<b>UPDATE: Brandon Jacobs and Joe Staley are active, Marion Manningham is out with a shoulder injury.</b>
Well, it is officially crunch time in Ninerland. We are at a crossroads of sorts as the team tries to regain the form that led to such an impressive start. The Niers were clicking along, with one minor blip, when they ran into the New York Giants. They were buzzsawed into oblivion and were bad in every phase of the game. Problem is, as this is a ‘what have you done lately’ kind of deal, the Niners are on shakey ground. Gone is the euphoria of beating Green Bay and Deetroit. Here now is the unshakeable feeling that Alex Smith may be reverting to old bad habits. the defense was pourous in these 2 losses, and the pass rush, which was so good last year, has mysteriously vanished like so many 3rd down stops.
Enter the Seahawks. A mystery unto themselves. They’ve beaten good teams and lost to iffy ones. However, they come to town to renew rivalry between head coaches Jim Harbaugh and Pete Carroll, and between Seattle GM Scotty (Happy Hour) McLoughan and his former team. These games always make for interesting fodder as Scotty has been picking up our scraps ever since he got there. Michael Robinson is still on the ‘Hawks, while erstwhile jersey-winner-for-me Kentwan Balmer has moved on to other endeavors (would you like to super size that?).
I have no idea how this plays out. But I do know that this is a game the 49er should win. If they lose, the entire program will fall under the kind of scrutiny that drove the 2 previous coaches mad. Losing at home to the Hawks would be, while not a fatal blow, it will definitely put a crimp in the search for back-to-back division titles. If Alex Smith falters in a big, or even not-so-big, way, the murmurs will start getting louder for Cappy to get more reps. I think they tone down the Cappy switch-outs, but I do hope they still use him down by the goal line.
Plus, we have the SF Giants quest to tie up the NLCS at 2 or run the risk of being shut down in 5 games. All they need is one win to take the series back to the Bay. GO GIANTS ! ! ! ! Depending on the outcome of these 2 games, I may not survive the night. Be still my heart.
Forty Niners Forever 
Facemask of the qb, no flag WTF???
Smith and Lincecum need to go have dinner together. Two shitty pieces in a pod.
Wow. This offense looks like it can’t do anything. Where is VD? Why no screens? That one worked? Burned all the timeouts, so we couldn’t run. This is horrible.
Alex Smith is thirty minutes from having the Internet party like it’s 2010.
It will be ugly unless he turns it around.
Cut the crap, kap needs to be in this game. I knew they would over react.
You know goddamn well who really should be in the game. Unfortunately he’s enjoying a well deserved bye week up in the Mile High city.
Yes zero MO on O
hey it rhymed
more vernon more kappy in half #2
right chuck , why no more screens ?
right 12th , the refs suck !
3×3 and out, do something else for fucks sake
Dennis, the Coyotes will bounce back. No worries. Now, if SingHarball can show up, the Niners have this one in the bag.
Alex is 7/15 for 59 yds. That equates to a 3.9 YPA. That’s even more suckitude for him than usual.
Did we sign Peyton Manning yet?
Kevin, whatever, you have an Alex bromance good for you. But when the rest of the team ain’t making up for what Alex don’t deliver he needs a little help.
Both offenses need to put it on the back of their RB.
I really want to assess blame to our team, but maybe we should just acknowledge the Seahawks and their good play. Either way, I’m still pissed off. Great stop by PW on that 3rd dn. Time for the offense to wake up.
The Seahawks are good, but our offense has done more to stop itself tonight than the Hawks have.
Both coaches are outsmarting themselves here. Just line up the bell cow and get a TD. It might only take one or at most two tonight.
WTF was that call? That gives Seattle a first down. Calling Dr. Dover, Dr. Ben Dover red and gold courtesy phone.
Alex complains about drops? Wilson could sue for lack of support tonight.
Another drop by Seattle. We could, and probably should be down by a larger margin. they’re keeping us in the game. And yet we’ve failed to capitalize. Just need one big play…
Oooo. Hit Golden in the numbers. That one must’ve hurt.
Fuck that Golden Domer. I hate the Irish.
Frank Gore or Roger Craig? I love Frank, but I’d take Roger everyday and twice on Sunday.