Well, that was one of the craziest games I’ve ever seen. Saw a game years ago when it was Joe Montana vs Dan Fouts at the Stick years ago. Both teams went up and down the field all day. Defenses left gasping for air as 2 high-powered offenses had their way. San Diego had the ball last, and thus won 41-38. Fantastic game even if it wasn’t a Niner win.
Yesterday’s game? Even more wild. The difference being this game was a tale of 2 halfs. In the 1st half, the Niners played well, but wasted a bunch of scoring opportunities and still went into the locker room with a 17-3 lead. The 2nd half saw the Niners strike quick;y for 14 more points, then Tom Brady led a ferocious comeback a 31-3 deficit to tie the game late in the 4th quarter, only to lose in the end.
The 1st drive was an impressive march down the field in 6 plays, capped by a 24 yard strike to Randy Moss. The D played outstanding in the 1st half (1 first down, 113 yards for NE). Carlos Rogers picked Brady on a deep ball, and nearly scored, only to have Walker fumble away the opportunity. Next drive, on 4th and 10, Goldson took the snap on a fake punt for a 31 yard gain, only to see David (sayonara) Akers miss a 39 yard FG. Another turnover (a Bowman strip) deep in NE territory was followed by a botched snap (one of 5) on 4th and 1 from the NE 25. Kappy then led the Niners on 2 scoring drives to close out the half. A deep sideline route to Walker for a 34 yard score, and a 6 minute drive ending in a FG to close the half. A great job of keeping Brady on the sideline, but the Niners left at least 20 points off the board.
3rd quarter? The Niners came out very aggressive again, as Kappy took a deep shot to Moss that was picked off. He didn’t see the weak-side safety, and he took a real deep drop. The pass was short and easily picked. On the ensuing drive, Donte Whitner laid the wood on Steven Ridley, and the fumble was returned by Goldson to the 6. On another botched exchange by Goodwin and Kappy, Gore picked up the fumble and ran it in for a 24-7 lead. Aldon Smith (who was in Brady’s face all 1st half) intercepted a tipped pass, and Kappy took advantage on the next play, throwing a strike down the middle, splitting 2 defenders for a 27 yard Crabman TD. The route was on. 31-7.
Then it wasn’t. No gory details, but the Niners went into deep shell mode, and the offense went a little conservative. It took the Pats 4 drives (35 plays for 320 yards for NE compared to 10 plays/20 yards for the Niners) to tie the score. trhen came the biggest play of the game. LMJ, who had a good day spelling Gore, returned the ensuing kickoff 62 yards to the NE 38. It took one play, an allouit blitz by NE that Kappy read, and found his secondary reciever, Crabs, who stepped around the corner and YACed his was to the go-ahead TD. Even though the drive took tllittle time and gave the defense little rest, it really pumped up the team, and the defense did enough to slow the Brady onslaught. The Niners forced a turnover on downs as NE went for it on 4th and 1 on their own 12. A strange call as NE had 2 timeouts and the 2 minute warning. This led to a chip-shit FG. NE added a FG of their own as Delanie Walker recovered the onsides kick with little problem.
Say what you will about the NE comeback and stagnation of the offense for those 3 drives, this is a huge win for the Forty Niners. NE hadn’t lost a December game at home in years, and they were the hottest team in the league. The Niners overcame their own mistakes and the ferocious comeback by future Hall of Famer Tom Brady to win on the road in the freezing rain against the defending AFC champions. Kappy’s numbers look small when compared to Brady’s, but Tom Terrific threw 2 picks to one TD on 36 of 65 for a whopping 443 yards, as NE outgained SF 520 to 383. Kappy threw 4 TDs and 1 pick on 14 for 25, 216 yards.
Forty Niners Forever 
It doesn’t have to be a sea change, Twin. Better is measured by whatever metric du jour you can dig up. Like I did earlier. . .
Their passing numbers are very similar. However, look at the yards rushing. That is an entirely different dimension that Smith doesn’t bring. In 4 less games, Kappy has 3 x the yards (379 to 134) and 5 TDs to zilch.
I tire of having to tell you to pay attention: Fear made a completelly false statement about the offense changing with Smith out That is totally untrue.
None of you will win a argument with me based on fact. That’s why we get sniff tests, unsupportable clams about passes Alex can’t make, untrue allegations about Harbaugh changing the offense for Kap- Jimbo even said it was the same as before.
Well, the offense IS changing, Twin. Do you think the Niners would be running all this read-option with Smith in there? Uh, no.
You can’t win either, numb-nuts. This hasn’t played out yet. So shut the fuck up about being right. You haven’t proven anything.
I don’t give a flying fuck what NoFear said. He’s entitled to what he says here, just as you are. Pooh-poohing Kappys scramble yards is what? Sour grapes? Yup. Kappy is getting better. He may not win the super bowl this year, or ever for that matter (much to your delight), but Alex hasn’t, and he won’t get to take his shot here.
The facts are Kappy and Smith are fairly equal passing. So Far. Kappy is the much more effective scrambler.
BTW, the numbers bear out how this is going. So far, 4-1. That’s the facts, Jack.
“Kaepernick tossed four scoring passes in only his fifth NFL start. Former starter Alex Smith never threw more than three touchdown passes in 79 regular-season games and two playoff games. Kaepernick is one of 44 quarterbacks to do it during the regular season since 2005. Twenty-two of the 44 have done it more than once.
That Kaepernick would do it in his fifth start, at New England, with a playoff berth on the line, with a game-winning touchdown pass to foil an all-time great Tom Brady comeback? Yeah, the 49ers will take that.”
Facts from Mike Sando
http://espn.go.com/blog/nfcwest/post/_/id/85140/around-the-nfc-west-49ers-doing-just-fine
http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/
Have fun with your fantasies while the Niners win Super Bowl #6.
Seems to me that 4 TD games have been few and far between. How does that metric figure?
Niners now have consistant quick strike ability, major read option ability too. Look around the league, the good young guns mostly have that in common.
Twin considers himself “The” qb authority based on Harbaugh taking a near bust and creating a system to make him serviceable. I doubt the market for Alex will be hot or that his contract will be a blockbuster befitting a guy who is statistically top 5 this year, much as his Niner contract was lowball for a starting qb with his win/loss record and NFCCG record from the year before.
Alex has never had any serious competition for the starting role and still managed to lose the starting job several times. Even lousy coaches will play the best guy. Now a quality coaching staff has chosen Kap over Alex and Twin in his QB guruness says the Niners have to make the SB or the QB choice was the wrong one. Alex is a QB and Kap is a QB, that is the be all and end all of relevant comparisons, trying to make it about how far the team goes into the post season is beyond dumb.
Alex has never won in NO, or beaten the Pats, would the Niners even be in the playoffs if Alex was starting? Ridiculous questions I know but no more stupid than pointing to last years record and Alex’s overall win/loss record this year and “projecting” the likelyhood of what he would have acheived since he lost the job and how far he would have gotten the team in the future games as yet unplayed.
It’s over Twin and not because I say so but because the HC says so. Waiting for Kap to lay an egg so you can make some lame “I told you so” proclamation is pathetic. Kap is better regardless of your penchant for statistics, open your biased eyes.
Well said Man.
BTW see my 5:27pm re: 4 TD games
Gotcha, I didn’t know the actual stats but didn’t remember Alex ever throwing 4 TD’s. I don’t mean to come off as knocking Alex so much as celebrating Kap. Alex did good things for this last season and a half and helped bring the team back to relevance, but you have to love the intangibles Kap has brought to the team. I wish Alex the best, he has made the most of his talentband webmay yet need him before all is said and done this year.
More pathetic is claiming I want the the team to lose because I disagree with who should be starting. That says every fucking one of you has rooted against the team for years.
Alex actually got better as a QB every year that he wasn’t injured- 70+ in 2006, 80+ plus in 2009, 80+ in 2010 until Rayes was fired, 90+ after that in 2010, 90 last year, 100+ this year. Being in the minority doesn’t make me wrong-and Harbaugh is not God- he’s not right because he made this decision. But the main problem in arguing this with any of you,besides your total disregard for fact as demonstrated by Fears completely false statement about the offense, is that you don’t give a shit how Kap does the rest ot the way or if he takes a crap in the playoffs..
And since when don’t all websites and experts make prognostications based on previous record, this year’s record, etc.? That’s the dumbest thing you’ve said since your last post. That’s exactly how anyone makes a call on what might happen going forward.
So that makes you God and right Twin? Get a grip, your armchair is just as comfy as mine and everybody elses. Where do you get off looking down on everybody elses opinion just because Harbaugh rescued Alex’s career such as it was? Proclaim yourself the source of QB knowledge based on what, Alex beating out the likes of Nate Davis? Kap is Alex’s first serious rival and he beat out Alex during his most productive period in his career. You don’t agree with the decision cool, that’s your perogative, but don’t presume you know more than others about football and QB play. If you want to play that game I was right all the way along in this QB change and you was wrong. I said after The Rams Kap would start Chicago before the concussion diagnosis was known. I said after Chicago the die was cast and Kap was the new starter and each subsequent game I said there is no doubt and why. Where was your huge knowledge during this time?
You are using a possible future outcome as justification for your brilliance? Laughable, you don’t see the wood for the trees buddy. It doesn’t fit your desired outcome. The games are being played right now with the other guy for a damned good reason so say the experts that no doubt should listen to you on the matter.
Bleating that the Niners must reach the SB to justify changing QB is infantile and that is your entire argument, what a joke.
Prognostications sure, those are projections, hoped for results, but not as a yardstick to beat a single player over the head with, good grief man.
If prognostications had any real meaning why even play the games? X QB with Y WR and Z running back equals a SB win right. Good lard tunderin jayzus. I tell you what, you keep eating those sour grapes and get back to me when you’ve eaten the whole bunch and your bellyaching has passed.
What I posted last night to lead to this bullshit:
That we’d win by going deep, by keeping Brady’s receivers in front of us, and Bellyfuck making a critical game decision
After the Moss TD- Deep is the way to bet them. Fine drive.
After the Walker TD I said it was a vet move to look off the DB
Then I had things I had to do here for awhile
Fear then said the QB switch was now justified, or words to that effect. I said the playoffs would determine that. Then the jackals emerged but their lairs again.
So eat it, the whole lot of you.
Well here’s a little stat nugget to chew on whilst you demand Kap gets to the SB or it’s a failure. A team that goes 13-3 on average goes 9-7 the following year regardless of QB.
Phil, apologies for not joining the fray during the game, I went to my fav sports bar and forgot my phone that I usually blog from. Very exciting game like a crazy rollercoaster ride. Left a lot of points on the field too.
Just teasing Man. Always good to have yer inputs.
I’ll ask that one again, Twin. so you think Harbaugh would be running all this read-option bug-eye backfield with Smith in there?
Uh, no.
Smith is 19-5 in regular season games he started and finished in the “Jimbo Era”, 4-1 is a whisker better but not nearly enough sample size to be significant, Chuckles.Chuck- you will shut the fuck up claiming I want the team to fail with Kap. Got that? Period. And tell your drip pals to knock it off as well.
That’s hysterical that you equate a win against say any team in our division last year with some of the wins Kaep has in his short tenure.
Your name-calling hissy fits paint you as your jack crabby avatar sitting in a sandbox pounding his fists and turning purple. Pretty damned funny.
Chuck, nice write up. Going into NE and coming out with the win was season defining. How confident is this team now to beat maybe the best team in football at home with their record?
Getting hot at the right time is key, if they can pull off a win next week I like the chances of a SB appearance.
Just hope the injury bug don’t bite too deep.
I disagree, Chuck. Alex can read defenses far better than Kappy. He couldn’t before his injuries but he is way above average now.
Kappy throws rifle shots like a young Peyton Manning.
Defenses around the league are already looking at film.
Braylon Edwards sucks at catching balls. I think that partial season he spent with Smith starting made him forget the job of wide receivers is catching passes not just downfield blocking.
btw fan1, what is this false statement you keep screeching about?
You said the team turned away from the pass because of Smith and that was finally over now, Actually they throw almost the same and run a bit more.
I think I said the era is over. Look it up. That doesn’t mean changing the offense over night. Give it an off-season and a camp.
For a guy that pretends he insists on facts you play pretty loose with them and evidently don’t mind twisting a few words for better effect. Here’s actually what I wrote: ” Finally, that era of misery is at an end, thanks to Harbaugh’s knowledge of QBs and Kaepernick.”
You pitch such a fit when you think someone has misquoted you I’m surprised you take that tack yourself. Not.
What you wrote and how i Interpreted it are the same..
God,just cut Alex already Jimbo,so we don’t have to listen to Twin’s dementia love-fest over a BACKUP QB the coach could give a shit about,who throws a noodle ball and checks down on any slight pressure,or gets Sacked,cause he can’t scramble and let a play develop when flushed out of the pocket. He is at best a Poor man’s version of Jim don’t call me Chrissy) Everett player!
Alex can take his act to the Lingerie Football League Backing Up Rypien’s daughter for all I care.
Chris Evert wiould kick your stupid ass, Kat.
Why in the fucking hell would we cut Smith? I’m assuming that’s a joke. We have the best back up QB in all of football. Who wouldn’t want that? Alex Smith is a top 8 or so QB in the league as a starter. JH feels Kap is better than that. But they are both valuable to us………
$6 mil or now. I haven’t checked since he became the second stringer.
Top 8 is really, really reaching.
I don’t care, 6-0 in on the way.
top 8 is reaching?
Ok, here goes: I’d say that Rodgers, Bobby Griffin, Luck, Brady, Brees and Peyton Manning (as long as he’s alive and can feel his throwing hand) and maybe Eli Manning are better QB’s. That’s it in terms of who I’d want QBing my team.
Look, I;m fine with the switch and I like Kap but it’s ludicrous to think that JH made this call because of Smith’s play. He was playing at an elite level when he went down.
JH thinks Kap is better. That’s cool, he might be right. But 4 fumbles and a pick to go along with at least 3 complete misfires to open receivers doesn’t cement him as shit in my book……….
and as I said earlier, it’s a GOOD thing to have 2 stud QB’s on your team. In the NFL, your favorite team is often a hit or two away from going from a winner to a loser. If Kap goes down, fuck it, bring in the next elite QB (who will make far fewer mistakes and also win games at the highest of percentages)……..
Andrew Luck, RGIII, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady. Oops, I wasn’t paying attention.
Want a dozen more?
Maybe Eli? Wow that’s quite a list.
Romo, Cutler, Rivers, Schaub, Newton, Flacco are all better QBs than Alex Smith.
Bradford, Tannehill, Dalton, Fitzpatrick, Freeman may be as well but I’d put Alex in this group somewhere.
He would make a fine back up but he won’t stay. He’s been humiliated and can probably start for some dead end squad next year.
I thought I had Roethlisberger and Wilson on that ‘better than’ list. They should be.
Well, top 3 in QB rating was misleading so there was Total QBR, Oops, 7th. I guess we’ll go with the, uh, the, er, we’ll go with, I KNOW! We’ll go with that scienfific Snot, I mean, Sniff Test. You all know that one, the one to go with when absolutely nothing to, well, nothing to go on.
How about just going with how many teams wanted him when he was a FA? That’s a lot of coaching and GM talent looking past the guy.
I haven’t laughed this hard in a while. I’m trying to remember the last person I called a twat. Great stuff.
As Kat sez it’s a “dementia love-fest” around here at the moment
Fucking A. This shit is the funniest I’ve seen in a while. Time to make the popcorn.
Good thing we scored 41 and won. I’d hate to see this place if we had lost.
Shits and giggle here in the fucking insane asylum.
Flav, in case you ddn’t notice, the only reason AK wants Smith gone is so Twin will STFU about him.
And besides, Smith s gone after this season. Scott Tolzein, come on down . . .
Unlike last year there are several teams who would pay him some nice bucks after this year. That’s why it’s funny you think I’m bemoaning his fate. He’ll make out from Jimbo’s blunder. I fear the 49ers won’t and if Kap doesn’t work out, it’s another ice age.
Twin you are the one who said the Niners didn’t change their offense with the QB switch. They did.
I think Twinnie is just baiting us all. That’s OK by me because Pete has never been stomped by horses, but he will soon remember his lessions.
Chuckles. there’s as much chance of me shutting up about Alex as there is of the Bondo holding up on your last job…
As to the offense not changing- Harbaugfh said it, pal.
And you guys bitched about it over and over.Different formations don’t change the fact they don’t pass more than before or run less.
Different offense, skippy. Harbaugh said that for the clueless masses.
Why are you writing about a 2nd string QB after the Niners just made the playoffs?
Sometimes you are great fun debating with. N0t t0night, y0u are being flat out stupid.
I think I have work to do. And it has nothing to do with you Twinnie.
Why in the sorld would I think you having work to do would have anything to do with me, Ruffie ? If you have trouble take your stool softener tonight.,
“NoFear49er says:
December 17, 2012 at 7:14 pm
Maybe Eli? Wow that’s quite a list.
Romo, Cutler, Rivers, Schaub, Newton, Flacco are all better QBs than Alex Smith.”
You opinion, but I think your opinion is utter bullshit. You didn’t even know Bobby Griffin is black (or so you say). You did, however, notice how well spoken he is. Interesting.
You d-bags who think JH replaced Smith because of performance just don’t understand anything. But I’ve gotten used to that with bloggers…….
Err, your a blogger.
Smith got hurt and then got beat out for performance. I wear my D-bag badge of honor proudly. Do you think he got beat out because Kap has better hair?, cooler tats? It’s not just about potential because they are winning games in the hardest places and conditions with the kid who has a handful of games under his belt not 8 years of incremental improvement and a system that limits opportunities whilst maximizing the possibility of mistake free football. Does Alex win that shootout on Sunday? It’s possible, Kap did and emphatically so. In fact they should have scored mid 50’s based on Kap’s play but lets talk about mishandled snaps in the sleet in a loud east coast time stadium where the home team last lost in December 2002.
And Twin you have ZERO idea about Smith’s worth on the open market. You said the same shit last year and he had to crawl back to the Niners. His worth is established when a team signs him, not when you say he’s gonna score big in the upcoming free agent market.
I like Smith a lot and I do think he’ll get an offer or two to be a starting QB but he’s not going to be some sought-after guy. His rep will always depress his market value. I’m not saying that’s fair but it’s true. Look at all the idiots here who think he was replaced for performance. And GM’s aren’t that much smarter than dumbass bloggers…….
I guess you didn’t pay attention to what went down in Miami. He jilted THEM. But whatever, I’m going by the interest already being shown.I didn’t give a figure but it will beat the hell out of what he was to get here. Do what what you like to do- bookmark this. What a crock, I say “nice bucks” and you act like I’m saying 20 mill a year.
He jilted them? So he could come back to SF with his tail between his legs after JH’s supposed public disrespect with the Manning hunt?
He jilted WHAT exactly? He got a shit deal with the Niners this year based off what he did last year. So you’re telling us he turned down a much bigger offer from Miami? In full *jilting* fashion? Yeah, that makes a lot of sense……
8 mil was on the table from Niners. Miami offered 8 mil also. Niners added a mil to make it 9 after Manning turned them down as a peace offering to Alex. There is a reason Alex only got offered 8 mil from 2 teams following a 13-3 season and appearance in the NFCCG. You may not like it or agree, but the coaches and GM’s in the league know Alex is a limited system QB who has been coached around. His natural QB talent is not that great. A few rare exception games doesn’t cut it in the NFL. The winning team record has more to do with a great running game, defense and special teams play than Alex’s talent level.
IMO Alex is around 12/13 as a QB in the league. Decent but not great.
I doubt he goes to Arizona. Wizz should be gone, a new coach or Wizz will draft a QB high because the kids drafted lately have had instant success. The O line is probably the worst in football, Alex would have a very short career there, just look at how often the existing QB’s get hurt.
Alex will definately get offers, he may be limited but he is better than roughly half the starters in the league. I doubt he gets better than 10 mil a year in real money and 2 years guaranteed.
Where he stands among QBs is obviously a matter of opinion. I totally understand why there was only mild interest last year, but it’s a totally different scenario this year. There were far more good QBs in the draft, and he did have a bad rep. But perhaps 12 is forgetting that even with the same system, many picked Smith to go totally feet up this year, No one thought his numbers would be even bettter., I’ve put him in a second tier of QBs that 12 actually agreed with until he decided to be head dickhead. Flavor’s 8 is about right. Remember we’re talking NOW, OK? Next person who mentions a Tannehill sits in the corner and gets whacked with Fear’s wienie for three hours. Don’t worry, it won’t hurt. Smith should get 11 to 12 per, won’t get a long term. Unfortunately some of what should have been good years were thrown away. But a lot of what he’s been through will become an advantage- his knowledge of several systems, his toughness, his stick-to-it mentality, AND his talent. Some people actually appreciate those traits. He’s been looked at as an immediate upgrade by several teams, there wasn’t near that kind of talk last year.
I have never ranked Alex top 10, I rank him a little above average and that has been consistant from me. I think he is second tier talent, decent but not great.
Romo? No. Cutler? No. Flacco? Hardly. Newton? Based on what? W-L? His commercial endorsements? Alex is in the top 10. He’ll get a lot of interest next year. He won’t get Flynn money, but he’ll get something decent. I hope he goes to AZ just for the hilarity that will ensue.
Sanchez is an absolute idiot. Throwing into triple coverage to seal the loss and dash the Jets slim playoff hopes. 4 picks. Way to sack up, Sanchize.