as the favorites to not only make it to the Super Bowl this season but also win it. And after coming so close last year before falling in the NFC Championship to the eventual Super Bowl Champion New York Giants at home in overtime, anything short of the franchise's sixth Lombardi Trophy this time around would be a disappointment.
Though their journey to the postseason this year has been much more difficult than it was a year ago when the team locked up the division with four more games to play as the second seed, the 49ers (11-4-1) still managed to lock up the no. 2 seed in the NFC on the last day of the regular season thanks to a Week 17 win over the division-rival Arizona Cardinals and a little help from the Minnesota Vikings who knocked off the Green Bay Packers to claim the final Wild Card spot, only to lose in the rematch the following week, 27-10. In that 27-13 win over the Cardinals, 49ers running back Frank Gore ran the ball into the end zone from 2-yards out in the fourth quarter for his 51st career rushing touchdown, surpassing both Joe Perry and Roger Craig to become the franchise's all-time rushing touchdowns leader. And while Gore has failed to eclipse the century mark in yards in nine consecutive weeks, he might be primed for a big game facing a Green Bay Packers team that he had one of his bigger performances against this season back in Week 1.
Compiling 112 yards on the ground to go along with a touchdown, Gore helped lead his team to a 30-22 victory over the Packers at Lambeau Field back in August. Though a lot can change for a team in nearly four months, the only major adjustment the 49ers have made is at the starting quarterback position which now belongs to second-year QB Colin Kaepernick. Kaepernick, who was born in Wisconsin and grew up in northern California, made his desires to want to play professional football known at an early age by writing a letter in the fourth grade saying he wanted to play for either the Niners or Packers. Little did he know he would be playing in a playoff game that featured both teams in only his second year in the league, much less starting.
A similar childhood dream was that of Packers QB Aaron Rodgers who grew up a huge 49er fan, idolizing the great Joe Montana and hoping to one day be drafted by his favorite team. Those dreams were shattered however, when San Francisco instead used the no. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NFL Draft on Alex Smith. While being passed on by the team he grew up rooting for is something he'll always have in mind, there's nothing Rodgers would like more than to send the 49ers packing and reminding them of what they could have had. Already with a Super Bowl MVP and ring on his resume as well as an NFL MVP Award which he took home last season, Rodgers is still seeking that second Lombardi Trophy that would help him leapfrog Brett Favre in popularity for good. Hoping to get in the way of those plans will be the 49ers defense which will be fresh off a BYE week.
A vital part of the vaunted 49ers defense has been the one-two punch of Aldon Smith and Justin Smith who's missed the last two games due to an elbow injury but should benefit as well as anyone from the extra week off to recover in time for Saturday's meeting. Prior to Smith's injury which occurred in San Francisco's win over the New England Patriots in Week 15, 49ers defensive-end Aldon Smith needed only three sacks to pass Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record of 22.5 sacks but failed to log a single sack once his partner in crime fell to the injury bug. But with the one they call "Cowboy" healthy and hungry for a ring, expect the Smith brothers to be a pain in the backside of Rodgers and a key reason as to why the 49ers will be making back-to-back trips to the NFC Championship. My Prediction: 49ers 27, Packers 20.
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Over the last few years in baseball, it almost seemed like a trend or better yet a given that the game's marquee free-agents would either land in New York, Philadelphia, or Boston during the off-season. But since last season, no place has been a better big name attraction than Los Angeles. Better known for its warm weather and sandy beaches, L.A. has quickly formed into a baseball haven.
As if the Los Angeles Dodgers weren't already the team to watch in the National League next season preparing to begin their 2013 campaign with the super team they tried forming during mid-season last year, they've surely solidified their case this off-season. Continuing what began in late July last season when the Dodgers traded for former NL Batting Champion Hanley Ramirez and All-Star reliever Brandon League before later adding Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Josh Beckett and Nick Punto in an August blockbuster deal with the Boston Red Sox, the Blue Crew have yet to put down their checkbooks and take a break from their free-spending. Earlier this week Dodgers GM Ned Colletti confirmed the signings of Korean All-Star hurler Hyun-Jin Ryu and 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke.
Refusing to play second fiddle in the city of angels to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim who had the most expensive off-season ever last year when signing Albert Pujols and C.J. Wilson to a combined $317.5 Million, the Dodgers have quickly evolved into the NL's version of the New York Yankees and have been this year's most active ball club. Shortly after committing close to $62 Million on Ryu which included the $25.7 Million posting fee to negotiate with the Korean Baseball League veteran, the Dodgers made Greinke the highest paid right-handed pitcher in MLB history, inking him to a six-year, $146 Million pact. Hoping to improve in the pitching department, seeing as their nemesis in northern California -- the San Francisco Giants just won their second World Series title in three years backed by a dominant pitching staff, the Dodgers plan to make some noise of their own by adding a second Cy Young Award winner into the rotation.
The combination of Clayton Kershaw who took home NL Cy Young honors in 2011 and Greinke who won the hardware in the AL while with the Kansas City Royals in 2009 could be a lethal duo in an already pitching dominant division and should challenge the Giants for the NL West title. Splitting the season with the Milwaukee Brewers before being traded to the Angels in late July, Greinke posted a record of 15-5 with an ERA of 3.48 in 2012, eclipsing the 200 mark in both strikeouts and innings pitched. A season after the franchise filed for bankruptcy before falling into the hands of Guggenheim Baseball Management which includes former NBA great Magic Johnson for $2 Billion, the Dodgers who's current payroll sits at $225 Million, will more than likely begin the 2013 season with the highest payroll in baseball history, surpassing the previous mark set in 2005 by the New York Yankees ($209 Million).
And while the 2013 payroll of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim doesn't quite compete with that of their southern California relatives, sitting at $160 Million, that doesn't mean they don't have a team that's even better on paper. Though the Dodgers own a better pitching staff than their cross-town rivals, the Angels' lineup is much more superior thanks in large part to owner Arte Moreno's spending which enabled GM Jerry Dipoto to land the most coveted player in free-agency for the second consecutive year. A year after signing Albert Pujols to a mega deal and prying former Rangers ace C.J. Wilson from the hands of their division rivals, the Angels have once again made it clear that they're going for it all in 2013, this time by adding former AL MVP Josh Hamilton to a five-year, $125 Million contract. Finishing his 2012 season with a .285 batting average, 128 RBIs, a .930 OPS and a career-high 43 home runs, Hamilton finished fifth in the AL MVP voting and was named Silver Slugger for the third time in his career.
While many are quick to say the Angels have taken a roll of the dice with the blockbuster signing of Hamilton, a 5-time All-Star who brings baggage along with him which includes a history of injuries as well as alcohol and drug problems, Moreno sees it as a way to improve the ball club and enhance their chances of bringing the organization its second World Series Championship and its first under Moreno who bought the team in '03. Though one relapse can spell doom for the 31-year old Hamilton, he'll have a supportive cast to keep him clean along his journey. Alongside his family, Hamilton will have Pujols, Wilson who lives a straightedge lifestyle and his accountability partner, Shayne Kelley to help keep him out of trouble and away from his former demons that derailed his career in earlier years. Along with stealing their best player, the acquisition of Hamilton should also be enough to steal the AL West in 2013, leaving the Texas Rangers and Oakland A's on the outside looking in.
Hoping to improve their starting rotation following the departures of Greinke and Dan Haren, the Halos have acquired Tommy Hanson, Joe Blanton and Jason Vargas this off-season and have added Ryan Madson and Sean Burnett to their relief corps. But even with an average pitching staff led by ace Jared Weaver, the Angels will be doing most of their winning with their offense. With Mike Trout leading off, Hamilton will more than likely protect Pujols as Anaheim's cleanup hitter which gives them three potential MVP candidates. Not to be forgotten is the power-hitting hometown kid -- Mark Trumbo. Combined they form a nice little rendition of the 1927 New York Yankees better known as "Murderers' Row." But along with the excitement revolving this new breeding ground for baseball superstars comes the expectations of winning championships. Something the Dodgers haven't done since 1988 and the Angels haven't accomplished since 2002. With a Battle of the Bay as well as a Subway Series World Series already in the books, could this be the year we're finally treated to a Freeway Series in the Fall Classic?
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If there was any one game football fans had circled on their calendar in week 15, it was the Sunday Night showdown between the 9-3-1 San Francisco 49ers and the 10-3 New England Patriots. In what many predicted to be a Super Bowl preview coming into the season, the meeting between these two teams would be nothing short of a classic. Expected to be a dog fight from play one in the cool, rainy climate of New England's Foxborough Stadium, all eyes were on the 49ers and how well they would adjust to the conditions. Having won 21 straight games at home in the month of December, the Patriots would witness one of the greatest streaks in NFL history finally come to an end.
Making his return to New England where he called home for 3 1/2 seasons and set numerous receiving records alongside Tom Brady, Randy Moss would make this a homecoming to remember as he capped off the 49ers opening-drive on offense by hauling in a 24-yard touchdown reception to put San Francisco up early, 7-0. After a Steven Gostkowski field goal, Colin Kaepernick connected with his tight-end Delanie Walker from 34-yards out for his second touchdown pass in as many quarters. In what would be a slippery turnover fest highlighted by five fumbles and an interception, the 49ers took a 17-3 lead into the locker room at the half following a David Akers field goal, but could have easily been up by more.
Facing the team he grew up rooting for, Tom Brady would soon find himself needing to channel his inner boyhood idol in Joe Montana as the Patriots found themselves trailing, 31-3 in the third quarter after the 49ers capitalized on a Steven Ridley fumble and a Brady interception. San Francisco turned the two costly mistakes into 14-points in a matter of only 18 seconds, giving New England their largest deficit at home since November of 1998 vs the Atlanta Falcons. While the game appeared to be out of reach right then and there as San Francisco had their boot on the neck of their opponent, Brady rallied the troops and eventually tied the game as the Patriots scored 28 unanswered-points to tie the game at 31-all. Though blowing a 28-point lead would be demoralizing for the average quarterback making only his fifth career start, the debacle only fueled Colin Kaepernick who stole the momentum right back by finding Michael Crabtree for a 38-yard touchdown set up by a brilliant 62-yard kick return from rookie LaMichael James.
In need of some help from the Niners defense which would later allow the most points ever under coach Jim Harbaugh, San Francisco got back-to-back stops including a turnover on downs that gave New England a season-high four turnovers and set David Akers up for his second field goal on the day. Brady would follow up by marching his team down field for a field goal of their own to bring them within a touchdown, but his late game heroics wouldn't be enough as New England failed to recover the ensuing on-side kick, giving the 49ers the 41-34 win, snapping the Patriots seven game winning-streak and handing them their first home loss in the month of December since 2002. For the 49ers, the win against the Patriots was their first since 1995 and the first on the road in New England since '92. With the victory, San Francisco improved to 10-3-1 on the year and clinched a playoff berth for the second consecutive season.
Noteworthy: 49ers defensive-end Aldon Smith failed to tally a sack to add to his league-leading sacks total and chase of Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record, but did manage to record his first career interception. Tom Brady threw for 443 yards on 65 attempts, while throwing for a touchdown and rushing for another. Colin Kaepernick threw for a career-high 4 touchdowns against only 1 interception and added 221 passing yards. Frank Gore led all rushers with 83 yards on 21 carries. Michael Crabtree hauled in 7 receptions for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead SF. Former 49er Brandon Lloyd finished with 10 receptions for 190 yards. San Francisco won the turnover battle, 4-2.
Week 16 Preview: In case Week 15's visit to New England wasn't enough, the 49ers will get set to pay Seattle a visit where they'll take on the red-hot Seattle Seahawks and the 12th Man in the most hostile environment known to a visiting football team. With the NFC West still undecided, the 49ers can clinch the division with a win against the Seahawks, but it won't be an easy task as Seattle appears to be a different team since their Week 7 meeting in which the 49ers won at home, having scored 50-points or more in back-to-back games. But after watching the 49ers defining all odds to leave New England with a win, I'm putting my money on San Francisco winning this one, 24-17, in what should be a game highlighted by defense and some power running from both Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch.
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Coming off a disappointing loss on the road to the St. Louis Rams who the 49ers fell to in overtime in Week 13, Colin Kaepernick and company returned home in hopes of avenging the young quarterback's first career loss as a starter by getting back in the win column and inching closer to a second consecutive NFC Western Division title. Facing a Miami Dolphins team led by rookie quarterback Ryan Tannenhill, all signs pointed towards the 49ers having a relatively easy day. But with neither team off to a hot start, the game remained close and would be up for grabs until the final minutes.
With the Dolphins winning the coin-toss and electing to differ, it was up to the 49ers to set the tone on offense. Wasting no time to challenge Miami's defense, Kaepernick, the second-year QB out of Nevada, connected with his tight-end Delanie Walker for a 20-yard pickup on the first play from scrimmage. But a fumble just several plays later on the same drive would derail any plans the 49ers had of getting on the board early. Luckily offensive tackle Anthony Davis was nearby to recover the ball after the sack and prevent an early disaster. With both teams exchanging punts, the game would remain scoreless heading into the second quarter. But not for long as the combination of Tannenhill and running back Reggie Bush stringed together a nice drive on Miami's second possession, ending in a Dan Carpenter field goal to put the Dolphins on top, 3-0.
Answering with a field goal of their own and with the game tied, 3-3, the 49ers began marching down the field with ease and seemed destined for the end zone. But with no timeouts left and the clock being a factor, San Francisco's most successful drive yet would be cut short, forcing coach Harbaugh to bring in David Akers for his second field goal of the day to give the 49ers a 6-3 lead at the half. With three-and-outs from both teams to begin the second half, the Dolphins special teams would shoot themselves in the foot with a costly turnover as Marcus Thigpen's muffed punt return set the 49ers up inside the 10-yard line and once again within striking distance. Two plays later, Frank Gore would capitalize on the miscue by plowing into the end zone from 1-yard out for the easy score. And while Gore would later eclipse the 1,000 yard mark for the sixth time in his career during the game, the touchdown tied him with Joe Perry and Roger Craig for the most rushing touchdowns in 49ers franchise history with 50.
Trailing 13-3, Miami would make it a 7-point game after Carpenter's 53-yard field goal. But another rushing touchdown this time from Anthony Dixon, would increase San Francisco's lead to 20-6 in the 4th quarter. In need of a touchdown to stand any chance of making a comeback, the Dolphins found themselves in a fourth and goal inside the 5 yard line. Throwing into the left corner of the end zone, Tannenhill connected with his tight-end Anthony Fasano who made a spectacular one-handed grab to make it a 20-13 game and pull his team within a touchdown. After turning the ball over on downs with a chance to tie it following another San Francisco three and out, Colin Kaepernick would put the finishing touches on the ballgame by trotting into the end zone untouched from 50 yards out for the dagger, sealing the 27-13 victory.
Noteworthy: Rookie running back LaMichael James who was a standout at the University of Oregon and set numerous rushing records at the collegiate level, made his NFL debut, logging 30 yards on 8 rushes. Frank Gore and Reggie Bush each ran for 60+ yards. Michael Crabtree led all receivers with 93 yards on 9 receptions. Colin Kaepernick threw for 185 and Ryan Tannenhill tallied 150 yards passing.
Week 15 Preview: Improving to 9-3-1 on the year after their rout of the Dolphins, the 49ers get set to hit the road for a 2-game road trip against two of the most difficult teams to face in their respective venues. And though the 49ers do own a pair of solid road wins under their belt this year at the disposal of the Green Bay Packers in Week 1 and the New Orleans Saints in Week 12, their Week 15 match-up is a whole different animal. Having won 21 consecutive games at home in the month of December, the 10-3 New England Patriots will look to add to that mark in front of a nationally televised audience as both teams get set to square off on NBC's Sunday Night Football in a clash between the league's most stingiest defense and the NFL's highest-scoring offense. Winners of their last seven games including a blowout win on Monday night over the visiting Houston Texans which boasts one of the top defenses in the AFC, the Patriots have already won the AFC East and hope to ride their hot streak into the playoffs. And just like the 49ers defense which will have their hands full with MVP candidate Tom Brady, New England's offensive-line will also have plenty on their plate as they hope to contain 49ers defensive-end Aldon Smith who enters Sunday's meeting three sacks behind Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record (22.5).
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If you love the San Francisco Giants as much as I do, you're probably still celebrating the fact that for the second time in three years they're World Series champions. And while the fans and players are still busy soaking it all in, the Giants front-office has been equally as busy this off-season, making moves in preparation of doing it all over again next year. With key contributions during the team's improbable playoff run coming from Jeremy Affeldt in the bullpen and both Angel Pagan and Marco Scutaro at the plate, general manager Brian Sabean made it his off-season priority to bring back all three players. And on the opening day of Major League Baseball's Winter Meetings, Sabean who also had his contract extended on Tuesday, managed to have all three players crossed off of the Giants wishlist.
Though reliever Jeremy Affeldt who's become a mainstay in the Giants bullpen since 2009 signed his new three-year, $18 Million deal several weeks ago in mid-November, the Giants filled not one, but two vacancies in their batting order on Tuesday by signing Pagan to a four-year, $40 Million contract and Scutaro to a three-year, $20 Million pact after the two were said to have spoke to other teams. While the Philadelphia Phillies reportedly offered Pagan a four-year deal, the St. Louis Cardinals who Marco Scutaro took home NLCS MVP honors against with a .500 batting average, offered the 37 year old second baseman a multi-year deal. But at the end of the day, it was San Francisco where both players found themselves signing. And after winning it all for the first time in their career, why not take another shot at it with a chance to defend your title with virtually the same exact group of guys you won it with?
While Scutaro showcased just what he could do in front of a nationally televised audience during the postseason after being traded from the Rockies mid-season where he'd hit .362 in 268 regular season plate appearances with the Giants, Pagan shook off a cold start to his 2012 campaign by setting career bests in doubles and runs as well as set a single-season franchise-record for triples with 13 which also led the National League. And though a four-year deal wasn't ideally what Sabean wanted to award the 31 year old Pagan with, he did what he had to in order to lure in the spark plug of the Giants offense. The re-signing of Pagan also means Bruce Bochy will have a speedy lead-off man who's a threat on the base paths to depend on in the outfield for at least a few more years. Bochy who's been the skipper of the Giants since 2007, will also be around a little longer as he too had his 2014 option picked up by team president and chief executive officer Larry Baer.
With the Giants lineup for the 2013 season just about in place with the likes of Buster Posey, Brandon Belt, Brandon Crawford, Pablo Sandoval, Hunter Pence, Gregor Blanco and Pagan and Scutaro, Sabean and company hasn't shot down the possibility just yet of adding another piece to the puzzle, one that would most likely be an outfielder, meaning Blanco would have to surrender his duties in left. Such names as Ichiro Suzuki and Nick Swisher who according to reports has San Francisco atop his list of desired destinations have both been thrown around, but might be asking for more greenbacks than what the Giants brain trust has in mind.
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Having played some of their best football over the past two weeks with a dominant win at home over the Chicago Bears and a stellar outing on the road against the Saints, the 49ers payed a visit to St. Louis where they'd take on the division rival Rams. Despite the mismatch of records as San Francisco entered Sunday's game at 8-2-1 compared to St. Louis' 4-6-1, with the way the game played out you'd think this was a battle for first place in the division. And with their first meeting this season ending in a 24-24 tie three weeks ago at San Francisco's Candlestick Park, the 49ers knew not to underestimate the Rams. And just like in their first meeting in week 10, four quarters wouldn't be enough to determine a winner.
With little to cheer for from either side in the first half, the only scoring in the first two quarters would come on a 1-yard touchdown run from Frank Gore, putting the 49ers up 7-0 where the score would remain going into the half as Rams rookie kicker Greg Zuerlein missed a field goal from 58-yards out, failing to put St. Louis on the board. With Colin Kaepernick doing a lot of running with little to show for in the first three quarters, the Rams defense would force the young quarterback into a safety to make it a 7-2 ballgame. After a David Akers field goal made it 10-2 in favor of San Francisco, the St. Louis defense forced Kaepernick to make yet another costly mistake, this time in the form of a fumble as he threw an errant pitch over the head of Ted Ginn Jr. which Rams cornerback Janoris Jenkins scooped up and returned into the end zone from 2 yards out for St. Louis' only touchdown on the day. Following a successful two-point conversion, the Rams found themselves in a tie game thanks to their defense.
With sub-par performances from both quarterback's, both team's would depend on the leg of their kickers who would also see better days. Though David Akers would hit his first two field goal attempts including one that gave the 49ers a 13-10 lead in the fourth quarter before St. Louis answered with a field goal of their own, he would miss the third try with the game on the line. As the game went into overtime, both teams failed to score on their first two possessions. With a chance to win the game, Akers missed wide right from 51 yards out. Hoping to capitalize on the 49ers blown opportunity and in good field position, the Rams offense would only need to move the chains once to get into Greg Zuerlein territory where he would be given a chance to make up for his missed field goal earlier in the game. And with just 30 seconds remaining, the rookie out of Missouri Western would do just that, splitting the uprights from 54 yards out to lead his team to a 16-13 victory, avoiding becoming the first pair of teams to tie twice in the same season since the 1963 Eagles & Steelers and handing the 49ers only their third loss of the season.
Having now given the 49ers a tough outing in both of their meetings this season which resulted in a loss and a tie, I think it's safe to say Jeff Fisher has Jim Harbaugh's number and should not only help St. Louis improve moving forward but also breath life back into this long lived 49ers-Rams rivalry. For San Francisco, the loss to a weaker opponent will only add more fuel to an already hot fire as the quarterback controversy will continue to spark for another week.
Week 14 Preview: With their two-game road trip in which they finished 1-1 finally coming to an end, the 49ers hope to get back on winning track at home where they'll take on the 5-7 Miami Dolphins. With a rookie quarterback in Ryan Tannenhill on tap for Miami, the 49ers should be in store for a dominant game on defense, but will in no way be able to sleep on running back Reggie Bush who had one of the best games of his career against the 49ers back in 2006 while with the Saints. In that '06 meeting Bush compiled 168-all purpose yards and went on to tie a single-game franchise record by scoring four touchdowns in a win over San Francisco. Though a similar performance is highly unlikely against this stout 49ers run defense which has allowed an average of only 90.6 yards on the ground, you know the star back out of USC is going to try to duplicate that performance. Unfortunately for him, I have him failing to put up similar numbers and see the 49ers winning 27-13.
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