Here we are, in the midst of our mini-bye week, preparing for what would be a playoff clinching win for the San Francisco 49ers. A situation the 49ers haven’t been in since the Jeff Garcia/Steve Mariucci days of 2002. Pretty much the last gasp of the Eddie DeBartolo era. Hard to believe that the Niners can clinch this early. I certainly thought the Niners could win the division this year, just not so dramatically. As I said before the season started, 8-8 was a legit shot to win the NFC West. As it is now, the Niners could crash and burn, yet still win handily.
The first and foremost task at hand is to beat the St Louis Rams. The team who was touted as the division winners has staggered through a disaster of a season around a tough schedule, myriad injuries, and a coaching staff that is struggling for any kind of consistency. Sam Bradford, the up-and-coming QB of their future, is getting beaten and battered behind a makeshift line, and fans there are worried about his state of mind. He’s coming off a lingering ankle injury, but it looks like he’ll play. Josh McDaniels seems hell-bent on not utilizing Bradford’s skill-set, and is laying to waste a program that was supposedly poised for great things. The Rams are now the lowest scoring team in the league, and McDaniels is catching most of the heat for it. After last week’s 24-7 loss to Seattle, and their measly 185 yards of offense, Bradford sat alone at his locker for 20 minutes, in full uni, collecting his thoughts on what was another dismal offensive performance.
Well, tough shit, guys. There’s a game to play and a division to clinch. The season marches on, and you guys were waylaid outof the gate much like last year’s 49ers. What a difference a year makes. The hope is the Niners can beat their shakey line like a drum and shut down their anemic offense one more time. Let’s get this division sewn up, get the regulars out, and healthy up for the playoffs.
Except for the Pittsburgh game, all we have left are division games, and these games all mean something to ensure a bye week to open the playoffs. NO is a game behind San Francisco, so we need to keep them there. Winning conference games is the way to keep NO behind the 49ers should they end up tied in the standings.
I see 3-2 as our worst-case scenario. This would put us at 12-4. NO would have to win out their string (to get to 13-3) to get the bye. Frankly, this is good news for SF. It’s better to be playing games that have some sort of meaning instead of coasting into the playoffs starting now. Granted, by the time the last game vs the Rams comes up, guys like Gore, Edwards, and even Alex should get, if not the day off, then get some rest.
Forty Niners Forever 
From Matt barrows of the Sac Bee, a very interesting scenario.
http://tinyurl.com/6ut87bl
One where the Jags move from Jacksonville to St Louis, and St Louis moves back to LA.
That would make too much sense from a rivalry and travel standpoint, and it would rival the situation where the Colts and the Rams traded owners back in 1972. Carroll Rosenbloom, owner of the Colts, and Robert Irsay, the new owner of the Rams decided to trade teams due to Rosenbloom’s problems with Memorial Stadium in Baltimore, and Irsay’s desire to buy a team (at the time, the LA Rams). The move was a condition of Irsay purchasing the Rams. This move ended up being the impetus for Irsay’s midnight run to Indianapolis 12 years later, due to the same problems. Funny thing is, Rosenbloom ran into the same stadium issues in LA as he had gone through in Baltimore. He wanted to move the team to Anaheim after being dissatisfied with the LA Coliseum, because of its location and its decrepitude. The move was made, but after his death.
Then there was the Georgia show, and the move to St Louis in 1995 . . .
Chron reporting that ex Oakland Raider and current Stanford assistant coach Chester McGlockton just passed away age 42
Ndamukong Suh is appealing his 2-game suspension. NFLPA appeals officer Art Shell is expected to make his decision before this weekend’s game, so there’s hope that he can play vs NO. Maybe they’ll postpose the suspension a week, and knock it down a game.
Which would be good news for the Niners and the Lions. Not so good for the Saints.
I doubt it will matter. The Saint are gonna kick the Lion’s ass.
I would love to see the Rams in LA again. They will always be the LA Rams to us anyway. And I like the travel cut down angle.
Speaking of kicking ass, I think we will kick theirs this weekend. 34-6.
Fuck Suh, he should get an EXTRA game just for that pathetic news conference after the game. Is he just stupid? Anyone can look at the tape and see that he is shoving the guy’s head into the ground, repeatedly, and that the stomp was a stomp, not some retarded attempt to extricate himself from the situation (as he claimed)……
Looks like “field day” time for the Niners this week. I’m setting the O/U on number of times Bradford is sacked at 5.5
The 49ers ought to come out thoroughly pissed after their Thanksgiving disappointment and slaughter the Lambs. 38-0 would be nice.
Hey, Suh’s a bright guy. He just happens to be an idiot when he gets out on the field.
Suspend him for 5 games. I don’t care. Still and all, I would like to see him beat the crap out of Drew Brees this weekend.
The Saints indoors are tough to beat. Outdoors is a different story. . . . Which is where the Niners need to face them. So, we need all the help we can get. Which is where Suh comes into the picture. . .
Imperative that the Niners get home field bye in POs, since they must only face Saints at the Stick. Niners cannot beat Saints on the rug in the Dome. At the Stick, I think they can do it. Saints aren’t the same team outside on grass…
Man, looks like Edwards might be out a bit. Get Williams out ther goddamn it.
Or shit, sign Jason Hill. he just got released.
If Edwards is out we’ll probably see more Ginn too. I have zero confidence in him as a WR. Might catch one by accident now and then. Maybe Swain has a big day. Maybe not. Go Williams.
Also — I rag on Rachal, but Davis got mean man on man too. He can’t let himself go to freaking pieces just because Turnstile is next to him. A few of em have been on him — not line calls.
er, **beat** not **mean**
Huh, Viking are set to release Donovan McNabb today.
Off to the Bears? Back to Philly? Delhomme was signed by the Texans last night, so tey are out.
McNabb is available? The Niners should snag him and start ’em in the playoffs. Then they might have a slight chance in beating the Saints. Might.
I see that the “Poker Brat” Phil Hellmuth, watched the beginning of yesterday’s practice. That figures. One guy who’s known for folding on the green felt watching a quarterback who’s known for folding on the green turf.
Hellmuth hasn’t done shit in 15 yeaers. Talk about riding on one’s laurels . . .
McNabb, of course, was one of many QBs who should have been pursued by the Niners this offseason. Let’s see. Kevin Kolb, Kyle Orton, Hasselbeck, Marc Bulger, Jake Delhomme, Brett (dear God) Favre, and the ghost of Johnny Unitas were all put forward as guys who would be better than Alex Smith.
McNabb certainly wasn’t on my list. But I was pretty good with going after Kevin Kolb. Ouch. Not much there. Flynn out of GB was another of mine. Who jknows what would have happend had they come, but as it is now, the Niners are the ones looking like they made the right decision.
Still think Josh Johnson ends up here some how some way.
Scoring predictions VS Rams:
34-6 Niners barleyfreaks
38-0 Niners grumpyguy
30-10 Niners phil
Few days til the game ; just want to consolidate these now to keep track.
grumpyguy also has O/U on Bradford sacks @ 5.5
IF he plays, prolly same for Feely?
Flavor not grumpyguy w/ the O/U on sacks against Rams
I’ll update this on the next post “Game Day” from chuck, just storing them here for now:
27-17 Niners twinfan1
33-10 Niners snarkk
I notice Del Mar has made no prediction for this one. Come on Del, it’s the mighty Rams!
35-3 . . .
6 sacks . . .
I wonder if Bradford will play. 10 points is seeming a little generous against our D.
Would love to see 6 sacks!
Raiders linebacker Rolando McClain has been arrested for discharging a firearm within city limits, third degree assault, menacing, and reckless endangerment after an incident Wednesday night in his Alabama hometown.
Dead Al would be so proud.
Nice. This will open the door for the Bronks and you know who to rush in and snatch the AFC West crown.
LOL. And a cheerful G’mornin to ya Del!
How the hell are all you guys predicting 30+ pts for an offense that ranks 26th and its pass offense an even worse 29? You guys must be banking on a couple returns from Ted Ginn and a Pick 6 from P. Willy. No way in hell can Alex Smith put up 30+ on his own. Rams or otherwise.
Ok how much do you have the Rams by?
Shaun fucking Hill put 35 on these guys a few years ago. ]
I think he was responsible for 14 points.
You do the math, skippy . . .
What McClain allegedly did was hold a gun to some guy’s head, turn the gun, and then fire it.
You know, Alabama’s version of chicken.
In Alabama, that get’s you about a decades’s worth of daily “good morning, asshole”, from Strother Martin’s laughing cousin and his buddy with mirrored glasses rockin’ a street sweeper…
Seattle put 24 on the Rams with no discernable offense.