Anyone who complained that most of the games in the first round were boring had to be thrilled by this weekend. Two games for the ages, and one riveting performance by the guy they’re now calling Keepernick. And as Foxxy said, NE is making a statement. Brady passes Montana as winningest QB in the postseason.
The Denver game is a good example of why I don’t bet on NFL games (and also why I don't get too passionate about any team; at my age, I can't afford the stress it puts on one's heart). I picked Denver, and counting the 49ers as a pick I made, on the condition that Smith played and was reasonably healthy, I should be 8-0 for the postseason. That 70 yard pass in the final minute was a classic you gotta be kidding me moment. The main coverage guy just stopped running, and hung 3-4 yards back of the WR, WTF was that all about? The other coverage guy, coming over to help, in effect gambled he could knock the pass down by jumping. Had he not made that gamble, which of course he lost, but just kept running towards the receiver, he could have at least reached him in time to tackle him after he caught the ball.
And while there were some questionable calls affecting both teams, two of Manning’s turnovers probably should not have been. That first pick for a TD came off pretty obvious pass interference. The pass was on target, the ball went up in the air because the WR had a DB all over him before the ball arrived. And Manning’s fumble was EXACTLY the same Tuck rule play that was ruled an incomplete pass for Brady, and allowed the Pats to start their SB dynasty. Look at the film and tell me that if Brady’s fumble was an incomplete pass, Manning’s wasn’t.
FoxxyBrown1111 said:
Wow,
Kaep the new RG3 (he might never return, as i expected)?
I was thinking if RGIII comes back next year, he might become the new Kaepernick. Problem is, you said QBs shouldn’t rush more than about 200 yards per season, and Keeper just about used up his entire allotment in the GB game.
How to stop him? Didn´t know he throws a 93 mph fastball. Amazing, love it.
When he isn’t soft-touching it over the defenders, CK7 throws one of the hardest passes in the NFL. Randy Moss said he almost broke one of his fingers catching one of his passes, said it hurt so much he cried.
Btw, the 49ers said they intentionally abandoned the Pistol offense for the most part in their last two regular games, because they wanted playoff opponents to think they weren’t going to use it. Considering that the 49ers had not yet clinched the division going into those games—and how quickly that Seattle game got out of hand--that was another pretty bold move by Harbaugh. The guy sure looks like a genius now. I was one who thought benching Alex Smith was a bad idea, and the 49ers might have beaten the Packers with him at QB. But Keepernick didn’t just win the game, he had to scare and demoralize the rest of the NFL a little bit.
Two things about the Packers’ play I didn’t understand. One, why they didn’t put more coverage on Crabtree? It’s no secret he’s CK7’s favorite receiver, it’s been that way almost since he took over the QB job. That early pick 6 happened because Crabtree fell down, and CK I think got a little flustered and threw the ball into tough coverage. If Crabtree were better covered, it might open up Vernon Davis, but Keeper has not been able to get in synch much with Davis. You’d think defenses would at least try taking Crabtree out of the game.
Second, why didn’t GB run the ball more in the second half? Harris gained 47 yards in the first half. Very few RBs do that well against the 49er defense, and that capability really opened the passing game up for Rodgers in the first half. But they stopped running in the second half, gave the ball to Harris only twice, and with it, they stopped scoring. The game was close till the fourth quarter, yet the Packers played as though they were far behind. Maybe being scared of Keepernick does that to you.
With J. Smith fairly healthy (I think he was second on the team in tackles), the only concerns I see for the 49ers are the pass rush (Rodgers was sacked only once, and GBs OL isn’t really that good), and Akers. He made the one FG he was called on to kick, but it was under 40 yards. It remains to be seen how he will do on longer ones. His backup is Billy (Bye, Bye Blackbirds) Cuniff.
As a 49er fan, I’m relieved Seattle lost. I like the 49ers chances better on the road in Atlanta than at home against the Seahawks. That team is really scary, Russell Wilson may be every bit as good as CK (does he ever throw an interception? He almost matched CK’s 2 TD/2 TD performance), and they will be back. Don’t know how that defense allowed the Falcons to come back with thirty seconds, but wake up John Fox, who had Manning take a knee in the virtually the identical situation, except that it was a tie game at the time. Guess he figured it was more likely Manning would throw a pick in that situation than move them into FG range. And sad to say, the way the game played out, he might have been right.
Last year I said I thought the best SB matchup would be 49ers vs. Pats. Still think it’s the most intriguing possibility this year. That game has everything. History: two of the NFL’s most successful franchises, a combined eight SB wins. Old vs. new: NE seemingly near the end of a dynasty, SF maybe starting one. Bellichick/Brady one of the longest running coach/QB duos in history, Harbaugh/Keeper the newest. Offense vs. defense, though the 49ers look a lot more dangerous offensively this year than last year.
The game they played earlier this year would have been a really wild SB. But then again, NE made that monster comeback after J. Smith was out. With him in the game, it could have been a blowout. But I'm thinking SF vs. NE would be a lot like SF vs. GB. Very high scoring.
P.S. - Can you believe? SF has not won a road playoff game since the Montana era? And Montana only won that one road game, he was 1-3 on the road, at least as a 49er. Young never won on the road. So Eli Manning and Ben Rothlisberger have each won more road games in one postseason than Montana and Young combined in their entire careers. Weird.