The 49ers have played a bunch of games against Green bay, and their outcome has been decidedly one-sided in recent memory. The 49ers have lost 8 straight at Lambeau Field. 6 regular season games, and 2 playoff games. Their last win being way back in 1990 in the last of Joe Montana’s healthy years as the starting Niner QB. GB’s QB was the semi-effective Don ‘Magic Man’ Majkowski, 2 years before Niner killer Brett favre joined the Pack.So it’ has been a while.
Enough about that. Yesterday’s game was a triumph of scheming by the 49ers coaching staff. The offense used it’s newfound WRs to great use. Randy Moss wasn’t on the field much (maybe 15 plays) but he had 4 catches for 47 yards, including a 14 yard TD (his 16th in Lambeau). Manningham had 4 catches for 29 yards. Crabs, 7 for 76 yards. the 15 passes for 132 yards to WRs is something the Niners couldn’t even dream of last year. Smith hit pretty much everything he threw, and ended up 20-26 and 211 yards, and no picks. Smith late in the game, passes Steve Young for most passes (185) without a pick. Frank Gore put his stamp on this game with tough runs all day. He sliced and pounded his way to 112 yards on 16 carries and one late TD.
The defense did very well themselves. In the 1st half, the Niners stuffed the run every try, and kept everything in front of them in the passing game. The Pack managed one good drive, scoring midway through the 2nd quarter. With the miraculous 63 yard FG by David (BOOOIIIIINNNGGG!!!!) Akers closing out the 1st half at 16-7, the Niners went into a scheme reminiscent of the Mike Nolan Big Sub days to start the 3rd quarter. They ran a 3-1-7 package that put their best player, Patrick Willis on the sidelines. The only linebacker in there was Navorro Bowman. It was effective through the 3rd quarter, as the 49ers built onto their lead with the 6 yard TD pass from Smith to VD, and the game was seemingly in hand.
That is, until the refs decided to give the Pack a gift TD. Barely 4 minutes into the 4th quarter, the 49ers punted from their own 14 yard line. Tex Cobb then took the punt 75 yards for a score. His reaction was classic as he then noticed a flag on the play. Replays showed at least 2 illegal blocks in the back. One on Larry Grant, and one on Anthony Dixon. Dixon said he was near the ref that made the call, and the head ref talked him out of making that call (ESPN got a chuckle out of it by saying none of the 6 illegal blocks were called on the play). After the 2 point conversion, suddenly, the Niners were only up by 8. After a quick 3 and out (and a very questionable spot by the refs on Gore’s 3rd and 2 run), Green Bay had the ball back with plenty of momentum. That is, until Navorro Bowman snuck back into coverage on a pass Rodgers was attempting to throw over the middle to Grag Jennings and picked it off for a 1st down on Green Bay’s 23 yard line. Gore then took the 1st play from scrimmage around the right side for a 23 yard score, and the Niners seemingly in comand again at 30-15.
At this point, the Niners were rushing 3 linemen, and usually one DB or LB when they switched back into their 3-2-6 package. This drive, though, they only rushed their 3 linemen and dropped everyone else into coverage. Giving Rodgers time is a recipe for disaster, and he picked apart the secondary going 6-6 for 82 yards and a touchdown to James Jones in a span of 2:36. The Niners next possession started promisingly with a nice rollout and lob pass to Bruce Miller for 15 yards. However, after Gore rush for no gain, and a 7 yard sack, the drive stalled, and Green Bay had the ball, down by 8, with 3:37 left.
This drive started with the same scheme of only rushing the linemen. Rodgers marched the Pack to the SF 45 yard line, and the tension was ratcheting up. Finally, Fangio brought in more linemen and rushed 4 and 5 guys. This led to an incomplete pass with Rodgers under heavy pressure, and a sack to bring about 4th and 10. Rodgers went deep for Nelson, but the pass was batted down on excellent coverage by Chris Culliver. End of game.
All in all, a huge win by the 49ers. Given the opponent, the location, and the horrific officiating, the 49ers overcame a ton of obstacles. Two minutes into the game, I thought Jim Harbaugh’s head was going to explode after CJ Spillman was called for an illegal block in the back. Seeing as he wasn’t a BLOCKER on the play, and he pretty much ran down the field untouched, the call was beyond terrible. This was followed up by an unsportsmanlike call on Aldon Smith for taking his helmet off after sacking Aaron Rodgers. Thing is, Smith was kicked in the facemask during the sack, and Smith’s chinstrap ended up crunching into his nose. He took his helmet off to get the strap off his face. Harbaugh again tried to talk sense to the refs, but they would have none of it. Seeing how the refs picked up the flag on the obvious block in the back on the punt later in the game only made these non-overturns even more terrible. By the time they picked up that flag, Harbaugh was laughing on the sidelines.
If those awful calls had determioned the outcome of this game, there would be serious issues. Much like the Seattle game, where the refs game Seattle 4 timouts in the 2nd half to try and score late in the game. For wat it’s worth, the shit call didn’t affect the outcome, but it very well could have.
Forty Niners Forever 
And they ran some SLANTS!!!
Tell me to shut up, Chuck, and I will, but I had to post this one more time. Next up, Matthew Stafford and that wide receiver guy. The AFC North has Rodgers, Cutler, and now Stafford and Ponder. The Pack will be a game and a half behind the Niners after Thurs.One more time to Alex. Then I’ll stop.
NFC North. typo.
If you’re a Cocker fan have you ever heard of Andrew Strong? He was the lead singer in the movie “The Commitments”, if you’ve never seen the movie I’d recommend it. This clip is live off a TV show in 1991, not the best quality but he was 18 years old at the time.
Cool 12th. I’ll make sure to watch it.
Woodstock had some great perfomances!! This was just great!!
oops this was suppose to go above, stupid word press
RTF, I love that shit. No problem from me. The beautiy of it is, the game of football is a team sport, and guys like Romo can continue to put up big numbers, but fall short in the playoffs. People bemoan the fact that Alex Smith doesn’t put up epic type numbers, but they don;t NEED to. Most teams would KILL to have our running game. Just as Green Bay. Cedric Benson, 9 carries, 18 yards. Frank Gore 16 carries, 112 yards.
As a team, 186 to 45.
Yeah, that was a good movie. Got the soundtrack laying around somewhere. Good stuff.
Oh, and for those of you who are old timers but have Iphones, ipads, etc and like old live concerts check out the app Wolfgangs Vault, some great perfomances. and now they have added videos of some of the concerts
Cool. I’ll check it out . . .
Caleb Hanie is back in Denver. Turns out they cut him in a cost cutting move and signed him back for cheap.
Man yer gonna have to join us fer the blogfest during the games. Yeah?
Phil I kinda have a tradition, if I can’t go to a game in person I hook up with some buddies at the local sports bar, not sure what my incoherent ramblings would add from either of those settings. If I sit one out and stay home I’m in for sure.
Be pretty much the same as OUR incoherent ramblings, I would think.
Ha, ok Grump I’ll chip in but reserve the right to talk absolute crap and recant when sober.
Sounds like you’ll fit right in Man
Local sports bar here in New Mexico? I’d have to cross the border into Texas. Not on your life.
I create the Niners bars here at 7000. I’d have to go to Mile High and whatever they call the new Peyton Manning all-purpose sports stadium 2000 lower.
Nopers.
You in Taos, RTF?
Now THIS is funny:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1329371-aaron-rodgers-will-don-49ers-jersey-all-week-thanks-to-bet-lost-to-boyz-ii-men
waiting for the first pics of it
Three times straight I’ve been censored. Let me try again.
The real estate prices at Taos are incredible, Chuck.But you better have four-wheel drive and probably a second car. And friends you’re willing to tow, or get towed.
I’m visiting High Plains Drifter land. 60 mile an hour winds in the morn from the North, then 60 from the South. Just ran 3 inches of rain in a hour or two and the Arroyos that have been running dry for so long were overflowing.
Been there once. Always wanted to go skiing there.
Ever skiied in europe chuck?
Nope. Utah, Idaho,Nevada, all over Calif. Canada a couple times. I ski-bummed in Colo for 3 years.
I’m no great shakes in the ski department, just recreational, but I did ski a little in the Swiss Alps, Verbier. Breathtaking scenery but the skiing was no different really than Mammoth. I tried snow boarding a couple of times but that’s not for me. Knees are done now but the apre ski is still the same 🙂
Hhuh. Didn’t see yer poists in the spam filter. Sometimes it just randomly keeps stuff.
UFO Coyotes 237.72 after a 40 point comeback tonight. Second half coming up, Dennis.
Sometimes a blind squrrel can win at checkers.
Dance with the gal who brought ya.
I hope Dennis is lucid. His dislike for Alex is a mental defect!
Good God. The Raiders are awful. No matter who the coach is. or the players, or anything, they continue to make stupid penalty after stupid penalty. Aannnnd a botched snap on the punt, after trying to go for 4th and 1, but they have 12 men in thre huiddle..
Wow.
All this crap and they are only down by 7. SD ain;t all that either.
Oakland sucks no matter the faces.
Darren McFadden is the workhorse this year. Yahoo gave me Bush ttwo year ago and I passed on McFadden when I had the chance. I’m not making the same mistake this year. Dance with the gal who brought ya.
He’s a bright spot in a black hole, so to speak. Palmer needs to show a little more.
All these dump=offs aren’t getting them very far.
Wow. Another blown punt for the Raiders. Unbelievable.
And ANOTHER
Inept, your afc worst pick looks pretty sad chuck.