For the want of a Niner game, let’s go over the team at the midway point of the season. Offensively, the team has survived a bunch of preseason (and regular season) injuries to get themselves back into the playoff picture when it was a little murky after week 3 and the Niners were 1-2. Those first 3 games were strangely pass oriented. It worked for the Green Bay game, but the Seattle and Indy games were laden with sacks, hurries, and no continuity or sustained running. Both games were close heading into the 4th quarters, but both ended up being blowouts as the defense faded from being on the field too long, and the offense kept turning the ball over.
Since those games however, the Niners have once again strapped themselves to the bell cow, Frank Gore. He is seemingly just as fresh as he was 5 years ago, and is still playing at a very high level. With Gore running successfully, other aspects of the offense now work. The passing game has gotten fairly effective, even though there are mainly two targets, VD and Anquan Boldin. Bruce Miller has come on as a check down, after some early season drops (the Seattle game especially he dropped a TD). The Niners even threw a swing pass to Gore last week (!). The good news is Marion Manningham will soon be back on the field for the 2nd half push. And Colin Kaepernick, who overcame a foot injury in the Green Bay game, has settled down and has once again become a viable read-option threat.
Defensively, the team has overcome injuries to the D line. Ian Williams was knocked out of the season with a broken ankle in week 2 on a cheap-shot block low and behind Williams, and Glenn Dorsey has been in and out with different tweaks. Nnamdi Asomugha went down to injury, but has been more than ably replaced by Tremaine Brock. Then there is the machinations of Aldon Smith and his arrests, rehab, and subsequent reinstatement a few days ago. Through all this, the defense has gotten stronger, due to the emergence of guys like Corey Lemonier and rookie safety Eric Reid. Patrick Willis as fought through injuries, but the star so far is NaVorro Bowman. He leads the team in tackles, and is all over the place.
The good news for the team is the injuries and distractions they have overcome to build this 6-2 record. I don’t know how or if the injury to Kaepernick had anything to do with the stopping of the read-option (and I actually called for it in the GB game), but the offense was out of sync until the ground game got going in week 4 against the Rams. The team is getting depth help from Quinton Dial and Tank Carradine after this bye, as well as Manningham, and hopefully soon, Michael Crabtree.
The team is setting up to be in good shape for the 2nd half of the season. How this shakes out with Seattle and their injury problems with their O lline remains to be seen. I’m not holding out much hope for TB to do anything on the road in Seattle, but the Atl game next week may be a stumbling block for them. The hope is the Niners can get to the Dec 8th game with Seattle even with them.
Forty Niners Forever 
Huge goal line pic of Wilson.
Bad time for TB to have its first 3 and out of the game.
Huge 3rd down now for Squawks, could be game if TB hold.
So much for that thought.
They’re the Yucs when it counts.
Ain’t over yet, though I’d give the leg advantage to Hauschka if it comes to that.
tie game.
We can only hope for the Bucs to keep the ball away until the end of regulation and have a shot at the win.
Judging by the stat lines, they aren’t moving the ball on Offense.
4th and 3
fake trying to get offside, didn’t work. Squawks will get ball back with 25 sec.
In other news, the Brownies are hanging tough with Baltimore.
Seems like a Davey Day
Goes to OT
Good, beat down those Birds!
Bucs get the first crack at it after winning the toss
This kid Glennon, the rookie QB has played tough all day.
3 and out Bucs
Looks like a quick ending in sight.
TB is 0-7 for a reason.
They need a pick 6
I’d settle for a fumble recovery and a FG.
Nick Foles: 406 yards, 7!!!!! TDs.
Can the Niners please play the Raiders this year? Even if it doesn’t count?
The Raiders want to play the Raiders too!
Squawks start on their 40
Squawks in FG range now.
at the 6
Unbelievable they win by the skin of their teeth AGAIN!
Just FFW to SEA playing in the SB so I don’t have to endure the pain and agony of watching it unfold.
Think so? Tampa pushed them to the limit at home in the parrots cage. Squawks have not played dominating ball for a month. Squeaker after squeaker.
Seattle does NOT lose at home. Period. End. Of. Story.
Same with New England….oh, wait….
Seattle not looking quite like a SB entrant the last two games. Injuries may be taking their toll. This is good for the Niners, Seahawks look vulnerable to good teams that don’t lay down like dogs like the Bucs once they get up. Nawlins lost, that’s good for the Niners…
Tight races snarkk.
Browns still up over Ravens
You want to remind me how the fuck we lost to Joe Flacco and the Ravens in the Super Bowl?
Not really.
Raiders played good D last week against Steelers, then they get punished today vs. a previously sucky Eagles squad. The NFL is down this year, some call it parity, I’d call it crap teams all around. If Maningham and Crabby get back and can contribute something, Niners are in good shape to contend. There’s not a dominant team out there now…
The Chiefs are 9-0! They’re not dominant? Where’s your faith in Alex?
A terrible mind is a thing to waste Dennis.
What’s the record for a Team facing backup QBs?
Alex and Andy must have it sewn up at this point.
Let’s see how they fare against Peyton and the better Teams when it counts.
Strength of schedule, how many wins against winning teams? Niners getting a second rounder is all I care about.
NJ, I was being facetious. KC is the worst 9-0 team in the history of the NFL for one simple reason — Alex Smith.
I know Del. Just having a good laugh myself.
Alex delivered us another 2.
That’s all I care about at this point.
Let KC enjoy their moment in the sun.
Just so long as they don’t have a lower Draft pick than us when it’s all said and done.
9ers are one of the most balanced teams in the hunt.
Our ST unit has to contribute beyond Dawson and Lee however.
Del our loss in the SB can easily be attributed to allowing Jacoby Jones to go coast to coast too.
Kaep being a pup didn’t help either.
Let’s hope we have the chance to atone this time around.
We need some major production from the PR/KR unit.
Maybe, just maybe, LMJ can provide that spark in the 2nd half?
I had the same thought NJ, Niners need better starting field position.
12th it’s easy to take Andy Lee for granted until you see what TB didn’t do today.
We need a whole lot more than we’ve gotten from KW, which amounts to pretty much nothing.
FC Charlie.
Browns win. Davey day indeed.
One thing holds true for NO.
They’re very pedestrian outside of the Home Dome.
Carolina could give them some trouble.
They face them twice in the 2nd half.
Be nice if Cam could steal them both.