To kill the jinx, we must acknowledge it. It what must be some kind of twist of fate, the Niners are facing the Double Whammy of jinxes this weekend. EVERYONE knows about the Sports Illustrated cover jinx. And sure enough, there he is, big as life, Colin Kaepernick on the cover of SI this week. Holy . . . indeed. When was the last time the Niners were on the cover of SI? You guessed it. Right before last year’s NFC Champiomship game against the New York Giants. And we all know how that turned out.
The other hobgoblin of doom is the season-long pattern of w-w-l; w-w-l; w-w-t; w-w-l; w-w-l; w-w-l; w-w-??? 18 games into this season, and the pattern goes on. Uncanny consistency in being inconsistent. Every 2 game winning streak was followed by the NFL wonks declaring that the Niners are the best team in the NFL. Whereas they would puke on their shoes and get knocked down a peg or 3. Some losses were to good teams (Giants, Minn), some to bad (StL), and some were ugly (Seattle).
I don’t hold much truck in the fact that my actions determine the fate of my team (superstitions being something I left behind me a while ago), but this may be the time to bring extra mojo to the table. The 49ers are 5-8 in NFC Championship games, and bring a 1-5 record in their last 6 playoff road games. Pish posh you say? Ancient history? Well, sure. But there sure seems to be a boatload of kharmic baggage to overcome in this game. So, dig out that old ticket stub, find that 26 year old t-shirt that brough you good luck in the 1994 Super Bowl game, and hope to hell these patterns don’t repeat themselves. Because as we all know, those who do not remember the past are doomed to repeat it.
Forty Niners Forever 
When I called Manti Te’o’s girlfriend, she answered, “Vandelay Industries.”
“I’d like to speak to Art, please.”
LOL, I called and got Kramer. “What Lennay Kekua?”
I’ve always wondered how much preparation teams put into their “future” opponents in the playoffs. I wonder if Belicheat is haviing his guys collect information about SF right now. What is the “Quality Control,” role in an organization? Wouldn’t that part of the organization be research? I don’t buy it when teams say, “We’re not looking ahead. We’re focused on the Ravens.” If I held the keys to the castle, I’d have the CIA working for me – researching, waterboarding, lying….. you know, CIA stuff.
Bellichick keeps picking up fired coaches and adding them to his staff during the playoffs.
This year it’s Brian Daboll and last year it was McDaniels. They must be up to no good.
The Mumbler probably as a terabyte of video on the Niners, 1.1 MB on the Falcons.
His brain will be stuck on permanent mumble after the Super Bowl.
I think he’ll have other concerns on Superbowl Sunday. Where he’s going to lunch, where he’ll watch the game…
Typical…. you picking Joe Flacco and an old Ravens team on the road against a young Patriots’ linebacking corp and Tom Brady at home.
There’s no need to begin insulting again
Or insult 12th. He’s picking the Ravens as well.
Something’s a miss. What’s insulting about telling someone who’s consistently wrong that it’s “typical” they’re once again wrong about the Ravens / Patriots game? I don’t understand where you get an insult from. I mean, if you saw a guy punch someone else and said, “That dude there just punched that dude over there,” then where’s the insult? All you’re doing is just recounting he past. Let’s not shoot the messenger here, Twin.
Chuckles, try to control Spit.
If this guy is going to start again, you miight as well blow up your blog now. Handle him before it get’s out of hand.Please.
Picked em against a young linebacking corp and Manning in Denver too!
Manning ain’t Brady, and Mile High isn’t Foxbourgh. And the Broncos aren’t the Patriots.
All those things are true. Ravens had the Pats beat last year until the kicker missed, how do you explain that?
“Manning ain’t Brady, and Mile High isn’t Foxbourgh. And the Broncos aren’t the Patriots.”
You thought so last week.
No, I thought Flacco wasn’t Manning……
You thought Alex Smith was Joe Montana.
Well, maybe you can you recover your losses from the Denver game.
Typical, Spit lying again.
Yeah, I think it’s about time for NE to go down. No other reason than the Ravens were close last year and they are playing better.
Both home teams lose? Yup. . . .
It takes a good D to stop NE and I think Balt has the ability to stop Brady. However, if brady is really on then it’s lights out for good ole brother Harbaugh.
Well, Brady is a far better postseason QB than Manning but Flacco had a big game against a far better pass defense in Denver. I’m going with same score as the 24-20 Niners. 24-20 Baltimore
The problem with the Denver secondary in the Ravens game was that their scheme was all about leaving Champ Bailey on an island, without help over the top. When Torrey Smith was beating Champ Bailey like a rented red headed mule, Jack Del Rio simply didn’t know what to do and he couldn’t act when it was obvious Bailey needed help over the top. Then, when he finally acted, Ray Rice broke loose. Bill Belicheat isn’t going to have this same problem. Belicheat will, can and has shut down both Rice and Torrey Smith at the same time. The Denver defense couldn’t do both. If the Ravens win it’ll be because Dennis Pita has a big game and the Patriots couldn’t stop Ray Rice with 7 in the box. I doubt it’ll be because of the Ravens’ wide receivers.
The Mumbler’s defense is horrendo against the pass. Flacco destroyed it this year.Rice and Smith had huge games. Maybe you mean “maybe he learned something”.
Shit ,the Mumbler turned Fitzpatrick into Jim Kelly.
Truth is there are no “locks” to win now, regardless of Spits confidence, these are the best 4 teams left standing.
I think both games will be 1 score affairs. Of course thats just my 2 cents which are probably worth less than that.
Looking forward to seeing it play out and the Niners going to the SB, how cool is that?
Flacco, Rice, and Smith whupped that pussy Mumbler. defense, rode ’em hard, and put ’em to bed wet.
Look, in the interest of showing my goodwill, here’s one of those stupid but funny Hitler videos where “Dolph” goes postal. Here he learns of ASmith’s demotion.
THe point being, Spitty, that NE has given up some huge games in the air. It could very well happen again.
Fitzpatrick threw for about 700 in two games, Flacco 380, Manning 337, Wilson 293, Luck 334, Mark Fucking Sanchez 301, Schaub 343
Flacco over 300 in NE in the playoffs last year,
The Ravens have given Belichick and Brady fits but I think they get it figured out at home and advance to become the team against which we earn number six. NE 27-24
Now that we’ve got Copernicus the stars will align for us again. Niners 34-24.
I saw an interview a long time ago with Derek Jeter. He was talking about the World Series and Jeter was asked about being clutch and playing in nail biter World Series games. Jeter said, “I’m never really worried, even when we’re down. I just tell the guys, ‘Wait until the ghosts come out.'” Jeter was referring to the mystique of playing against the Yankees in the World Series, and how the ghosts or Yankee tradition make other players on opposing teams play tight or make crucial mistakes. And let’s remember last year….. Last year Flacco did complete a game winning touchdown with seconds left in the game to take the Ravens to the Super Bowl but the receiver got lazy with securing the ball and the defender stripped the ball away. That’s ghost number one – not being mindful enough to completely secure the catch in what might prove to be the most important play of John Harbaugh’s career (especially with the team getting older). Ghost number two was Cundiff missing his field goal.
I understand that the Ravens match up well with the Patriots and know how to play the Patriots close. But until the Ravens can beat the Patriots in Foxborough in the AFC Championship game, I’m confident the ghosts will come out once again and secure a win for the Patriots. The funny thing is some of those ghosts actually play in the Patriots’ secondary – and those chumps can’t tackle.
New thread is up . . .