Beginning their 2019 campaign and final season under skipper Bruce Bochy with an aging roster and a new general manager in Farhan Zaidi, the San Francisco Giants would open the year with a 7-game road trip against division rivals San Diego and Los Angeles. Expected to take a leap forward and improve upon their 2018 season, the Padres welcomed the Giants into town by taking 3 of 4 from San Francisco to kick start their best start to a season since 2012 as Bruce Bochy's ball club was asleep at the wheel on offense and was held to a whopping 5-runs in the four-game set. San Diego managed to quiet the Giants' bats and set a new franchise record for the most consecutive scoreless innings to begin a season with 17, before a solo home run in the ninth inning by third baseman Evan Longoria stopped the bleeding and finally put San Francisco on the board nearly two full games in.
To put their woes and inexperience into perspective, Bochy's Opening Day outfield which consisted of rookie Connor Joe in left field, Steven Duggar in center and Michael Reed playing in right, the starting pitcher for that day -- Madison Bumgarner, began the season with 15 more career home runs than the trio of outfielders combined. The Giants ace would add another long ball to his career total (18) in the series against the Dodgers with his 18th career dinger which moved him into 20th on the all-time home runs list among pitchers. However, the Giants would suffer a similar fate during their first trip to Chavez Ravine, claiming the series-opener against the hated Dodgers, before dropping the next two. In the series-opener, the lone game of the series that the Giants would reign victorious, both Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt notched career double No. 200. The team would also make one of their first moves of the season by acquiring outfielder and defensive wiz Kevin Pillar from Toronto via trade in exchange for right-handed pitchers Juan De Paula, Derek Law and infielder Alen Hanson. Pillar, who grew up just a stones throw away from Dodger Stadium in nearby West Hills, California, and was the longest tenured Blue Jay at the time of his trade at 6+ years, would make his presence felt in the Giants' first home stand.
After dropping 2 of 3 in the Giants' home-opening series against the Tampa Bay Rays, Pillar smashed his first career grand slam in the team's next series against the Padres. It would also mark the first grand slam for the Giants since April 7, 2017 as they went all of last season without one. Unfortunately, the grand salami which gave the Giants a 5-0 lead, wouldn't be enough to fend off a Padres comeback, even with Bumgarner on the mound as the Friars stormed back to steal the victory, 6-5. In the same game, Bumgarner moved up the ranks and surpassed Hall of Famer Gaylord Perry for the 7th spot on the franchise's all-time strikeout leader board with 1,607. The Giants would redeem themselves the following day with a 7-2 win aided by another 4 RBI day for the recently acquired Pillar. With back to back games with 4 RBI's, Pillar would continue to make an immediate impact and joined some elite company by becoming the first Giant since Barry Bonds to drive in 4+ runs in consecutive games. But after losing the rubber-match to the Padres the following day, the Giants' dismal start would mark the first time in 36 years that they dropped each of their first four series to begin a season.
Better results would come in their next series as San Francisco played host to a four-game set against the Colorado Rockies. Taking each of the first three games, including an 18-inning marathon that finished with a walk-off celebration, the Giants failed to complete the sweep, but were satisfied with their first series victory. In the 18-inning win, the first for the Giants since 1933 when they still called New York home, both teams saw a combined 501 pitches thrown as the Giants set a franchise record with the most combined strikeouts in a game with 24, surpassing the previous mark of 22 K's during a 23 inning affair on the road against the Mets in 1964. Backup catcher Erik Kratz who caught all 18 innings, served up the deciding blow by driving in Brandon Belt with a bases loaded fielders-choice and becoming the first catcher to catch at least 18 innings and deliver the game-winning RBI in the same game since Bob Boone of the Angels on April 13, 1982 against Seattle. The game also tied the longest game in Oracle Park history, an 18-inning match against the Arizona Diamondbacks back on May 29, 2001. The team's first road trip out east, would see stops in the nation's capital and the Steel City before heading up north to Canada for a visit with the Blue Jays. The Giants were able to bookend their meetings against the Nats and Bucs with wins. And in the first of which, a 7-3 victory in Washington D.C., the Giants clubbed three homers off of Nats All-Star Stephen Strasburg, a rare feat as the former number one overall pick had only allowed three homers in a game on two other occasions in his 209 previous starts.
Dropping the next two against the Nationals, the Giants began play in rainy Pittsburgh where the Pirates handed the Giants another pair of losses, including a rain-shortened game that was called after only five innings played and a 3 hour rain delay. San Francisco would avoid being swept in Pittsburgh for the first time since 2008 with a win on Easter Sunday behind pitcher Dereck Rodriguez who improved to 3-0 on the road thanks to a 3-run homer to center field by Buster Posey which ended a homer-less drought that would span 236 at-bats and marked his first HR since June 19, 2018 vs Miami. The homer that came in the fifth inning would also be the first of Posey's career hit against the Pirates. A short two-game stop in Toronto saw the return of fan favorite Kevin Pillar in front of a Blue Jays fan base that serenaded him with a standing ovation. The Giants bats would awake for four homers in the first game, before Drew Pomeranz pitched a shutout as the G-Men pulled off the two-game sweep. A return home to host the New York Yankees for only the second time in Oracle Park history, the Giants were rudely greeted by a banged up Bronx Bombers team that still managed to pull off the three-game sweep. However, one positive would be that the Giants would finally put an end to their dubious National League record of 25 games without a first inning run to start a season, second in baseball history to only the American League's 1948 Chicago White Sox who went 28 consecutive games to start a season without. With a sacrifice-fly in the first inning to drive in Tyler Austin, Buster Posey would put a dagger in the unwanted distinction.
The Giants would get a chance to redeem themselves as the Dodgers came into town for a three-game set. And in a hard-fought Game 1, the Giants rallied against their archrivals as Evan Longoria connected with his biggest hit in a Giants uniform, a bases-clearing double in the 7th inning that led to the 3-2 come-from-behind victory. After the Dodgers slugged their way to a 10-3 victory in Game 2, the Giants took two of three from their bitter rivals as Buster Posey supplied the game-winning hit with an RBI single that scored Steven Duggar from second base and lifted San Francisco over the Dodgers in walk-off fashion. For the Giants, the walk-off victory was the second of the season for Posey and company and was the eighth of Buster's career, third against Los Angeles which tied him with Matt Williams for the most walk-off hits as a Giant against the Dodgers since both teams relocated from New York to California. And though ace Madison Bumgarner received a no-decision in the win, the outing which saw him toss 6 innings of 1 run ball and strikeout 8, was a welcoming sight considering he was coming off a bad start against the Yankees in which he surrendered a career-high 11-hits.
Following their series-victory over L.A., the Giants improved to 13-18 on the year, but remain in last place in the NL West. The first week of May is likely to be a tough one for the Giants who begin a 7-game road trip with four games in Cincinnati before heading to the Mile High City to face the Rockies. And while the Reds are also cellar dwellers in their respective division at 12-17 entering the month of May, we all know how unfriendly the Reds' home of Great American Ballpark can be to opposing pitchers and the same could be said for the high altitude at Colorado's Coors Field. The Giants will look to turn things around in both places as they try to right the ship.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
San Francisco 49er fans are excited for the 2019 NFL season, and rightfully so after the deals their team dished out in free-agency and the picks they made in this year's Draft. The glaring weakness the Niners faced entering the offseason was at defensive-end as San Francisco's defense saw very little production overall in 2018, most notably at the edge position. Aside from a few bright spots in defensive stalwart DeForest Buckner, newcomer Richard Sherman and rookie linebacker Fred Warner, there wasn't a whole lot to cheer for on a lackluster 49er defense during last year's 4-12 campaign. And after a season in which their team finished in the bottom third of the league in generated sacks (37), general manager John Lynch & head coach Kyle Shanahan who are entering their third year at the helm of the franchise, made pass rush their biggest point of emphasis during the offseason.
Following a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs to acquire Pro Bowl defensive-end Dee Ford who led the league with 8 forced fumble sacks, three more than San Francisco's entire defensive unit last season, and 13 total sacks, the 49er brain trust knew they weren't finished bolstering the position, especially when Ohio State's Nick Bosa was still on the board at pick No. 2. Regarded as the best overall player entering the draft, Bosa was passed on by division rivals Arizona who possessed the first overall pick and chose to go in a different direction by selecting a quarterback. The decision to select Bosa was an easy one for the 49er front-office as he was the guy they had coveted all along, but were afraid wouldn't be available beyond pick No. 1. It just so happened that Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury's love for Oklahoma QB Kyler Murray worked out perfectly for San Francisco and allowed Bosa to fall into their lap. Having missed nearly all of his Junior year while battling injury and undergoing core muscle surgery, the Niners will depend on Bosa to stay healthy in order for their new-look defense to produce to its full potential. If the Niners can steer clear of the injury bug in 2019, their first two picks of this year's draft should make as big an immediate impact as any in the league.
Another department of need entering the offseason was at the receiver position and the 49ers made sure to add to their receiving corps with back to back picks in the second and third rounds during day 2 of the NFL Draft, selecting Deebo Samuel, second round, 36th overall out of South Carolina and Jalen Hurd, third round, 67th overall out of Baylor. Samuel, who's known for his play-making ability both in and out of the slot as well as returning kicks, was one of the top receivers in the draft after tallying an 11-touchdown, 62-reception season last year for the Gamecocks and made an instant fan out of coach Shanahan during the Senior Bowl which was partly coached by the 49ers staff. The two became quite familiar with one another and look to build on that relationship in the pros. But like most players the 49ers have acquired since the end of last season, Samuel has also had his fair share of injuries in the past, which seemed to be a theme for many of their additions this offseason. And while Samuel doesn't resemble the big bodied receiver that the Niners have been seeking for quite some time now, their third round selection certainly fits the bill. Hurd, a former running back at the University of Tennessee, stands at 6-foot-5 with 226 pounds and is an interesting specimen who provides plenty of versatility, but will likely be a project for Shanahan considering his raw talent. Either way, I don't think there's a receiver that Shanahan has drafted in his three years with the team that he hasn't liked in the NFL.
One of the more questionable picks in the draft, was who the Niners took in the 4th round, 110th overall. Needing a punter with Bradley Pinion now a member of the Buccaneers, Lynch & Shanahan got themselves a good one in Utah's Mitch Wishnowsky, but seemed to have reached for him considering the round they took him in. Recipient of the Ray Guy Award during his sophomore year in 2016, an award given to the best punter in college, the Aussie native will try to make pundits forget about his draft position and duplicate the success the 49ers had on special-teams when Andy Lee was punching his ticket to the Pro Bowl every other year. Hoping to strike gold at the linebacker position like they did with Warner in last year's draft, San Francisco selected Dre Greenlaw 148th overall out of Arkansas in the 5th round. With a trio of picks in round 6, Kaden Smith (176th), tight-end out of Stanford, Justin Skule (183rd), offensive-tackle out of Vanderbilt, and Tim Harris (198th), cornerback from Virginia, rounded out the 49ers' 2019 Draft class. Considering how needy San Francisco was for a defensive back, holding off until their final pick in the draft to select one came as a surprise to many.
Like Bosa and Samuel, Hurd, Greenlaw and Harris have all had a history of injuries during their collegiate careers, but the fun doesn't stop there. Free-agent acquisitions Kwon Alexander, a linebacker formerly with Tampa Bay and Jason Verrett a former Charger, are both coming off of season-ending injuries. Alexander who agreed to a hefty four-year, $54 Million deal, suffered a torn ACL in Week 7 with the Bucs last year and Verrett who signed a one-year contract for a modest $3.6 Million, was plagued with a torn Achilles tendon on the first day of training camp last year to go along with the myriad of other injuries he's had since entering the league as a 1st round pick in 2014. With both players having made the Pro Bowl -- Alexander in 2017 and Verrett in 2015, staying on the field would pay dividends for their new team, but will be a huge challenge, especially for Verrett who missed 43 of the last 48 games while a member of the Chargers with just about every injury under the sun. However, the signing remains a low-risk, high-reward deal for San Francisco hence the one year offer and figures of the contract.
Another piece the 49ers added this offseason via free-agency and a guy who was drafted by coach Shanahan during his time in Atlanta, is former Falcons running back Tevin Coleman who agreed to a 2-year deal worth $10 Million. Formerly one half of the 1-2 punch the Falcons featured at running back alongside Devonta Freeman, Coleman brings his familiarity with Shanahan's system to the Bay Area and also adds depth to the position that also includes running backs Matt Breida, Raheem Mostert, Jeff Wilson and the return of Jerick McKinnon who missed all of last season with a knee injury. Wide receiver Jordan Matthews was also signed to strengthen the wide-out position and looks to find the spark he had during his first two seasons in Philadelphia when he tallied a combined 16 touchdowns and was on the doorstep of the 1,000 yards receiving plateau in his sophomore season when he fell just three yards shy. While the Niners decided to bring back a pair of former first round picks in free safety Jimmie Ward and defensive end Arik Armstead, some weren't as lucky as the team would bid farewells to OT Garry Gilliam, DE Cassius Marsh and LB Brock Coyle who were all released.
Having missed the playoffs for the past five seasons, 2019 will be a season in which the Niners will need to see major improvements on the field and in the win column before the seats of Shanahan & Lynch potentially begin to heat up, whether fair or not. A victim of overseeing a depleted roster due to countless injuries a season ago, coach Shanahan will be depending on a much healthier roster this upcoming season, most importantly at the quarterback position. And if QB Jimmy Garoppolo can make a full recovery and bounce back like all signs appear to indicate, then year three should be Shanahan's best yet at the helm of the 49ers. Though the hole at quarterback was a major concern a season ago with Jimmy G. out, it wasn't the only one as the woeful defense forced only seven takeaways in 2018, the fewest by a team in NFL history by a total, four fewer than the previous mark of 11 by the 1982 Baltimore Colts. San Francisco's new-look defense plans to throw that dubious record book out the window as they now feature one of the better pass rushing attacks in the league on paper with the additions of Bosa and Ford. The tandem should be a day and night difference from what they had a season ago alongside Pro Bowler DeForest Buckner.
With 49ers rookie mini-camp underway this week, full team training camp is slated to begin on July 25 for both rookies and veterans alike and will showcase plenty for us to keep an eye on as competitions are formed, guys get cut and roster spots are earned. The 49ers open the 2019 NFL regular season on the road against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
In what's been a rather dull offseason for Major League Baseball with the top two coveted players in Bryce Harper and Manny Machado still on the free-agent market less than a week before the start of Spring Training exhibition games, the news of San Francisco Giants skipper Bruce Bochy announcing his retirement following the 2019 season might be the biggest news yet this offseason. The 63 year old skipper who is already the oldest manager in the league, will celebrate his 64th birthday less than three weeks into the 2019 season. However, it's safe to say he'll be treated like everyday is his birthday for the entire season by his team, front-office and fans alike as he looks to hang it up following his 13-year tenure as manager of the Giants and his 25th season overall.
Basically a shoo-in for Cooperstown, the future Hall of Fame skipper announced from a dugout prior to Monday's Spring Training workout in Scottsdale, Arizona that the 2019 season would be his last at the helm of the team he managed to three World Series titles in 2010, 2012 and 2014 and helped create into a dynasty. "In my mind it's time," he told reporters before admitting his plans to stick around the game of baseball in some form or capacity. What position that'll be, we'll just have to wait and see, but my guess is that Giants brass will make him a Giant for life or for however long he's willing to man a position. The active leader in wins among all Major League managers, Bochy currently stands with 1,926 total wins during his combined time spent with the Giants and San Diego Padres which places him 11th on MLB's all-time wins list. A former Manager of the Year Award winner in 1996 with the Padres, Bochy would go on to lead San Diego to only their second World Series appearance just two years later before losing to New York during the Yankees' 1996-2000 dynasty. Relocating from San Diego to San Francisco in 2007, Bochy would become one of only five managers in MLB history to lead a team to three titles in a five-year span and is the only manager in the game's history with 900+ wins with multiple franchises.
Helping bring a trio of World Series championships to a city that had been starving of a title since the Giants followed the archrival Dodgers from New York to California in 1958, not many of the players he managed were as beloved as the manager himself during his time spent spent with the Giants which I'd say is pretty rare for a skipper these days considering how short we've seen some managerial careers last in certain places. As for the other nine managers before him to hoist the Commissioners Trophy at least three times, they've all been enshrined into Cooperstown which should make Bochy a lock to one day be able to say the same. Boasting a career record of 1,926-wins and 1,944-losses which equates to a .498 winning percentage, Bochy is 975-969 during his time with the Giants who will need to win at least 75 games in 2019 to ensure a winning record for their skipper of the last decade plus. But Bochy's team will try doing a lot more than that to help give him a proper sendoff, even if it means fighting off superior teams like the Dodgers and Rockies within the division. 82 wins shy of tying another Hall of Famer and World Series-winning manager with the Giants -- Leo Durocher, Bochy could move into the top 10 of all-time wins among managers. But we all know another miraculous postseason run and fourth World Series title is really what lies on the minds of Bochy and his team as they prepare for his final go-around.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
In his first season out west with the Los Angeles Lakers, 34-year old LeBron James has proven that he's still among the best players in the NBA if not still the top dog in a league that favors fresh legs and young talent. After helping turn around what's been a struggling Lakers franchise for the last five years and morphing them into a playoff caliber team in his first campaign with the Lake Show, a groin injury suffered in the Christmas showdown against the defending champion Golden State Warriors would sideline James for five weeks. Missing a whopping 17 games, the Lakers would log a record of 6-11 in James' absence while watching their stock plummet from being the fourth place team in the Western Conference to the ninth. But after returning from the longest hiatus of James' career due to injury, all things were suddenly right in the world again as L.A. who entered the night with a record of 26-25 on the season, picked up right where they left off before their team captain was bitten by the injury bug.
In his return, James who appeared rather hesitant at times and perfectly fine at others, shook off the cobwebs to score a game-high 24-points and amass 14-rebounds and 9-assists, falling one assist shy of a triple-double. Showing signs of rust early on, the deeper the game went on, the better LeBron looked in a game that he wasn't expected to play in and was initially ruled out of before arriving to the arena and expressing to both the coaching staff and medical staff how good he felt. Needing all the help his team could get as point-guard Lonzo Ball (ankle) and power-forward Kyle Kuzma (hip) have also recently missed time with injuries, Lakers head coach Luke Walton welcomed the thought of having James return to action and didn't hesitate to pencil him into the starting lineup just hours before tip-off. With ground to make up in the playoff race and facing a Clippers team that entered the day with a two-game cushion over the Lakers for sole possession of the No. 8 seed, Walton's team could ill-afford losing to the team they share a building with and are currently chasing.
What appeared to be an easy win for the Lakers who entered the fourth quarter with a 12-point lead, quickly shifted into a back and forth melee that saw the Clippers storm back to score seven unanswered-points in the final 1:49 of regulation to force the game into overtime. It would be in the extra period where LeBron took control of the game like the floor general he's been known to be, as all 11-points in OT were either scored by James or were scored off his play-making ability. LeBron who played a less than ideal 40-minutes in his first game back, would receive some help from Lance Stephenson who poured in 20-points off the bench, including five 3-pointers as the Lakers managed to escape with the 123-120 victory. A crucial five-game road trip is what lies ahead for the Lakers including their first test in the Bay Area on Saturday night against the Warriors who will be showing off their newest toy in DeMarcus Cousins who also recently returned from injury after missing the first three months of the season. With stops in Indiana, Boston, Philadelphia and Atlanta to follow, getting LeBron back couldn't have come at a better time, but the pressure will only increase for LeBron and company to rise to the occasion and make up for lost time as they look to reestablish their position in the playoff hunt with the All-Star break on the horizon and just 30 regular season games remaining.
As the February 7 NBA trade deadline approaches, we'll see whatever help if any the brain trust of Magic Johnson and Rob Pelinka decide to acquire for LeBron and coach Walton. One name that has already hit the airwaves and has gained traction among Laker fans and officials alike, is Pelicans All-Star Anthony Davis who recently asked to be traded. Though he'll definitely require a hefty return if Lakers brass decide to pull the trigger for his services.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
With the AFC and NFC Conference Championships in the books, the table is officially set for Super Bowl 53 which will feature the New England Patriots and the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams punched their ticket to the big game by knocking off the number one seeds in their respective conferences. In what will be the ninth Super Bowl appearance of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady's career, his foe this time around will be a familiar one. Making it to the big dance for the first time since Super Bowl 36 when Brady jump-started his Hall of Fame career with a win over a St. Louis Rams team led by Canton alum Kurt Warner, this Rams team looks to avenge the loss suffered by their "Greatest Show on Turf" brethren and bring the city of Los Angeles its first Super Bowl title since 1983 when the Raiders were still calling SoCal home. With the help of a last-second field goal by kicker Adam Vinatieri, a young Brady helped the Patriots deny the Rams' plans of winning their second title in three years and ignite what would eventually be the start of a dynasty for New England.
Though this might be the same Tom Brady who's made a habit out of winning ballgames only with a lot more mileage on him, these aren't those same Rams he claimed title No. 1 against for a variety of reasons. Obviously they've endured a name change since relocating from St. Louis back to Los Angeles in 2016, but this Rams team also showcases a much scarier defense than that of any Rams team of the past, appropriately nicknamed the "Mob Squad". And unless you're a Tom Brady fanboy, New England native or salty Saints fan, chances are you're rooting for the Rams in this one, much like myself. But let's start with a little background on how both teams got here.
For the Rams who finished the season tied with the Saints for the best record in football at 13-3 and entered the playoffs as a No. 2 seed, the mentality coming into the year was virtually Super Bowl or bust after a busy offseason which included the acquisitions of speedy receiver Brandin Cooks, defensive stalwart Ndamukong Suh and the duo of Pro Bowl cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters. Not to mention the mid-season acquisition of Dante Fowler and the big paydays given to running back Todd Gurley and defensive tackle Aaron Donald who agreed to contract extensions that would make them the highest-paid players at their respective positions. Getting off to an 8-0 start before falling to the Saints in New Orleans in Week 9, the Rams would be given a chance to avenge their first loss of the season with a trip to the Super Bowl on the line after taking care of the Dallas Cowboys in the Divisional round. In a rematch of the Week 9 shootout which saw the Saints walk away with the 45-35 win, the Rams would once again have to come from behind, only this time they would prevail and move on. After watching New Orleans jump out to an early 13-0 lead in the opening quarter, the Rams held Drew Brees and the Saints to only 10-points the rest of the way and received clutch field goals from kicker Greg Zuerlein from 48 and 57 yards to send the game into overtime and ultimately catapult the Rams to the Super Bowl with a 26-23 victory. And while the game lived up to the hype of an NFC Championship, it would be a forgetful day for the officiating crew calling the game as there were a handful of missed calls in this one, but none bigger than the pass interference call that wasn't.
With 1:41 remaining in regulation, Rams defensive back Nickell Robey-Coleman committed what appeared to be an obvious penalty on Tommylee Lewis when he prematurely ran into the Saints receiver without even turning for the ball. What could've resulted in a flag for either helmet to helmet or pass interference -- take your pick, instead was treated as a basic incompletion which sent Saints head coach Sean Payton into a tirade and left the Superdome faithful in a chorus of boo's. The penalty would've likely allowed the Saints to milk the clock before settling for a last-second field goal to punch their ticket to Atlanta. Speaking in front of the media post-game, Payton went on to say that the league office had contacted him after the game and admitted that the officiating crew made a mistake and missed the call. Some are calling it the worst no-call they've ever seen, while others have pointed to another missed call on a face-masking penalty that the Saints got away with while the Rams were in the red zone one possession earlier before having to settle for a field goal. Regardless, it's the Rams who will be advancing to try and get their hands on the franchise's second Lombardi Trophy. Meanwhile, the heartbreaking loss is the second in as many years for the Saints in which they've been sent packing in the playoffs after suffering freak occurrences if you will. You may remember how last year ended for them when the Vikings scored on a walk-off touchdown appropriately named the "Minneapolis Miracle" from Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs as time expired.
Now stop me when you've heard this story before, the New England Patriots have won the AFC title and are going to the Super Bowl. The Pats could miss the next ten Super Bowl's and we'd still be tired of seeing them there. However, they do make for some exciting, drama-filled games just about every year they've advanced to the big dance, so I'll give them that. But this was supposed to be the year that the Patriots fell off. This was supposed to be the year that father time caught up to the ageless wonder that is Tom Brady. And just when we began to think that their reign was coming to an end as Bill Belichick's Patriots began the season 1-2 following back to back losses to the lowly Jaguars and Lions, the phoenix rose from the ashes and finished the season 11-5, good enough for the AFC's No. 2 seed and a first round BYE. If we've ever had confidence in any team come playoff time over the last 20 or so years, it's been the Patriots. Regardless of how they get there, once they're in, it's smooth sailing unless you're the opposition. With a stout defense and a knack for playing better football on the road than at home, the Los Angeles Chargers at 12-4 on the year were supposed to be the team to go into Foxborough and upset the Patriots in the Divisional round. Instead, Brady and company dispatched Philip Rivers and the Chargers with ease, taking a 35-7 lead into the half before toying with them the rest of the way and allowing a pair of garbage time touchdowns in a 41-28 shellacking.
Then came the Chiefs who had vengeance on their mind and home-field advantage in their pocket. After suffering a 43-40 loss to New England in Week 6, their first and only loss until the Monday Night showdown with the Rams in Week 11, Andy Reid's Chiefs led by MVP favorite Patrick Mahomes, were thought to have enough firepower to overcome the 2-time defending AFC Champions. And though they would push New England to the brink and force the game into overtime, it was Brady and Belichick who would have their hand raised when the clock hit double-zero. With the Patriots opening the game with a 15-play drive that ate up over 8 minutes, things looked grim from the start for the Chiefs. More putrid officiating would come into play, again favoring the Patriots who benefited from a bogus roughing the passer penalty late in the fourth quarter on third down which eventually led to a touchdown-scoring drive. They would later dodge a bullet with a reversed call on what appeared to be a muffed punt by Julian Edelman and received a gift on a questionable catch by Chris Hogan that appeared to touch the ground but was ruled a catch upon further review. The Chiefs would rally in a fourth quarter that saw a combined 38-points scored between the two teams, but only to see their dreams come crashing down in OT as the Patriots won the coin-toss and marched down the field without giving Kansas City a chance which now has many people in and around football crying for a rule change that would give each team the ball at least once... As much as I was pulling for K.C. in that one, no thanks.
So instead of the Chiefs-Rams Monday Night rematch we were all salivating at and crossing our fingers for, we get Patriots-Rams. Sean McVay, arguably the best young coach in the league today will now go toe to toe with undoubtedly the greatest coach of all-time in Bill Belichick in a battle of new school versus old school. Quarterbacks Jared Goff who's young enough to be the son of his counterpart versus Tom Brady who has more Super Bowl appearances than any single team, two California natives from the Bay Area will square off. Running backs Todd Gurley versus Sony Michel, two former 1st round picks from the University of Georgia. If the match-ups don't catch your attention, perhaps the stats will. A win on Super Bowl Sunday would give the Patriots the most postseason wins in NFL history as they're currently tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers with 36. The Rams offense which ranks second in the league in both yards per game (421.1) and points per game (32.9), means the Patriots will have their hands full on defense once again and will need a repeat performance of what they were able to accomplish against Mahomes and the Chiefs.
One thing that's certain if the Rams want to reign victorious on Super Sunday is that they'll need a lot more help from star running back Todd Gurley. Despite the limited production against New Orleans, the Rams offense was able to get by with little to no assistance from Gurley (4 rushes, 10 yards, 1 touchdown), something I don't think they'll be able to do if they plan on taking down Brady and co. But ultimately, I think it'll be L.A.'s defense that makes the difference in this one, most notably the pass rush led by Donald and Suh. Then again the Pats offensive-line did a stellar job on Sunday by not allowing a single sack to the Chiefs who tied for the league lead in team sacks this season. With the opening line tabbing the Rams as 1-point favorites, it didn't take long for the big money to come flying in on New England who found themselves 1.5-point favorites just hours later. With all that said, I'm going Rams with the 26-20 win. Let's just hope the officiating or lack thereof doesn't play as big a role in this game as it did the previous two...
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Week 17 - For 49er fans, the 2018 season couldn't end soon enough. And with a Week 17 meeting at the L.A. Coliseum against the (12-3) Los Angeles Rams, the chances of finishing the year on a high note seemed slim to none heading into their season-finale. Despite being without their best player on offense in Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley, Sean McVay's Rams would have no problem disposing of their NFC West rivals with the No. 2 seed in the playoffs on the line. Defensive monstrosity Aaron Donald who's a shoo-in to win Defensive Player of the Year and is vying to become only the third defensive player in NFL history to take home league MVP honors, entered Sunday's game needing three sacks to tie Michael Strahan's single-season sacks record of 22.5 sacks. And after tallying a career-high four sacks against the Niners in their Week 7 meeting in San Francisco earlier this year, tying or surpassing the record was certainly a possibility. And though there would be a new NFL record set in this one, it would be by an offensive player and on the opposing team as 49ers tight-end George Kittle etched his name into the record books once again.
Three weeks after setting the NFL record for the most receiving yards in a first half with 210 and falling just four yards shy of tying the all-time mark in a single-game by a tight-end, the second-year Iowa alum who's already been named to his first career Pro Bowl this season, did it again. This time Kittle would break a record that was set less than an hour earlier. Patriots tight-end Rob Gronkowski's record of 1,326 receiving yards set back in 2011 stood for six seasons until Chiefs tight-end Travis Kelce surpassed him in K.C.'s win over the Raiders on Sunday. But that mark would fall just minutes later as Kittle did him one better by scoring a 43-yard touchdown to nab the record in style and finish the season with 1,377 receiving yards. In a season that provided very few bright spots for the 49ers and was predominately marred by injuries, disappointment and so forth, Kittle was one of the lone bright spots in an otherwise dismal game for San Francisco.
The Niners offense would get off to as bad a start as possible in the opening quarter when they committed three turnovers via a Kyle Juszczyk fumble and a pair of interceptions by quarterback Nick Mullens. Entering the game having scored 99-points off of turnovers this year, the Rams would add to that total just minutes in as they jumped out to a 14-0 lead following the first two San Francisco miscues. Kicker Robbie Gould would get the Niners on the board with a field goal before the end of the first, but Mullens' third interception of the half would be a pick-six that forced head coach Kyle Shanahan to consider benching Mullens in favor of C.J. Beathard who began to warm up. Fortunately, Mullens would settle in from there and began manufacturing a solid drive of his own before connecting in the end zone with rookie receiver Richie James Jr. for a 9-yard score, logging the first receiving TD of James' career. But by then, the score was already 28-10 and the Rams would add another field goal just before the half. L.A. would pick up right where they left off to open the second half as Rams QB Jared Goff connected for touchdown passes on consecutive drives to receiver Josh Reynolds.
Already thin at the running back position, San Francisco's Jeff Wilson Jr. would need to be carted to the locker room in the first quarter which opened the door for a big game from veteran Alfred Morris who scored a touchdown and eclipsed the century mark for the first time this season with 111 yards rushing. Like Morris, Rams running back C.J. Anderson would also have a big day on the ground while filling in for the ailing Todd Gurley as he followed up last week's 167 yard, one touchdown performance against Arizona with another 132 yards and a touchdown against the Niners. Nick Mullens would toss a touchdown pass to Kendrick Bourne to start things off in the fourth quarter before connecting with Kittle on his record-setting score as he was mobbed in the end zone and congratulated by his teammates. Unfortunately by then the game would be well out of reach as the Rams walked away with the 48-32 victory to clinch the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC. Mullens would finish with a game-high 282 yards passing with three touchdowns and three interceptions. However, the biggest difference between the two quarterbacks would be in the turnover department as Goff would steer clear of committing any miscues while throwing for 199 yards and four touchdowns. As for Aaron Donald, the Pro Bowl defensive tackle would log only one sack on Sunday, falling two shy of Strahan's record and finished the season with a career-high 20.5 sacks.
Beating San Francisco for the second time in as many games this season, the Rams would complete the sweep of their NFC West rival for the first time since 2004 to log their third 13-win season in franchise history (first since 2001). While the Rams would finish the season as the only team to go unbeaten within their division this year, the 49ers failed to win a single game on the road in 2018 (0-8) for the first time since 1979. Even more frustrating would be San Francisco's inability to force turnovers in 2018 as they failed to log a single takeaway on Sunday which led to Robert Saleh's 49ers defense setting a dubious record of only 7 turnovers forced this season which is four fewer than the previous mark of 11 shared by the 1982 Baltimore Colts, 2013 Houston Texans, 2015 Dallas Cowboys and 2016 Chicago Bears. Finishing 4-12 on the season, the 49ers will own the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NFL Draft, selecting behind only the Arizona Cardinals.
More Kittle - George Kittle led both teams in both receptions (9) and receiving yards (149) on Sunday as he put a stamp on his busy day by also setting a franchise record for most catches in a single-season by a 49er tight-end with 88 and is one of only seven tight-ends in NFL history to finish a season with 75+ receptions and 1,200+ receiving yards. While his unforgettable season will certainly go down as one of the greatest ever at the tight-end position, the fact that he nearly set both the single-game and single-season receiving records in the same year is insane. And with both fans and the coaching staff looking forward to next season, Kittle is one name everyone in the league will be keeping an eye on moving forward.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Week 16 - Coming off their first winning streak of the season following wins against the Denver Broncos and Seattle Seahawks, the (4-10) San Francisco 49ers would play host to the (10-4) Chicago Bears in what would be the final home game of 2018 for Kyle Shanahan's team. It would be a homecoming of sorts for 49ers kicker and longtime Chicago Bear Robbie Gould as well as Vic Fangio who served four years in San Francisco under Jim Harbaugh as defensive coordinator before becoming the current defensive play-caller in Chicago. Taking home Special-teams Player of the Week honors for his stellar performance against Seattle a week ago which included kicking a game-winning field goal in overtime, Gould has excelled at his position with the Niners much like Fangio has in Chicago as he's helped transform the Bears defense into one of the best in the league. But the 49ers defense would also play inspiring football on Sunday as they helped keep it a close game by holding second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky and the Chicago offense to under 20-points for only the third time this season.
Under first-year head coach Matt Nagy who's made a strong name for himself this season in the race for NFL Coach of the Year, the Bears who entered Sunday's game having already claimed the NFC North, became the first team to ever follow-up four straight last-place finishes with a division title. Already with more wins this season than they've had in the last two seasons combined, Nagy's Bears would need to keep their winning streak alive if they planned to keep pace with the top dogs in the conference and sneak their way to a top-2 seed in the NFC playoff picture. It would take awhile for Chicago to get things going in this one as the Bears were shutout on offense for nearly the entire first half. A missed field goal by Chicago's Cody Parkey highlighted a scoreless first quarter which featured a combined four punts and a trio of three and outs. After taking a 3-0 lead thanks to a made field goal by Robbie Gould, San Francisco would force a rare turnover when a backwards pass by Trubisky was recovered by Niners defensive-end DeForest Buckner. It would be one of two fumbles recovered by the 49ers defense on Sunday and the team's first takeaway of any kind since the first week of October. Sadly, the offense was only able to muster a field goal out of the miscue to make it a 6-0 ballgame.
The turnover would serve as a wake-up call for Trubisky and company as the Bears finally began to show life on offense on their next possession, capping things off with a touchdown pass to rookie receiver Anthony Miller. Trailing 7-6, 49ers QB Nick Mullens would then orchestrate a nice drive of his own just before the half to put his team in position to retake the lead. But after losing both Matt Breida (ankle) and Dante Pettis (knee) to injuries on the same possession and a costly penalty on receiver Trent Taylor for an illegal block, San Francisco was forced to settle for their third field goal of the half, taking a 9-7 lead into halftime. Unfortunately for the 49ers, Gould's third field goal would be the last time they'd strike the scoreboard as they were shutout in the second half. Meanwhile, the Bears picked up right where they had left off, marching 75-yards and capping a 12-play drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Jordan Howard. The rushing TD with 4:17 remaining in the third quarter would mark the last time either team would score in the ballgame, but not for a lack of trying. San Francisco's first possession of the fourth quarter appeared to be headed in the right direction as they managed to march 70-yards before a tipped pass off the hands of receiver Marquise Goodwin landed in the arms of Bears linebacker Danny Trevathan.
The turnover appeared to be the straw that broke the camels back for the 49ers, especially after Chicago crossed midfield on their ensuing possession. With Chicago looking to put the game out of reach for good, a fight would break out several plays into the drive when rookie safety Marcell Harris was called for unnecessary roughness after his hit on a sliding Trubisky. Spilling out onto the Bears sideline, San Francisco's Richard Sherman and Chicago's Joshua Bellamy and Anthony Miller were in the middle of it all and were seen exchanging punches before being disqualified. However, the excitement wouldn't end there as a forced fumble by rookie cornerback Tarvarius Moore gave the 49ers a sliver of hope as they took over with just under two minutes remaining and no timeouts left. But San Francisco's attempt at pulling off the late game heroics would come up just short as they reached midfield before Nick Mullens threw three straight incompletions, including one on 4th and 4 to seal their fate. Mullens appeared to have a clear path and could've ran for the first down, but instead elected to heave a deep pass intended for Marquise Goodwin that sailed off the mark and out of bounds as the Bears took over and milked the clock.
Through his first seven career starts, Nick Mullens is off to the third best start by an NFL QB in terms of passing yards as he has now amassed 1,995 yards, a figure only surpassed by Patrick Mahomes and Cam Newton. But Sunday's performance would be one he'd prefer to forget as he totaled only 241 yards thru the air on 22 of 38 pass attempts and threw an interception while being held without a touchdown for the first time in his career. As for Trubisky, the Bears QB completed an impressive 25 of 29 passes for 246 yards and a touchdown.
Week 17 Preview - Hitting the road to wrap up their 2018 season, the 49ers will take on the division rival (12-3) L.A. Rams in the regular season-finale. Having won both games at the L.A. Coliseum since the Rams relocated from St. Louis in 2016, the 49ers will look to look to make it a three-peat on Sunday and can play the role of spoiler as Los Angeles tries to seal the No. 2 overall seed in the NFC playoff picture. Chicago who has already beaten the Rams this season, could sneak into the 2 seed if they were to win in their season finale at Minnesota and if San Francisco deals the Rams a loss. However, a win for San Francisco would also hurt their draft position as they currently own the No. 2 overall pick in next year's Draft behind only the (3-12) Arizona Cardinals who the 49ers can leap for sole possession of the No. 1 overall pick if the Cards win and the 49ers lose on Sunday. Both teams will be without key players on offense as both Dante Pettis (knee) and Matt Breida (ankle) will see their 2018 campaigns come to an end while nursing injuries for the 49ers, and Rams Pro Bowl running back Todd Gurley will also sit out Sunday's game with left knee inflammation in hopes of recovering in time for the playoffs.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Week 15 - Entering Sunday's game between the (3-10) San Francisco 49ers and (8-5) Seattle Seahawks, the 49ers had dropped ten straight games to Pete Carroll and their NFC West rival, including playoffs. And after being embarrassed by a final of 43-16 just two weeks earlier in the pacific northwest, the 49ers would have a chance at redemption while also looking to put a dent in the playoff hopes of a Seattle team that had plans of celebrating a Wild Card berth on enemy territory. Something Niners cornerback Richard Sherman would take great pride in against his former team after a war of words ensued in the days leading up to the game between Sherman and current Seahawk defensive-end Frank Clark.
After forcing a three and out on San Francisco's opening possession, Seattle would strike first with one of two touchdown connections thru the air from Russell Wilson to Doug Baldwin. But a missed extra-point by kicker Sebastian Janikowski would leave the door open and allow the 49ers to jump ahead as rookie return man Richie James Jr. returned the ensuing kick 97-yards for a touchdown. Robbie Gould would add the point-after to follow up the Niners' first kick returned for a touchdown since 2011 when Ted Ginn Jr. took a 102-yarder to the house against Seattle. Rookie running back Jeff Wilson Jr. who rushed for a career-high 90-yards in the win against Denver a week ago, would register another strong 46-yards on just seven carries, but would suffer his second fumble in as many games against Seattle in the first quarter. Determined to put the mistake behind them, San Francisco's next drive would be their longest of the season as quarterback Nick Mullens and company marched 96-yards to pay dirt which would be capped off by a 41-yard touchdown pass to Garrett Celek. However, the 14-6 lead would be short-lived as Doug Baldwin beat former teammate Richard Sherman to find the end zone for a second time to cut the lead to one before a Robbie Gould field goal made it a 17-13 49er lead at the half.
Following another Gould field goal in the third quarter, Seattle running back Chris Carson who was quiet in the early part of the game as Seattle was held to a season-low 31 rushing yards in the first quarter, had a busy rest of the day for the Seahawks' stout rushing attack as he powered his way into the end zone on a 4th & goal attempt from the 1-yard line to tie the game at 20-all. Both teams would exchange field goals in the fourth quarter before heading to their first overtime period of the season. With Seattle winning the coin toss in OT and electing to receive, the 49er defense held its ground and forced a three and out to give the offense a shot at winning the game. Aided by a 15-yard pass-interference penalty, one of a season-high 14 fouls committed by Seattle on Sunday and some nifty running by the tandem of Wilson Jr. and Matt Breida, the 49ers put themselves in prime position to allow Robbie Gould to be the hero. Setting up for a 36-yard field goal, Gould would answer the call and deliver the heroics by splitting the uprights for his 15th career game-winning kick and denying Seattle's attempt at clinching a Wild Card berth.
San Francisco's 26-23 victory would be their first over Seattle since December 8, 2013 when Jim Harbaugh was still coaching the team. Seattle's win in the NFC Championship just over a month later, would be the first of ten straight wins for Pete Carroll's Seahawks team against the 49ers. Since San Francisco's last win over Seattle, the 49ers have undergone three head coaching changes, have started six different starting quarterbacks, and have only two players remaining on their 2013 roster in Joe Staley and Garrett Celek. Though it would take them until Week's 14 and 15, the 49ers have finally strung together their first winning streak of the season, not to mention against two teams vying for a playoff spot while playing the role of spoiler. Throwing for 275 yards and a touchdown, QB Nick Mullens out-dueled Russell Wilson who finished with 237 yards passing and a pair of touchdowns as Seattle's franchise quarterback remains one win away from becoming the first QB in NFL history to have a winning record in his first seven seasons. Looking to rebound from the upset loss, Wilson and company will need to bounce back down the stretch if they plan to fend off other Wild Card hopefuls such as the Vikings, Eagles, Redskins and Panthers.
Week 16 Preview - With back to back victories under their belt for the first time this season, the 49ers who have pushed their way out of position to land the first overall pick in next year's Draft, will once again have their hands full when they host arguably the NFC's biggest surprise team this year in the (10-4) Chicago Bears. Playing stellar football under first-year head coach Matt Nagy and a stout defense under former 49ers defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, the Bears have already won more games this season than they have over the last two years combined and are coming off a similar victory to San Francisco's as they managed to beat the hated rival Green Bay Packers who had won nine of the last ten meetings between the two teams prior to Sunday. Chicago's 24-17 victory at Soldier Field clinched their first playoff berth since 2010 as second-year quarterback Mitch Trubisky looks to keep their winning streak alive in Week 16 against the 49ers. But with the 49ers looking to keep their own streak alive, coach Kyle Shanahan who has coached his team to a 7-1 record in December games since 2017, will likely throw everything but the kitchen sink at Chicago offensively to keep his guys motivated and continue their winning ways in the final calendar month of the season.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
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.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
Week 13 - Coming into the 2018-19 NFL season, the (2-9) San Francisco 49ers had lofty expectations of making it to the playoffs and finally ending their 9-game losing streak (including playoffs) to the division rival (6-5) Seattle Seahawks. And while their playoff hopes had all but slipped away the moment quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo was lost for the year due to injury, defeating the Seahawks still remained a possibility. But with Seattle playing their best ball of the season as of late after getting off to a slow start, and San Francisco still seeking their first road win of the season, the odds would be stacked against Kyle Shanahan's football team once again as they entered Sunday having lost four of their six road games this season by 8-points or fewer and were headed to a stadium they haven't won in since 2011.
Looking to take advantage in the NFC Wild Card race as the Carolina Panthers were dealt a blow earlier in the day after losing to NFC South rival Tampa Bay, the Seahawks had plans of helping head coach Pete Carroll notch his 86th career win with the franchise which would tie him with former Seattle coach Mike Holmgren for the most regular season wins in team history. It would practically be a done deal by halftime as Carroll's team found themselves leading 20-3 at the half. Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson would complete just 4 of 6 pass attempts in the first half, but three of those would go for touchdowns as he logged the fewest completions in a half with three TD's since Mark Rypien of the Washington Redskins in 1991. Though his busy day finding the end zone wouldn't end there. The Niners would have their chances to make it a much closer game before halftime, but a pair of fumbles including one inside the red zone by backup running back Jeffery Wilson and another on a muffed punt by Richie James, kept the San Francisco offense at bey with only a field goal to show for through the first two quarters.
The second half wouldn't start any better for San Francisco as Seattle return man Tyler Lockett returned the opening kickoff 84-yards before rookie running back Rashaad Penny took one to the house for a 20-yard touchdown run just one play into the third quarter. The 49ers would finally strike pay dirt of their own as rookie receiver and Washington alum Dante Pettis made a nifty move to find the end zone on a 17-yard score. It would be a busy day for Pettis who would later score on a 75-yard touchdown before finishing the game with 129 yards on 5 receptions and accounting for the only two trips to the end zone on the day for the 49ers. QB Nick Mullens would log a career-high 414 passing yards, but was intercepted by Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner who cashed in a 98-yard pick-six, the longest in Seattle franchise history. Russell Wilson would throw for only 185 yards in total, but tallied a season-high in passing touchdowns with four as Seattle ran away with the 43-16 win. The victory which helped Seattle improve to 7-5 on the year, was the 71st win of Wilson's career, tying Joe Flacco of the Baltimore Ravens for the most wins at the QB position in NFL history thru the first seven seasons. Equally as impressive are the 63 TD passes Wilson has thrown since the start of last season which is the most in the league during that span.
Falling to 2-10 on the season, it would be a not-so-deal first attempt at a revenge game for former Seahawk Richard Sherman as the 49ers have now lost their 9th straight regular season meeting to Seattle and 10th overall when counting their loss in the 2013 NFC Championship in what's become a one-sided rivalry. The nine straight wins for Seattle over San Francisco ties Kansas City for the longest active winning streak against a divisional opponent as the Chiefs have also won nine straight against the rival Chargers.
Week 14 Preview - Returning home for a three-game homestand, the 49ers will play host to the (6-6) Denver Broncos who look to keep their AFC Wild Card hopes alive and are currently riding a 3-game winning-streak. Coming off a 24-10 road win over the Bengals, the Broncos will likely go with a heavy dose of rookie running back Phillip Lindsay on offense as the undrafted workhorse is coming off a 157-yard, 2 touchdown performance which helped him become just the 4th undrafted rookie since 1970 to record at least 1,000+ scrimmage yards in a single season. As for the 49ers who would own the 1st overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft if the season ended today, the remaining schedule for San Francisco will be a tough one, despite playing three of their next four games at home. With the coaching staff and front-office ready to put this season behind them, the 49ers will continue to evaluate what they have on the current roster in preparation for 2019 as this young team will continue to get valuable experience down the stretch in these last handful of weeks.
Follow me on Twitter: @FraserKnowsBest
