It took 45 games, but the post-Harbaugh 49ers have finally won two consecutive games!
It’s probably no coincidence that both winning efforts were conducted by newly acquired QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who appears to have wisely used his three and a half years backing up Tom Brady in New England. Brady’s backups don’t have the best track record when going out on their own — in fact, they have all pretty much sucked. But Garoppolo appears to be the exception.
It also helps that the team just played two straight games against a couple of teams that are stinking their way to the finish line. The next three games are all against teams heading to the playoffs — the Titans, Jaguars, and Rams — so how the team fares in these contests will give us a much better idea of how improved the Niners actually are.
After a slow start against Houston, Garoppollo caught fire in the second quarter. And unlike previous Niner QBs, he stayed hot the entire game, throwing for 334 yards on 20 out of 33 passing attempts. The team has seen those kind of numbers only a handful of times since Jeff Garcia was dismissed after the 2003 season.
The teams were tied at 16 apiece late in the third quarter, with DeAndre Hopkins doing most of the damage with 11 receptions for 149 yards and 2 TDs. Dontae Johnson was the CB getting scorched by Hopkins and as soon as 49er coaches finally benched him, the Houston offense went bye-bye the rest of the game.
For the Niners, WR Marquis Goodwin had a big game, catching 6 passes for 106 yards. In the absence of Pierre Garcon and the previous two QBs, Goodwin has emerged as the team’s top wide out.
Two straight victories are nothing much to crow about in the NFL, but for the Niners, it’s a seismic shift. They will now no longer be mentioned in the same sentence as the Cleveland Browns — the barometer of football dreadfulness. And that is one mighty baby step forward.
Niners have had 2 QBs this season who were understudies of Tom Brady.
The difference between Hoyer and Garoppolo is talent.
Elway would cough up 2 number ones for Garoppolo but the Niners have found their holy grail and should sign him for the next 5 years.
The Raiduhs gave Carr a huge deal last year and right now I think Garoppolo is a better QB knowing only part of the playbook.
Imagine Garoppolo mastering the entire Shanahan playbook with Lynch bring in some elite offensive weapons and shoring up the oline.
It will be interesting to see how we do with the next 3 games.I think the Titans are a winnable game. They rely heavily on the running game and we are pretty good at controlling that. Also you never know what Marriota(sp) is gonna show up. I am pretty sure we would have got toasted yesterday if Watson was at QB.
That freakin’ dummy Belichick got rid of the wrong QB!!!!
Is $100 million enough for the starter of only two games that barely beat two shitty struggling teams?
Hope the kicker stays healthy and most of the opposition doesn’t.
The same guys who couldn’t pay Smith and Shit7torm enough money soon enough are ignoring history again.
They have 3 more games to figure it out and an off-season to figure it out more. He cost us a second rd pick and the money they are paying for crap QB’s now days is ridiculous. I think we should give the kid a chance. As far as I’m concerned he has already shown he is a better QB than Smith, or Kap.
Belichick made the deal to get Jimmy G out of the AFC thinking he would sign long term with the Niners and be out of his hair. This per Peter King of MMQB.
AFC teams looking for QBs are Cleveland, Denver, Buffalo and Jacksonville and the Pats realize this is their main competition and wanted to keep him as far away as possible.
Jimmy G has instantly made his offensive players better players.
Lynch/Shanahan will give him the long term contract and the team will have their franchise QB.
If you can’t see the obvious talent then you are relegated to accepting mediocrity at the QB position or just like to complain.
Niners have been reported to have $116 mil in cap space for the 2018 season. Giving Garoppolo $20 mil a year still leaves them with a bank of $96 mil to spend.
If you say no to Garoppolo I would like to hear your plan for the QB position and who plays QB. Be specific.
Niners open as a two point favorite over the Titans.
Titans are in the AFC Wild Card Playoff Race.
How things have changed.
It would be great if win this one at home, for the team, the fans, and the organization.
The 2018 slate of teams the Niners play is locked in because they will finish last in the NFC West no matter if they run the table.
HOME
Chicago (4-9)
Denver (4-9)
Detroit (7-6)
Oakland (6-7)
New York Giants (2-11) or Washington (5-8)
Arizona (6-7)
Los Angeles Rams (9-4)
Seattle (8-5)
AWAY
Green Bay (7-6)
Minnesota (10-3)
Kansas City (7-6)
Los Angeles Chargers (7-6)
Tampa Bay (4-9)
Arizona
Los Angeles Rams
No East Coast games, nice. And if we get lucky enough to go to GB and Minn early we might not have a real bad weather game.
Will Garoppolo garner a couple games on the Sunday Night and Monday Night Prime Time showcase games? Niners have been not been scheduled since they sucked.
This is a prime indicator of if you are considered a contender or at the very least an entertaining team. Two appearance would be a STEP UP.
Some positive stats for you gung-hoers:
“Last year, the 49ers run defense allowed 165.9 yards per game, including 4.8 average per attempt.
This year, those numbers have dropped to 121.3 per game and 3.9 yards per attempt.”
skeebs- does that stat include receptions by RB’s too?
Not sure what you mean, Winder. It’s just a run defense stat. Wouldn’t include any kind of passing.
Here’s one for any 49er fan – past or present.
“Frank Gore needs 59 yds to become 2nd player in NFL history with 1,000+ scrimmage yards in 12 straight seasons. Emmitt Smith is the other.”
I was just wondering about that since we gave up a boatload of yards on screens and swing passes to RB’s.
Gore got more than that tonight.
Emmitt’s a bum, charging through holes as wide as four lane highways, hobbling off the field near the end of almost all losing efforts, and leaving his team in the lurch holding out for more money than Thurman Thomas.
Frank’s a man. Heart of a lion. Made almost all of his own holes through opponents stacked against a single threat team. A huge feat considering where he started. Gore wins! No comparison.
Too bad the Niners don’t value such qualities and spirit anymore.
I like the 2018 schedule for the Niners.
Instead of going to Seattle for the usual ass kicking they just stay home and watch an old replay, run head first into brick walls, drop poorly thrown footballs while having stationary blocking sleds get the best of them.
Schefter speculation on how Garoppolo landed in the Niner’s laps
http://www.49erswebzone.com/articles/112567-schefter-browns-begging-garoppolo-belichick-49ers-would-right/
Facing an ex-Niner Delanie Walker this week. Walker has been named to the Pro Bowl several times since leaving and is a top ten TE.
http://www.sacbee.com/sports/nfl/san-francisco-49ers/article189550499.html
If the Niners win another game, Belichick’s second round pick might slide out of the top five.
Not that we’re keeping track of such petty chuckles, but when your team is 3-10 and whooping with joy, nothing is too petty to notice.
“RT Trent Brown to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery.”
A Niner win today would be their first over a team with a winning record since 2014.
That is a F-up stat. Incredible how low we have been for so long
49ers inactive
WR Max McCaffrey
DB Greg Mabin
DB Antone Exum
LB Pita Taumoepenu
DL Leger Douzable
DL D.J. Jones
DL Ronald Blair
Rams are brutalizing the Seahawks.
“49ers have now scored on 10 of their last 12 offensive possessions.”
Hard to tell if Fusco (or whoever is playing matador at right guard) is blocking or just helping to tackle Hyde.
If he’s run blocking, he sucks. If he’s tackling Hyde he’s collecting lots of assist points.
This QB shit makes just a little difference, doesn’t it?
Yep when was the last time the Niners marched down the field for a winning score with little over a minute to go?
This is all done with a ragtag receiving corps and a makeshift Oline.
Isn’t it amazing what happens when you place the ball in the receiver’s hands that gives them a chance to run with it? Jimmy G is throwing receivers open and making ordinary guys like Celek, Goodwin and Bourne into 75v yard plus big play guys.
Niners only punted once in today’s game which is a far cry from all the three and outs they have been enduring for the last 3 seasons.
Looking forward to 2018 with an upgraded Oline and more offensive weapons.
Shanahan’s offense will be elite and feared now that the Niners have a franchise QB.
New post is up.