This is another one of what they call statement games. The 49ers are facing a very pissed off Houston team who on the face of things could be 3-1. They pissed away the Seattle game last week, their QB is under fire for fading in the face of adversity at the end of games, and the end of seasons, and the head coach went all Mad Mike Martz last game to play his part in the stupidity.
The Niners? Well, they are at home. They are supposed to be an elite team. This game was marked as a win before the season started. These home games are usually supposed to work out in our favor. The problem is, this team has looked anything but elite in the face of strong defenses. Seattle and Indy silenced this offense pretty easily. So, it’s time for this team to make a statement, or be exposed as a team that may have rested on its laurels this last offseason. Lose another at home, and this team is in big trouble. Gone will be the division, and they likely are looking at 4-4 at the break, and losses to the Saints, Hawks, and Falcons would be the least of the troubles for this team. 9-7 would be the likely outcome, if not worse.
Win the game, and a semblance of balance is restored to the team. They need to prove to themselves at least that they can beat a quality team at home. Even with the win they are going to find it hard to win the division without some help, and a home win against Seattle. A game a couple months off, but ooming large on the horizon. For the time being at least. Hence the title of this thread. This team has a chance to prove to itself, and the NFL, that they ARE bona fide contenders, and not pverhyped pretenders. All the commercials, accolades, back-patting, and media fawning can come crashing down on this team very quickly. As we all know, the NFL is paved with one-hit wonders, and teams that have fairly quick shelf lives. I think this team is built for the long haul, but with the mercurial nature of our head coach, and the general idea that it doesn’t take much to get knocked off the pedestal (just ask the NY Giants and the Pittsburgh Steelers), and you have a recipe for backsliding.
Note: Just saw on the NFL channel that Patrick Willis is a ‘greater than 50-50 chance to play tomorrow’ per Vic Fangio. Joe Staley is fine for tomorrow, but still and all this game worries the shit out of me. Time to play big instead of small.
Forty Niners Forever 
We’re up 21-0 and pissing and moaning about our injured 3rd corner.
Nipper was right.
If nothing else, it shows I care. I really do.
Well looks like it back to the run full time. I wonder how long before the good teams put 8 in the box and challenge the Niners to pass. Not only that but if they continue to put Kap under center he is going to get hammered trying to pass the ball! Just because Gore fells more comfortable with the QB under center does not mean you let your QB get hammered. See Montana and Young for that at the end of their careers. That is old offense lining up. Today’s NFL is out of the shot gun. Otherwise you are puttinG the life of your QB in the hands of the offensive line.
Gore’s leg is hurt….he might not be coming back
Brock will be an unrestricted free agent in March…just sayin’
There was a Crick in that pass
the coaches and ck himself seem more concerned with him not getting hurt than making plays. hard to complain about 24-3, though…
Totally agree with this. It’s idiotic, they aren’t playing golf out there, this is a contact sport, you can’t just focus on not getting hurt. Besides stripping away his value in a game, that’s a really fucking good way to get yourself hurt….
I don’t like the Harb’s / Roman play calls when they get up by a fair amount. They go into a shell, and into basic runs, instead of putting on the pressure and go in for the kill shot with flexible pass plays mixed in. Let Kap loose, for Pete’s sake, and let’s see some slants and wheel route passes. Get a damn TD and put this away…
Shaw learned this idiotic approach well. I hate it
Harbaugh is today’s Marv Levy. He’s good enough just to lose.
Time to burn more Schaub jerseys in Texas!!!
49ers Rolling baby!
The defense and Schaub’s screw ups won this game for the Niners. Offense did just enough to put it out of reach. I still don’t like the play calling. I hope they’re saving the full gas pedal offense for games down the road…
6-15, 113 yards isn’t very inspiring, but how ’bout going 25-36 and 506 yards, 5 TDs and losing? Sorry, Tony. Maybe next year.
Crazy shit. Ball control is key, as Schaub and the Texans found out. 177 on the ground had something to do with that as well. Short field, on and on. Some of the early pass plays were quicker, the run game worked again, so, there’s little to complain about.
The needed this game bad, and they took it. The pick 6 definitely set the tone. He had a great game all around. As did the entire defense.
Romo put up 48 pts. tonight. It’s all his fault his defense gave up 51. You fucking mook. I’ll take my chances with Romo putting up 48 every week vs Bo Schembechler Jr. and his QB putting up 113 yds.
This team is not winning a championship with Jim Harbaugh as its head coach.
Period. End of sentence. End of discussion.
Where exactly is Promo going with Jerruh and Jason Garrett?
FF Wonderland?
That Dallas game was all about neither Team having a clue on Defense Del.
The one thing that has taken us where we’ve gone is our ability to play D.
Granted, we’re getting our share of injuries on that side of the ball of late.
Our Offense needs some major improvements, especially on the passing game side.
The Season is young, we’re in the mix, we’re coming into an easier stretch now too.
We have to find answers for this anemic air game over the next 3 weeks.
AZ next week will be a challenge.
Good Secondary over there.
Can’t look past any games until we have our shot at redemption vs Seattle.
One major upside to Schembechler Jr football is wearing down a Defense.
Sure, I’d like to see more Peyton-esque aerial attacks but, as you saw in Dallas, unless you challenge a Defense on the ground, you often see these back and forth scoring spectacles.
I’ll take Wins anyway we can get them.
Our Offense did squat tonight by the stat line observation but, the Defense made the difference.
Kaep is not Primetime ready at this point but, it’s still October.
No need to panic.
Well, Dennis you’d rather lose 41-37 than win 34-3 apparently. The offense wasn’t spectacular, but then it didn’t have to be. The scoring drives were 65 yards, 32, 11, 39, 80, and 2,and of couse the pick 6. They scored when they got their opportunities.
This team is still struggling some on offense, but there’s plenty of time for these guys to get healthy in the WR corps and to get better in the air. Manningham will be back pretty soon, With some more viable options in the passing game, these guys should start clicking better. You think Dallas is going anywheere with Romo? Yeah, he had a great game. But . . .
PS. Dennis, you said the same thing about Bochy for years. Wrongo.
Dennis likes Dos Equis at least. burp!
Sales of Matt Schaub’s new football jersey “Pick 6” are flying off the shelves in Texas!!
New thread is up . . .
I don’t see the Niners getting tested till they play N.O..the 4 games before that if the Niners don’t go at least 3-1 over the next 4 games they will not make the playoffs.