Here we are, poised on the biggest game around these parts in 9+ years, and the comparisons to the 1981 team are a bit eerie. Beyond the fact the Niners are playing in the same dump of a stadium while some other teams have gone through 2 stadiums (hello Detroit) in that time frame is only the beginning. Starting with the owner, you have in Jed York a similar figure to you Eddie DeBartolo. Both are young upstarts who didn’t bring a hell of a lot of experience other than being the son of a very wealthy dad. Eddie got the Niners because his father was not allowed to own a hockey team and a football team at the same time. Jed got the Niners from his dad because Dr. John was an inept buffoon who charged the team for every bottle of water they drank, dismantled one of the greatest dynasties in sports, and let the stadium bond that Eddie fought so hard to get die on the vine.
The 1980 Niners posted a 6-10 record amidst guarded hope that the team was at least heading in the right direction under Bill Walsh. The 2010 Niners posted a 6-10 record amidst the crumbling regime of one Aluminum Mike Singletary. Walsh came in as an offensive wizard who made his bobnes under legendary Paul Brown. Harbaugh came in as an overachieving quarterback who willed his teams to improbable victories, and as a coach is being heralded as an offensive visionary who has done well in developing quarterbacks like Josh Johnson, Andrew Luck, and now Alex Smith. The 1981 season, very much like the 2011 season, started with a lot of questions, and a bit of hope. The 1981 draft provided the 49ers with a brand-new defensive backfield (minus Dwight Hicks). The 2011 draft provided the 49ers with a bunch of depth at important positions (RB, CB, O line), a starting FB, and a pre-eminent pass rusher. A huge key to the success of both teams.
Both teams started their seasons tentatively. The 1981 Niners lost to Detroit and Atlanta to post a 1-2 record out of the gate. At that point in the season, it was like, well, they could go 8-8. Wait til next year. This year’s Niners won a fairly pedestrian game against Seattle, and lost a close one at home to Dallas. At the time, I thought, well, we’ll be 8-8, but it might win the division. Let’s just keep seeing incrememtal improvement, and wait til next year.
The 1981 Niners then reeled off 7 straight wins. Along the way, beating powerhouses like Washington, Dallas, and Pittsburgh. The 2011 Niners did them one better and won 8 straight, beating playoff teams like Cincy, Detroit, and the NYFGs. Both teams finished strong to end the year at 13-3 and vastly exceeded the expectations of a hungry fan base. This team is playing with a highly rated defense and an underrated offense. The 1981 Niners were a highly rated offense with an underrated defense.
In 1981, the 49ers were the surprise #1 seed. This year, the surprise #2 seed. Forget Tim Tebow, tomorrow will be the next step to see if this truly is a magical season (and yes, even with a loss tomorrow, the season was an unmitigated success) for the 49ers that leads them and their fans to Super Bowl XLVI.
Forty Niners Forever 
Boom! We got another game at Candlestick, boys!
Hmmm…Rodgers and Brees both bounced from the playoffs. I’m starting to think that it ISN’T just ALLLLL about the motherfucking quarterback! Wahoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!
No, rally? sarc/
The only bummer is to have “Douchebag” Joe “Gay Face” Buck annoucing the game.
GB is flailing.
blow to the head? What a fucking joke. Giants have gotten fucked on calls today and they’re still killing them….
That wasn’t of PF hit on Rodgers. The NFL is doing its best to turn this game into the Vagina Monologues.
POST of the DAY!!!
Man that’s funny
I take back yesterday what I said about drops. GB is droppping everything in sight.
At least this game won’t run into and cut any of my Golden Globes viewing time. One of my producer friends said he wouldn’t be surprised if Ricky Gervais urinated on a table of movie stars.
He is pulling a Dennis then??
I want you to know that I’ve NEVER urinated on a table — while sober.
Are he could just urinate on himself Dennis.
All the winning QBs have had higher QBRs than the losers in all 8 games so far.
Bring it NY
Dennis, I want to thank you again for blessing my parlays with your kiss of death football picks. Outside of the Denver game, I think you would all agree that my break down of this weekend’s playoff games was pretty dead on:
Your welcome. Would you like to hear my early Derby pick so you could cross him out like Trotter did with Looney’s?
First home team to lose. Interesting.
PGE is shitting in their pants with a late game start and a 60’s grid line.Hopefully the only lights to go out will be when we sing “Turn out the lights the partys over for NY”.
Definitely too bad about Denver, though. Maybe Kat will lend you his call. Seriously, pretty good breakdown. And I was happy to see that T-Blow is no hyprocite, he thanked God for helping him suck..
Denny’s Can’t Miss Picks has our Niners opening up as an 1 1/2 pt. favorite.
But I could see that number get hammered to read just the opposite.
I’m not super confident that we win next week. I’m slightly more optimistic than if we were going to GB to play them. I’m just happy the game is at Candlestick and that crowd can rock it hard one more time. Beating GB in GB was doable. Beating the Giants this week is doable. I’m gonna spend the week getting very excited for this game…..
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