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 
How’s this for shits and giggles…there’s a damn good chance that Tim Tebow makes the Pro Bowl this year. Alex? He’ll have to buy a first-class ticket from Hawaiian Airlines to go see Tebow play.
“I don’t care who ya’ are, that’s funny right there”
Friendly FF Reminder: Eagles @ Puget Sound tonight. Plan accordingly.
I plan to dump my FF team in Puget Sound. According to Hoyle.
Rams get shit on offense.
We get 4 sacks.
We give up 3.
Ginn gets some good yardage on some of their 8 punts.
Smith throws for 204 yds and a TD to Walker and Crabtree
Gore runs for 134 (on just 14 carries) and a TD
Hunter runs for another 74 yds and a TD
Akers gets a couple of FGs.
There’s your 34 points Del.
“Gore runs for 134 (on just 14 carries) and a TD”
Correct me if I’m wrong Barley, but I do believe that Frank is on your FF team.
” Wishing and hoping and thinking and praying…”
Well, hope springs eternal.
barleyfreaks don’t need no stinkin’ hope. He’s in first place in our FF league comfortably ahead of your Team Alex and about to lap my Crocs. He also had the winning call last week (sadly) on the Ravs game.
R-E-S-P-E-C-T the leader son!
Who provided that VIP link to Thursday night football? I hope it blows up your computer and everybody in the room with it.
Your cable Co. doesn’t offer the NFL Net? That’s a pisser. I’d feel naked w/o it. Even more bare if I didn’t get the NFL Red Zone. That Ch. is a must for when the Niner game isn’t on.
It’s Mediacom, they suck. They sent me a mailer offering it (at last). So I call and get it all set and the girl goes “Wait, it’s not available in your area..”:
And I thought Comcast sucked . . .
Comcast does suck. I spend all morning and part of this afternoon trying to resolve a phone issue. My Caller ID still doesn’t work to my satisfaction. I need to be able to discern from the few people who call me in the first place those who are assholes, and those who are really assholes.
Gawd, Philly is a total disaster. They couldn’t be any more screwed than they already are. All the huge FA signings, the $100 million contract to puppy killer, and a coach who is definitely gone leads to a team in total disarray. DSJ is sitting by himself on the sidellines, not even bothering to watch.
.
It is crazy how fast things can change in the NFL. 6 months ago, the Niners and Cincy are considered abject garbage with little hope, Seattle and StL are on the rise, and Indy and Philly are the cream of the NFL crop. Now? Wow.
Are you implying that Andy Reid gets shit-canned after this disastrous year?
I beg to differ. I think he gets another year to put together all the “talent” that they paid for this year. Howie Roseman, the recently anointed “GM” will be made the “Escaped Goat.”
Nnamdi leaves the game for Eagles. That 5-yr/$60M deal isn’t looking so hot now. Shit. We got Rogers on a 1-yr deal for $4M. Chalk one up for Baalke…
But I’m still pissed that Jed called it a “nation-wide search” for our next GM. I’ll forgive that little Napoleon if he would grab a goddamn shovel and just start digging down in Santa Clara. Enough of this BS. Start digging…
Seattle is beginning to take the Eagles to their Puget Sound woodshed. Our Christmas Eve Day matchup is beginning to look all the more daunting. That USC cheating fuck Carroll, isn’t gonna hold anything back. And God forbid if it’s raining the day Santa and his reindeer are making ready their sleigh…
The hope is that the Niners have a 2 game lead on NO by then, and the game won’t mean squaT. . .
That’s the hope. But the Saint’s are on a roll. They must be butter. Check that. Drew Brees and Co. are on “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!” roll. I’m not banking on a NO loss from here on out. That gives our Niners one L to play with. Two L’s and we’re playing Wild Card Weekend.
And I know the only two conceivable losses are home vs the Steelers and at Seattle. But at ARZ and at STL with them trying to knock our blocks offs won’t be any picnics…
How’s this for a FF boast…David Hawthorne to the house with a Pick 6!
Yes, that helped my FF team immeasurably. Without the Puppy Killer healthy enough to start tonight, ‘Faithful started Puppy Killer Lite (V. Young) vs my team. Hey, Houdini! What’s your next great trick? Make VY only throw 3 INTs instead of the 4 like the he threw tonight? 😀
Who woulda ever thunk that the most ingratiating Christmas song would come from a couple named Elmo & Patsy? We’ve all had too much eggnog too drink, but when it comes to Grandma, you beg her not to go. Without further ado, sing it Grandpa…
Like Grandpa says, “Merry Christmas.”
Seattle looked pretty good. But, then they were playing the pathetic Eagles. No way Lynch is going to run wild on the Niner front 7 like that. I’m laughing now at Philly. First the Phills crater again in the POs, now the Eagles barely get out of the barn before going over a cliff — over and over. Couldn’t happen to a better fan base. I’ll say again — if they fire Reid, half a dozen teams will be after him in a heartbeat…
Well, a Seattle loss would have clinched the division for the Niners, but there will be no backing into this. Weird thing is, if there wasn’t a lockout this preseason, Alex Smith could have very well ended up on the Seahawks. I’m sure Pete Carroll would prefer him to TJ or the NO Whitey.
Gotta wonder how shit would be now. Who would the Niners have gotten to QB?
Seattle looked half-ass OK last night. Maybe even more so. Lynch appears to be in full “beast mode.” And when Tavaris Jackson completes 81% of his passes and doesn’t turn the ball over he’s not half bad.
Our Christmas Eve Day tussle with them up there in Seattle isn’t going to be any picnic. Add to the fact it’s a short week (play PIT Mon — Sat in SEA) and we’re going to have our hands full.
Yeah, another scheduling ‘fuck you’ to the Niners this year.
Maybe next year they get a little respect. Or a Thursday night game in Green Bay after a Monday nighter at home.
NO has 2 away games, but one of them is in Minnesota. The other one is in Tennessee, so they have one game remining on grass. If they are going to lose anywhere, it’ll be there.
Maybe Detroit can get lucky.
Like Brees slips in the tub?
Because with Suh out, and losing setting in, and morale in the crapper, I see no other luck but bad luck for the Lions this week.
What’s the deal with Sam Bradford? It’s sounding more and more likely that A.J. Feeley will get the start at QB for the Rams on Sunday. A.J. Feeley vs Alex Smith? I can’t watch that shit. I’d rather be Christmas shopping in a crowded mall amongst screaming kids and their PMS mommies.
Go right ahead, skippy. No one is tieing you to the TV . . .
See if if you can watch on the VIP channel. No one has fessed up to being the original source for that malware ridden scumbag site.
Bradford doesn’t have much of a deep arm. He’s pretty accurate short to medium. He’d be a good classic WCO QB. McDaniels, however, wants more of a vertical game. He is calling plays for the QB he wants, rather than the one he has.
Arrogance and stupidity, in one convenient package. How nice… Unless you’re a Ram fan.
I’ll go 33-10 Niners over Rams…
This is probably the Ram’s Super Bowl. 27-17 Niners.
I thought AJ Feely was playing this Sunday . . .