For the 49ers having already clinched the division, this Monday night showdown has a ton of playoff implications. If the 49ers win, they stay ahead of NO as the #2 seed in the NFC, while a Pittsburgh win would give them a 1 game lead on Baltimore with 2 games to go. Neither are a certainty if they occur, but either team winning would be a boost for that elusive 1st round bye. The 49ers, by losing would still get 1st round home game, byut would lose the bye week. They would drop from the #2 to the #3 seed. Pittsburgh has even more to lose. If they lose tonight, they’d fall from the #2 seed (bye week + a home game) to the #5 seed (no bye + 2 roadies).
With that in mind, Pittsburgh is now saying Ben Worthlessberger will start tonight’s game at the Stick. Little Ben showed ‘enough mobility’ in Saturday’s practice to start tonight. Which means to me, the 49ers need to show some fairly different looks early in this game. They NEED to get pressure up the middle. Skelton had no problems stepping up last week as the pressure came in from the sides. Stepping up is about the only thing that Worthless can do with his bum ankle. If Soap can’t get in on the backup center (Pouncy is out), then Pittsburgh will more than likely throw quick passes and run delays up the middle to slow down our rush, and keep Worthless out of trouble. Sending Grant in on some blitzes up the middle early, and hitting little Ben, would set the tone for the game. Letting him dink and dunk to set up the big play will not work.
How this shakes out offensively is a question as well. These last 2 games (Balt and AZ) were against teams that run very similar defenses. Pittsburgh is the same deal. Zone blitzing, overloading areas, and disguising blitzes. The good news is we’ve seen it a lot. The bad news is we haven’t adjusted very well. Hopefully by now the Niners can pick up the schemes without getting Smith killed. 18 sacks in 3 games is a trend that HAS to stop. The 49ers need to open with slants and quick passes (for more than 4 yards) that give the team favorable 3rd down situations, and keep the chains moving. The red zone just needs to be re-thought completely. I hope the extra day helps them.
Last week’s game should have been a win. They can’t leave points on the field. And, looking at how the Bolts flattened the Balts, you CAN beat an aggressive defense by being aggressive yourself. The WRs HAVE to make plays tonight. Dropping shit cannot happen. I’d put Williams as the X receiver, and try to get single coverage. Hit him deep on go routes. It doesn’t have to be a slow-developing play. Just float it out there for him when the coverage dictates. I’d try it 3 or 4 times. Ginn proves over and over that he can get open, but he just has trouble catching the goddamn ball.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
News out of HQ is that LT Joe Staley has been cleared to play. This line needs all the help it can get. The thing is, most of the problems seem to be the right side, and up the middle.
20-17 Niners. Ben doesn’t finish game.
Roethlisberger has been sacked 35 times, Alex 39. Presumably, Ben’s mobilty will be limited so we should be able to get to him- but unlike with Skelton last week, they have to wrap him up. Skelton killed them after escaping sacks and Roethlisberger is much more dangerous.
31-21 Steelers. Alex doesn’t finish the game.
Speaking of getting rid of #11…look who’s #1 on the possible destination spots of one Peyton Manning. Manning in red and gold. Wouldn’t that be sumthin’. There’s $16M in cap space unused from this year. It’s financially doable. I just can’t wait to hear the argument in favor of keeping Alex over Manning. People call me crazy…
http://tinyurl.com/boydqjz
Provided he heals up? Sure.
Certainly worth a try. Get a couple WRs and we’re sitting pretty. There’s a lot of shit that has to happen though. And the fact that the NFL has a rookie cap in place doesn’t preclude Indy from keeping Peyton in Place and drafting Luck.
I still can’t get over that Raider joke job. 98 yds in < 2 mins. And the pièce de résistance was that they had the gun-toting Rolando McClain trying to cover the best WR in football.
So long Hue…
Why do you humor this troll, Chuck? This is the same dumb shit who had a fantasy trade of Dirty for Reyes and acted like it could happen if only we went along with his fantasy. He’s totally lost track of all reality. We’re not getting Manning and there’s no fucking reason to argue it one or the other..
God forbid we replace Saint Alex with an 11 time Pro Bowl, 5 time first-team All-Pro, 2 time MVP and Super Bowl MVP quarterback.
Go talk to the dog. Maybe Zeke will listen to your recount of how Alex Smith won the 2003 Liberty Bowl.
And regarding my “fantasy” trade of Dirrrty for Reyes. The funny thing is even the Mets called you up with that offer you wouldn’t have pulled the trigger. Who needs a trip to Fantasyland now?
Mook.
“The funny thing is even the Mets called you up with that offer you wouldn’t have pulled the trigger’ That’s the second time time you’ve repeated that lie.
Did you read the article, Twin? It’s some Indanapolis writer named Bill Barnwell.
Speculation? Sure. But weirder shit has happened. Look at Carson Palmer.
I said it wasn’t happening.
Correct me if I’m wrong but weren’t you saying that if the Colts draft Luck, Peyton will go?
He could land any number of places. Certainly there will be speculation that the Niners are interested.
No, I didn’t say that, I said he *should *.. as far as the Niners. I never said he wasn’t better than Alex. I said, AGAIN, that it wasn’t happening. That’s my fucking opinion. Do you have one?
Sure. That’s not the point, skippy. The point is, Dennis referenced an article someone else wrote that states a theory. To bust Dennis’ balls for it is asinine.
These last three games are huge for the offense, if they end up not scoring TD’s, it will be one and done in the playoffs. you can’t hide a poor offense. And no Dennis it is not all Alex’s fault. Dropped passes have been a glaring weakness. But Alex does need more practice on his touch passes in the Red Zone. Seems like he is always firing a bullet, when a little loft over the head of the receiver would do.
Scoring Predictions Niners vs Stealers
20-13 Steelers phil
31-21 Steelers Del Mar
20-10 Niners chuck
20-16 Niners snarkk
20-17 Niners twinfan1
Where’s my buddy Rob’s prediction? Maybe he’s still smarting after my fantasy team took him out to the woodshed this weekend. That was a battle for 5th place! I imagine the difference of finishing 6th rather than 5th can be very disheartening. 😀
6th looks good to me….but no sign of rob
34-17 Niners Kevin
Niners need to work on their scoring just cause they score two TD’s in the is game should not mean they settle for field goals the rest of the way. If they go up by 14 early and they go into the run to eat up the clock that would be a mistake IMO, they have not shown they can score consistantly in the RZ or any other Zone for that matter. So I think Harbaugh needs to put the foot on the Steelers throat and score!! Niners 34 -17.
So I have to revise my score, in my football pool, my numbers are 9 for the 49ers, and 5 for the steelers, so 49 to 15 sounds good. okay everyone get up off the floor from LYAO.
4 FGs and a TD to 5 FGs from Pitts.
19-15 . . .
Thanks Chuck, my brain wasn’t calculating the small scores
of course the score could end up being 15-9 steelers. but that would suck!!
Something like 20-19 sounds about right – but I fear Pittsburgh might win this one. Hopefully the home field advantage will be with us, and not with all the Steeler fans who picked up dumped Niner ‘fan’ tickets. And the offense needs to be productive tonight: we cannot keep handing the ball to RapeYourDaughter after a three-and-out and hope the defense will somehow make it okay. Even if we do not score each time, we need to get first downs on most of our drives and keep the ball away from Pittsburgh.
As for Peyton coming here, I doubt it, for a number of reasons. I would be very wary of tying up money in damaged goods. He’d have to pass the medical inspection out of Camp Guantanamo before I’d even entertain the idea. He’d also have to be okay with coming to a run-first offense like ours (it could extend his career a couple of years, but it may not be to his taste to do that). Then it comes down to Alex’s playoff performance: if he plays well and we win a game or two, I doubt the idea goes anywhere. If Alex lays a major egg and we do a one and done, that will be different. In any event, all that shit will take care of itself in the Spring: right now we just need to focus on beating the Steelers.
Grumpy, if Peyton came here, you don’t think Harbaugh would tailor the offense to him?
As they say on ESPN, C’mon man. I thought you were smarter than that.
The thing is, Dennis, everywhere Harbaugh has gone, he has run the ball. Everywhere. I have no doubt if we got Peyton and he was healthy, he’d throw some long balls, but the offense would still revolve around ball control running. For that reason, I think he’d likely think long and hard about coming here.
Grump, I guar-an-damn-tee you if Peyton came here we’d see more no huddle in the first 28 mins of each half like we’ve never seen before. Harbaugh may be stubborn in his ways, but he’s no dummy.
And if you’re correct in your assessment about Peyton’s availability banking on whether or not Alex lays an egg in the playoffs — you better be rooting for an ostrich egg. That is if you want to have a QB who could lead our team to his 6th Championship.
Get a load of this stat: the Niners have taken more sacks in their three defeats (20) than in their 10 victories (19). Ya think we might wanna try and block a little better tonight?
Man, I dunno. I just saw the clip of Big Ben “walking” into the ‘Stick. He still has a very noticeable limp.
Maybe it’s a very noticeable limp that keeps Chuck from scoring at the whorehouse.
Our ability to pass protect is still pretty suspect, and even without Harrison, I think we’re in for a tough game. Lamarr Woodley get get after the QB too.
Hopefully we can at least keep Chilo safely on the bench. That will help some.
Hey, Phil. I noticed out of all of the predictions, I was the one who predicted the most pts (21) for our Niners tonight. And I catch flak for being harsh on our squad and not having faith. Balderdash.
Uh, I have 34-17 Niners win
Each team gets a TD, each gets a pick. There are a bevy of sacks. The punters are getting cramps by the 4th quarter. Akers kicks 3 to their kicker’s 2. 16-13 Niners.
But we lose to Seattle next week. Meh.
I can’t tell how much of my prediction for tonight is based on not being able to accept that Harbaugh won’t get the OL/playcalling/QB/whatever to perform better and get some freaking TD’s. I am thrilled by the prospect of of watching us kick their towel waving asses. I am terrified at the prospect of seeing us give up 6 sacks and having Smith throw for 98 yards.
As for Manning, I’m with ya Grumpy. Extreme caution. For some reason, I have this gnawing feeling in my gut that if we DID get him, he would be a pale uber-injury prone shadow of his former self and he’d cost us a bunch that just wouldn’t be worth it.
Unitas in San Diego. Namath in LA. These alone give one pause.
If Peyton is healthy, he is awesome. But a neck thing is scary.
Three TDs, Del? Isn’t that our quota for a whole month? And no FGs? Really?
Your Ninertrolling is slipping… LOL
Grump, to be brutally honest, my opponent has Akers in our FF playoff matchup.
NO FG”s tonight! Just PAT’s. 😀
Wet Brain has come a long way from “worst QB in football” to “not as good as Peyton Manning.”.
So TF thinks the Manning to SF thing “isn’t happening.” Fine. That’s your opinion. But let me ask you this. If you’re Trent Baalke and Peyton is cleared medically. Is available and showed interest in coming to the Niners. Would you keep Alex Smith rather than signing Peyton Manning?
No…
Last week I had to have a seizure to avoid your constant trolling. I don’t think I want to go quite that far 😉 so I I’ll leave you to you those who appreciate you.. maybe I’ll check in after the game. Enjoy
Sorry, I didn’t know about your latest setback. I’ll all too familiar myself with minor strokes. I hope you’re recouping nicely. I’m pretty sure it wasn’t my “trolling” that caused it. I use a 1 oz Chrome Chartreuse Kastmaster lure on the end of my 10 lb test Berkely Trilene fishing line. Works every time. 😀
A trolling troll takes his toll?
They’re interviewing Braylon on ESPN right now and the motherfucker was just listed as INACTIVE for tonight’s game. If you read between the line from Barrows and Maiocco, it’s not because of injury.
He should go clubbing with Plaxico Burriss.
Prolly that’s what happened- he relapsed to moron mode…
If you believe Tim Kawakami, there’s likely to be 25,000+ Steeler fans in the stadium tonight.
Great. What in the wide wide world of sports is going on around here?
Sorry, I had my post in the comment box but Rob called and I talked to him for a half hr. and just now hit “enter.” But you’re right, Taggart. “What in the wide, wide, world of sports is a going on here?”
Great little story on Aldon Smith.
Bandwidth issues at this time of day (9:20 AM) so just going to listen and chat today. Kick off in couple minutes?
Kawakami is already making a conservative estimate that there’s 20,000+ Terrible Towels in the stands tonight. That’s disgraceful. Back in the late ’70’s and 80’s when I had season tickets, you’d only see a handful of opposing fans.
agreed
Power outage? Heard that on KNBR. What’s up?
thanks john york ! the lights just went out ! nice stadium ! just another chance embarass our franchise one more time you DICK !
hey PHILL
saw it
i say pissburgh 20 9ers 17
but i hope it’s the other way around ! after all , we do have akers !
Yeah Come On 9ers pull this one out!
So I take it the game is delayed if no LIGHTS?!
Wow we rally need a new venue…
game on !
Again we win the coin toss and defer.
Something tells me we wouldn’t defer if we had Peyton Manning at quarterback…
Hit somebody!
I think a big part of winning the physical battle in football is to instill fear into your opponent…
Fear is pain arising from the anticipation of evil. -Aristotle
fuck you worthlessberger !
go rogers !
The OL has been excellent on this drive, esp. i pass pro. Alex is sharp…
GREAT 3rd comp. by Alex to Crabs. Need to punch it in…
And as I say that, Alex sucks again in the RZ. another fucking FG.
He had Williams wide open in the end zone. Then missed Gore on 3rd down.
Paging Peyton Manning. Peyton Manning white courtesy phone…
why don’t we look for vernon inside the 20 anymore ??????!!!!!
WTF was that 1st and goal handoff to Gore? Fuck that. That stymied the whole 1st and goal series. Alex puckers up insinde the 10 on the latter downs. Stop running on first down inside the damn 10 yard line! Sheezus….
you know smith has to just get his head in the game and just let it fly
Cheezberger can barely walk. They have to put the heat on him up the middle. Get some blitzing going. Damn, that Wallace is fast…
Well the D is bringing there A game
can goldson play or what !
Steelers are doing the quick slants and outs cuz Cheezberger can’t move. I don’t get the 3 man rush, he had all day, bad throw gets the pick. Gotta stuff the WRs at the line, get the push up the gut to make him start to move away from the pocket…
Ben, go rape an 19-year-old coed in the bathroom stall. You’re more adroit at that than throwing a football…
PLEASE START throwing to vernon 10 to 25 yards out PLEASE !
Fuckin Alex, Crabby had his guy beaten by 4 yards and he overthrows it…
Niners kicking ass, and only getting field goals. FUCK this…
Same old same old
Smith is a piece of shit.
ok the throw to vernon was good
now
if i’m harbaugh i either have a nice long talk with alex smith at halftime
or i might just consider warming up at QB in the second half !
Im sick and tired.of Fuckin FG.s in the Red Zone.Smith has.missed 2 scores.cause he Panicks.
This lights out shit in front of the whole nation is the best advertisement for a new stadium one could imagine…
Power outgauge like the 49ers in the Red Zone frustating
For the first time this year, Denny’s criticism of Smith has been valid. He’s been terribly inaccurate, missing wide open receivers. I hope he gets it together, you only get so many chances to score…
If you’ve been following along, I’ve actually been crediting AS tonight. But unfortunately, it’s been on his short throws. The one in the EZ to Williams and the deep throws to Crabs have been the killers. Then again, what’s new?
I’ll tell ya what’s not new…Any Lee is this team’s MVP. four yrs running…
I don’t get the limit to 4 man rush so far. Cheezberger has all day…
win this one !
Well, what a fricking power outage. Yeah, and the fucking lights went out, too.
Crabs and Walker were open. If Smith throws the ballwhere Williams was going, it would have been a pick.
Wish I saw the fucking penalty they called on what would have been 3rd and 32. The fucking chop call on Gore was bullshit too.
Chuck, Berger explained to me in great detail the other night about this chop block bullshit. Bullshit or not, it’s the right call.
If you want some real bullshit? P/U a spade a join me and the ponies in the barn as we continue to shovel the shit leftover from the Niner RZ efforts. It stinks to high hell in here…
Drive the ball down the field and score a goddamn TOUCHDOWN.
How’s about a nice retrun from Ginn?
Fuck. Something,. Williams has looked good. So had Crabs . . .
How could the steelers be upset about that call? That was an ez one to make…
Why the Steelers, and teams in general continue to run on 1st dn vs our D is a mystery to me. I’d throw on every dn vs our defense. Then again, I’d throw on every dn vs any defense.
THROW THE DAMN BALL!
Outstanding and correct call by the zebras. Williams WAS interfered with on the opportunity to catch the punt…
I still don’t get why they aren’t blitzing. Berger has all friggin day to throw…
Brett Swain, yes that Brett Swain is now getting playing time as our 3rd WR.
Brett Swain continues to run patterns, as Braylon Edwards continues to run away…
incomplete. Hand before foot.
This is ridiculous.
Wasted opportunities to score TDs early, then stalled offense while D gets tired and opposition starts to rally. Niners following their recent script to a Tee
Fuck, I can’t take this shit. Can we get a 1st down in the 2nd half? Ever?
Gimme a fucking break. Shoot me now. I need another beer.
Actually NO we only get FGs in 1 st half. Second half is devoted to wearing out the D and no first downs
Regardless if he just made 51 yd FG or not. That was an asinine decision by Mike Tomlin.
You GO for it in position.
I’ll say it again like I did last yr with out SF Giants…we, and the Steelers don’t deserve to win this game…
Great catch by VD but NO there is another fucking hold. Perfect, perfectly sad shit
Fucking screen goes for 20+!!. Finally…
Hey a GD screen to KH, what the fuck??
Great pass by Alex to VD…punch it in!
Naw we don’t do TDs. FG coming up
His foot was out, but what a great comeback by Alex. Touch passes of perfection on this drive. Denny’s hilarious call of 31 PTs for the steelers continues to make everyone laugh
TD VERNON
If we win this game as secure the #2 seed. Let me be the first to say…
Drew Brees and his Saints are gonna light us up light a 40 ft. Christmas tree…
Unbelievable how difficult the Niners are finding it to score a GD TD!…
They keep having Nowin/Singleneuron flashbacks
No TD, as usual
Whaaaat? ok then
Excellent Td play. I’m sure Tebow woulda scored 2 tds on that play though
Hell yeah he woulda
Now THAT’s a freekin’ great play action call for the TD!…
Was that the best Niner drive of the year? Certainly in the running…
Nice fucking tackling on the D.
Tebow woulda nailed that Steeler
Speaking of the Second Coming…that Bronco/Pats game yesterday was the highest rated football game in the last 4 yrs. Ya think Jesus Christ had a little sumthin’ to do with that? Regardless of what you think of Tebow, he’s GREAT for the game. He’s making the NFL money hand over fist…
And a QB who is NOT making a dime for the NFL, just had a 3rd and 3 and his HC elected to run the ball That shows a shit load of confidence…Paging Peyton Manning… Peyton Manning, white courtesy phone…
This SHOW BUSINESS. My man TT is a terrific showman and very popular with da fans
Aldon for rookie of the year. He’s unstoppable..
yeesssssss
See, play action works on FIRST down. Christ. We successfully threw a screen!!!!
That was, without a doubt, then bexst drive of Smith’s career. In terms of importance.
ZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…………. Fucking Singletary was seen in the press box.
That was shit. Way to give the D a blow there. At least they got the quarter ending break…..
WTF are these 3rd downs play calls? They’re Oh for the night on 3rd downs!…
ok now i do love harbaugh , but do you really run gore there on 3rd and 3 ?
Niners 0-8 on 3rd and 7 or less in last 2 1/2 games.
That’s shit people
They better not go to just the run!! They are only up by 7
What a fucking epic Smith–Smith exacta
Sack and strip by A Smith
Nice run on 1st down , idiots
Oh okay, lacking Tebow we’re gonna go for a FG.
I get it
They called a penalty on the Steelers on that FG attempt?
Color ourselves fortunate. Really fortunate as Frank crosses the goal line…
TD Niners!
94 climbed on back of his guy to try to block our kick = unsportsmanlike conduct = 5 yards = 1st down