Well, here we go with our 3rd shot at Sean McVay. Our first victory over the Rams this year was the catalyst that ignited the team and spurred them on to this continuing run of winning football. The last victory, the demoralizing comeback, of course got us into the big dance. Really, our first playoff game. So, here we are in the NFC Championship game. Hard to believe after the rollercoaster season the team, and Jimmy G, had. As they say, it is better to finish strong rather than start strong, and the 3-5 start is a distant memory.
But what of the challenge of beating a team three times in a season? Not gonna look up the stats, but the 49ers clearly have a huge psychological advantage over the Rams. Seeing as the Niners and Kyle Shanahan are 6-0 in the last 6 meetings dating back to the last playoff run of 2019 over Sean McVay and the Rams leads me to think we are in their heads. Big time. Like Pete Carroll and Shanahan, the onus is squarely on McVay to turn the tide somehow.
Seeing as the 49ers are gonna look to establish the run early, I really would like to see us run misdirection plays to start the game. They are gonna play the run for all it is worth, and Shanny needs to throw some weird stuff at LA. Even play-action drag routes with Kittle/Jennings/Mitchell as you sent the other WRs deep. Come out with multiple WR formations on 1st down and spread the defense out. Run bunched formations and throw a jet sweep.
You know what would be a trip? Take a page from the Andy Reid Philadelphia Eagles and throw deep on the 1st play. With Deebo as the passer. I don’t know if Reid did it to anyone else, but every game against SF he would go deep on the 1st play. Home or road, rain or shine. Every time. They had DeSean Jackson, so it was pretty effective.
As this season has worn on, I really have to give Shanny grudging kudos as he HAS made in-game adjustments to get the team rolling. In-season adjustments as well. Using Deebo as a runner has been a very large part of the winning streak we are on.
On defense, moving AA strictly as an inside run-stuffer (along with DJ Jones) has shored up the D line. Moving Bosa all over the line has helped his effectiveness as well. The other huge improvement is the defensive secondary. Due to injuries and ineffectiveness, the back end of the defense has been a huge liability. But with the emergence of Thomas Ambry and regaining Emmanuel Moseley and K’Waun Williams, the secondary has markedly improved over the early disaster games that were the Indy and Seattle games.
San Francisco 49ers Forever 
More fun from Robbie Gould!
“We fucked ’em!!!”
I would LOVE a stomp. But everything about the niners right now feels like nail biter territory. It’s hard on us fans, but when we win, it’s glorious. But I feel like it will probably be nail biter territory once more. Steady Eddie.
Gould is fucking money right now. He didn’t just make that kick, he thumped it through and made it look easy in the worst possible conditions. He’s back to being a weapon, after some early season struggles.
ROFL!!!
He and the Dallas pistol guy should have a pity party.
The way he kicked that Door I think he was trying “break on through to the other side!”
Gould gets all the kudos he deserves after seeing the Gay kicker for the Rams miss a 45 yarder in Tampa Bay and hittting his 2 from 30 and 45 in the conditions he did. Even the extra point was 35 yards.
You know it’s a what have you done for me lately league. To win this one we need 60 minutes of mistake free football from the whole team. I believe we can do it or we better be able to do it if we make the SB. The Rams are gonna be digging deep and they did jump out to a 17 point lead. Let them make the mistakes. All that said I like our chances.
This one just might be the easiest of the bunch. I tell ya, these guys are ripe to hit this on all cylinders. I’ll try it one more time.
Niners 30 – LA 20
I like your confidence, but I’m not sure I’m on board with the “easiest of the bunch” part. I do think Garoppolo is going to have to be a lot better, which he figures to be with the dome and perfect conditions (fingers crossed), but I will ride that wave of confidence right along with you.
GO 49ERS!
Coming from those nightmare conditions into ideal conditions will probably feel like heaven for the Niners. They might just go off offensively and they are due to do just that. They haven’t had a big offensive game in awhile.
Yep. From the ice box to the balmy conditions, I think they are due a game that will be more of a walk than a nail-biter.
But as usual, it is all about Jimmy. Bad Jimmy, bad night.
I re-watched the GB game, and Jimmy had 3 near-picks to go along with the INT. Those stupid sideline passes that get no yards, but could be easily jumped for a pick 6 HAVE TO GO.
U can bet one thing I’m sure the 49ers are damm grateful they don’t have to take another extremely long flight with a banged up team all the way to Florida! 45 minute flight is sure a hell of a lot easier then 5 hours 30 minutes this time of year!
Just for that reason only I’m glad the Rams won. plus the fact it’ll prolly be Levi’s south gives me a warm fuzzy feeling about this one.
Really think they are ready to blow up and take this one. Didn’t feel This way about any of the last 7 games.
GO 49ERS! BEAT THE LAMBS! lol
Even sports analysts point out that JG is a better passer when he is throwing over the middle, so Kyle your passing schemes need to be over the middle
The difference in theis Ram game is we will have K’Waun Williams back. Moseley is playing really well, last Ram game hero Ambry Thomas will hopefully be back, and the same with Trent Williams.
Deebo looks to be fine as well. I think my plan of heavy misdirection to start the game will hold true. Quick roll-out drag routes to Kittle/Aiyuk, jet sweeps wit Deebo, and maybe a reverse will keep their aggressive defense on its heels.
These are vague, weird, and kinda funny.
https://bleacherreport.com/post/gridiron-heights/66925203-5213-459c-add3-4c4fa142179d
ODB saying “Dad, get me out of here!” is pretty funny. As is the coin flip.
https://bleacherreport.com/post/gridiron-heights/ec1546c0-a332-4c59-9c0d-5f6fc28c0732
This morning my son said “I think it finally sunk in that the 49ers beat Green Bay.”
Per Max Kellerman on ESPN’s “This Just In,” Sunday’s NFC Championship game will be the 23rd time since 1970 a team went 2-0 against another team in the regular season then met in the playoffs. 14 of the previous 22 teams won the third game to complete the 3-0 sweep. Food for thought.
GO 49ERS!
Watching The Herd, Colin pointed out that all of the head coaches in the AFC who won the divisions were offensive minded Head Coaches, except for the East. I am not surprised. All you have to do is look at the Niners past few Head coaches, Nolan, Singletary, Harbaugh. And IMO, it is because they looked at their offense and tried to defend it. They weren’t looking at it as how can my Offense beat the other teams Defense. The only thing that came out of those teams was they built good defenses, they just didn’t know how to score.
49ers Defense, including playoffs
W-L 3-5
PPG 25.3
Rush yards per game 131.6
Takeaways Games.0.6
Sacks/Games 2.3
Since
W-L 9-2
PPG 17.3
Rush yards per game 77.4
Takeaways 1.6
Sacks/Game 3.6
That’s one hell of a turnaround and the #1 reason why their in the NFC Championship game! The defense is playing “LIGHTS OUT” with a front 7 of BOSA,Armstead,Jones,Ebukam, along now with 3 healthy great Linebackers with Warner,Al-Shairr,and Greenlaw to go with Jimmy Ward leading the secondary unit!
Just my opinion, I think the turnaround happened when we stopped committing a huge amount of PI penalties. 2nd Cardinal game not included. That one was from starting 2 rookie safeties in their first starts. I really thought we were as bad as any team in the league at that time, but hindsight makes it much clearer as to what happened.
Yep, we have a lot of leaders on this team and to get them back and healthy changed everything.
Losing and getting Greenlaw back can’t be understated. Same with Moseley and K’Waun Williams. Thomas’s progress has been a godsend as well. Earlier in the season I don’t think Thomas gets his head around to make the pick vs LA.
Greenlaw has been a monster and has set the tone for our defense and probably everyone else too. We look like a team now.
Hah!!
https://www.theonion.com/dipshit-owner-looking-for-perfect-dipshit-gm-to-carry-o-1848420806?utm_campaign=The%20Onion&utm_content=1643214604&utm_medium=SocialMarketing&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwAR2fCRCHuMFfjVxW-D67X4PIlQHuxvobOWmVI-V7NPrb-IPkuTSJmnKegXw
New thread is up.