Funny, Seattle and AZ have crept back into the playoff picture, seeing as the rest of the NFC has turned into bumbling, stumbling, here-you-take-it-I-don’t-want-it underachievers. Philly’s misbegotten disaster of a season can be saved by winning out, and the Jets beating the Giants, and then the Giants beating the Cowboys. AZ, the Giants, Chi-town, and Seattle all still have life in the playoff hunt. Atl and Deetroit are the ones they are gunning for.
Which brings us to this week’s game. The Niners are still trying to stay tied with NO to gain the bye week. However, the Niners can also dash Seattle’s playoff hopes with a victory in the turd nest in Seattle. So, a win would be doubly cool this Saturday. Thing is, Seattle is red-hot. The 2-6 Seahwaks beat the Ravens. No small feat. They have gone on a 5-1 tear since then. Yeah, they beat sad sacks like StL, but they beat Chicago and Philly pretty easily, but inexplicably lost to Washington. They’ve been winning with strong special teams play, and a tough defense. They gave up 221 yards to Chicago, and held the Rams to 280. They forced 4 turnovers against Philly, and TJackson has been fairly error-free. their special teams has also been strong.
Sounds kind of familiar. I think it’ll come down to protection. Keep Alex clean like last week, and the 49ers should be fine. Philly ran in them fairly well, and we should be able to as well. Get pressure on TJ, and he’ll make mistakes. This being said, you KNOW Pete Carroll is gunning like a mad man for this game. he wants to knock Harbaugh down a peg or two as he tries to get HIS team back on the relevancy map. A win for him this Saturday would definitely do that, even if the Hawks don;t make the playoffs. Their shot is slim anyway, but for Harbaugh to be the one to put the dagger in would be all the more sweet.
27-13 Niners. They find their way back into the end zone.
Forty Niners Forever 
Love the lights-out pic ‘Dog. No one anywhere mentioned the chanting going on during the outage.
That is too cool! If you got more, keep sending ’em.
With Detroit and Atlanta at 9-5, to say that Seattle and AZ are long shots is a huge understatement. Howver, I see that Detroit has San Diego and Green Bay left so there’s some hope for the 7-7 teams. This week is real toughie to figure, it’s hard to forget last year’s fiasco, no matter who the coach was. However, aside from that one, Alex has had some of his best games against Seattle, and a couple of those on the road. 23-14 Niners.
Sorry, but 17-10 Seahawks. Hope I’m wrong. I don’t get this Niner scheduling. They were fucked by the league on that TGiving night game v. Ravens, now F’d again playing an away game on a Sat after a Mon night game. It makes no sense whatever. Hawks definitely have the physical and preparation advantage going in, plus hosting at one of the top home team advantage venues in the league…
Geez, at 10-6 I was a hopeless polly, now I could be quite low. Did anyone keep track of the predictions?
I had 8-8 . . .
Deetroit is no great shakes to win either game. If Seattle wins out, they’re in. AZ needs an act of God to get in. Still amazing though that in week 16, they both put themselves into contention.
I don’t think either happen, but that’s why they play the game.
Since I killed the old blog right before the season started, I don;t have that may predictions. All I have are:
TF 10-6
Rob 9-7
Grump 7-9 / 9-7
Me 8-8
Dennis 3-13
The rest of you will have to ‘fess up what you called . . .
I know skeebs had 11-5. I think, anyway. . .
Yes he did
Phil Fan called for 9-7
Who is Skeebs? Did Spit and Death Threat kill him?
Spit got banned over there a while ago. Denny generally behaved well if you discount the anti-smythe schtick which I do. Actually I thought Chuck was the one who was gonna have a nervous breakdown with the tag team on the old blog…
I started called him “Skeebs” because I wasn’t sure what a ‘Skeeber’ is and wanted something meaningless, and short.
I went with 13-3 😉
Serious?
In ’81
Hell of a call! Amazin’…
5-11
Yep 5-11 I remember. The flip side of skeebs 11-5…
We’ve heard a lot about Alex and Dilfer. How do our Game Manager’s numbers compare to Montana’s in Joe’s first Super Bowl year?
Alex (14 games) 61.4 CompPct, 2752 Yds, 7.08 Y/A, 16 TD, 5 INT, 91.1 QBR
Joe (16 games) 63.7 CompPct, 3565 Yds, 7.3 Y/A, 19 TD, 12 INT, 88.4 QBR
All in all- it’s at least a push for Smith
Joe was in his third year, and first full year as starter. Alex has been in the league 7 years. All who prefer Alex over Joe raise their hands…
People like like the Snarkker will dishonestly claim that I said Alex was a better QB. What I did was show some interesting facts. Any honest observer would find them at least informative.
Everyone, including twin, knows that Joe’s greatest attributes were intangible.
Never said differently. It’s still totally relevant to look at Joe’s numbers in his first Super Bowl year and Alex’s in what we hope will be his.
I didn’t say Alex was better than Joe. But this is Alex’s first year in the WCO. The numbers are very impressive. Certainly they show why they want him back.
Be that as it may, Snarkk. Smith is 27, Montana was 25. 2 years Smith was injured, so he’s really just starting his 4th season by the number of games he’s played (68), or even started (64).
Let’s wait a bit more to compare Alex with Joe. After Alex wins the Super Bowl, well, maybe after his second Super Bowl win, and after his first league MVP award. At this point, Alex is not in the same galaxy of accomplishment to rationally compare them…
Comparing numbers is not at all the same as making a subjective comparison of their worth as QBs.
Joe and Alex were not compared as QBs. A set of numbers were compared. Do you understand the difference, Snarrker?
I’ll not get in a nonsense argument like you did with BF on Alex and Harbaugh. You compared Alex’ QB numbers to Joe’s QB numbers. They are both QBs. You didn’t compare their relative ability to see John Candy in the Super Bowl stands. I’m done already with this…
LQTMD
Yes, their numbers from a selected year were compared. Only a dishonest person would conclude that I was saying that based on that I was declaring Alex the better QB.
Take a look at NinerDog’s pictures on the pages on the right. The lights-out pic is pretty cool . . .
Scoring Predictions for Niners vs Seahawks
27-13 Niners Chuck
20-10 Niners phil
24-13 Niners twinfan
17-10 ‘Hawks snarkk
17-13 ‘Hawks barleyfreak ” I hope I’m wrong ….again”
Grant has 16-3 Niners “Lynch quits in the 3rd”
31-19 Niners Flavor “TJ sucks…”
You’re a fucking idiot. You’re saying comparing numbers from one year necessarily entails a value judgment on their overall worth. For the years compared, the numbers are comparable. Fact. Does that mean I said Alex was a the better QB? Wrong.
You are inferring from his inference.
Neither of you said either thing.
Happy?
No. Now clean up your fucking blog- another death threat from DTD and you’re bitching about comparing numbers.
There are a lot of QBs who have had better numbers in an individual year than Joe in an individual year. That can’t be shown without being accused of heresy? Chuckles may think Snarkker’s comment funny but it’s also moronic- comparing one years numbers is not comparing their careers or accomplishments.
So let’s get it straight-there are currently 12 QBs with a higher QBR than Joe’s in 1981. Pointing that out means that I’m claiming they are better QBs than Montana..
what’s your point of pointing it out? What point are you trying to make?
Points are like porcupines. Everyone has a million of them. Or something like that. All the kids are home, and I need to find a TV with the game. Don’t want to watch The Help again.
What is the deal with ALL Saturday games? They used to have a few every year around the college bowl game layoff, but ONE Sunday game?
Is the NFL suddenly honoring the baby Jesus?
Now clean up your fucking blog- another death threat from DTD and you’re bitching about comparing numbers.
I was surprised Alex’s numbers this year were anywhere close to Joe’s in ’81. There have been a lot of comparisons between Alex and Dilfer. Joe was to be my first comparison to see how Alex does compare, numbers wise, to some other Super Bowl QBs IN THE YEAR OF THE SUPER BOWL appearance. If you don’t find that kind of thing interesting, well so what? I do.
I remember the PA Times Tribune had a contest where you guessed the exact number of yards that Joe would throw for in the ’81 SB. I think there were a couple tie breakers in there. Anyway, you could enter as many times as you wanted to, I think I cut out, filled out, enveloped, stamped and sent in probably 25 guesses. They were all in the 300’s as I recall. Without even looking (and I’m going to after I hit *post*) I’m going to guess that Joe threw for 157 yards in that game. I’m sure I’m within a yard or two. I remember marveling at how far off I was after the hours I spent meticulously working on my entry forms……..
14 of 22 for 157 yards and 1 td.
I coulda told ya that. I saw every one of those yds in Pontiac myself…
Joe’s TD pass to Cooper was just a tad high. I’ll never forget it. “Coop” looked like he was running right at me in left corner of the end zone. Mom and I had the best two seats in the Silverdome on that cold winter day…
I’ve seen his yardage total since then, just not recently. I was just in the mood to tell an anecdotal PA Times story– only job I ever got fired from– paper boy, PA Times.. But I digress. Denny, had Smith thrown that ball to Cooper you woulda just about killed him, right? Stop a this nonsensical, idiotic Internet doomerism and get with the party. We’re going to the playoffs, dumbass! If you still want to wallow in misery be my guest. But sometimes it’s ok to break out of that prison and have fun for a change. Your call….
That first SB musta been a moment for you and your mom. Me and my dad went to the next one. Even though it was right across the street from my high school it was still special.
My dad, a pretty negative southern man by nature, is actually pretty excited about the upcoming playoffs. I mean this with the utmost respect, but I’ve got a question for you: would your mom be excited about it too?
Today’s my mom’s birthday. She woulda be 68-years-old today. God rest her soul. Would mom be happy with this years team? I dunno. But I can let you in on a bit of mom’s psyche…when Joe went KC and Steve took over at QB, she and I had a problem. During that whole “Joe vs Steve” ordeal, mom began a sincere hatred towards Steve. “How dare anyone come in and replace St. Joe?”
When the Niners played the Chiefs back in ’94, mom had the unmitigated gall and audacity to root for Joe and his new team over our Niners. I don’t know if I’ll ever forgive her for that treacherous display of disingenuous loyalty towards the team she brought me up to love.
Now that I think about, would mom be excited too? Nah. She hated Steve Young. I can only imagine the contempt she’d have for Alex Smith. If I didn’t get to him first, she’d kill the bastard.
I return home from my Christmas party only to see this place littered with Alex and Joe comparisons. Frank’s litter box has never seen poop like this before. Where I come from using Alex and Joe in the same sentence is a mortal sin.
Now if you’ll excuse, I’m gonna go watch The Nutcracker. It goes without saying that there’s some nuts here who need to be cracked…
You too? They were not compared as QBs. Numbers from one season were compared. If you don’t like it either kill someone or have another 11 drinks..