The ignominious loss to the Baltimore Ravens a week ago Thursday night has sprinkled down drops of doubt upon the heads of the brethren in the 49er Village. The Harbaugh Mystique was wounded and the O-line was exposed.
It was a light rain and easy to shrug off as an aberrant weather pattern. But a loss to the Rams this Sunday would cause a full blown down pour of torrential proportions.
Strange as it sounds, with a four and a half game lead and five to play, but this Sunday is a MUST WIN game. Losing to the Rams at home would shatter the confidence of the team and the fans and open up the very real scenario of losing all three remaining division road games and also the home game against Pittsburgh, possibly leaving the team in a 9-7 tie with Seattle, and losing the division title on a tie-breaker. Such an epic choke job would plunge the franchise into darkest despair.
Are you scared yet? You will be come Monday if the 49ers somehow blow this game.
At fretful moments like this, I repeat the year’s mantra: In Defense We Trust.
The offense is not as trustworthy. Oh no, not them. It is probable that the offense will not become a week to week hell raiser until next year. This year’s model has done well, is worthy of admiration, but it is a week to week, just enough to win concoction of Harbaugh/Roman game plans and mistake free effort. It has overpowered precisely one team — the Tampa Bay Bucs.
Almost half of the team’s victories this year have required overcoming a fourth quarter deficit. While it is admirable that the team can suck it up when needed, it is also a less than reassuring trend. Great teams don’t often have to scramble for victory in the fourth. They are pulling away comfortably in the fourth.
Fortunately, there are very few great teams. Green Bay, New England, the Saints at home — that’s about it. And none of those three teams have an elite defense. The 49ers do, as do the Texans, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh. Come playoff time, history tends to favor the great defenses over the great offenses.
But first, we have to get into the playoffs. It is my strong recommendation that the 49ers do precisely that on Sunday. Or else. The formula for victory is simple. If the defense gives up 13 points or less, the Niners will win.
The Rams would need to resort to bobbery to get win this week.
.
I thought bobbery was a robbery by Bob. I now think it is win by the Rams.
Skeebers- Did you delete one of my posts this morning?
No, Berg. Let me check the spam queue.
Nothing from you in there, Berg. A truckload of spam junk, though. Wow.
This just came up on the radio. Takeo Spikes has never made the playoffs and thought that’s where he was headed with the Chargers this year. Instead the Niners are in and the Chargers are out.
TKO has got to be wondering if he’s just cursed as this is 14 years in a row with 5 different teams. He’s a great player and was super as a Niner but he just can’t catch a break. I feel for him.
TKO is the Bad Luck Schleprock of the NFL. But luck, good or bad has nothing to do with Norv’s ability to be a HC. Norv just plain stinks on ice as the man in charge. If he’s still coaching the Bolts next year there’s really something rotten in Denmark.
Norv will be the Rams OC next year.
.
Getting cold feet, skeebs? You were the one with 11-5 . . .
.
Don’t get all Frederick P. Soft on us. . .
My only question with the Rams is A. Davis. As I recall, he got taken out behind the woodshed last year and it wasn’t pretty… No team that loses to the Lambs deserves to be in the playoffs this season. Oh wait, the Saints did. Badly.
Lest I forget, and before I disappear again (or not), on the very same field where I was Frampton that day, I saw Nolan Ryan pitch NO-NO #6 thirteen years later. What I wouldn’t have given to see Frampton there at the time to get a high, hard one. He deserved it after DOTG.
*(where I saw Frampton) – oops
Look at what happened to the Saints last year. Bounced by Seattle. Lynch had a big game. It’s things like that that give me hope for the 49ers playoff aspirations.
The Saints are 2-3 on the road, and lucky to be that with an OT win in the Georgia Dome.
They can be beaten on the road right now. At home, I wouldn’t bet against them.
Yes, it does sound silly, but the Niners HAVE to maintain that 1 1/2 game lead going into the playoffs.
49ers 27 lambs 10
I’m pumped! The first winteresque snow of the season, weaselly little autumns snows, begone!
Screw New Orleans and Brees! Bring on the Frozen Tundra! I want to see Frank run in a sea of white!
One game at a time. Like you said RT, ” no team that loses to the Rams deserves to be in the playoffs.” If we aren’t good enough to take it to em this week then we probably aren’t ready to hit the bigtime either. I see Harbaugh and the Niners looking for blood this week, just as it should be.
RTF, as long as we tie NO, we hold the advantage due to common oppnent wins. TB to be exact. And StL on Sunday.
The Playoffs have top 2 teams with byes. GB #A Niners #B
Then as things stand today of the remaining teams #4 ATL would play
host #1 NO and #3 Chicago would play host #2 Dallas.
Niners would then host the winner of Dallas/Chicago and Packers would host winner of NO/ATL.
Niners wouldn’t face Packers or Saints until NFC Championship Game.
Looks like Santa Clara Stadium will happen
http://www.csnbayarea.com/blog/niners-talk/post/49ers-Santa-Clara-secure-financing-for-s?blockID=604816&feedID=5936
I have always thought that if da Mayor, Willie Brown couldn’t make this happen in the City then nobody could.
Just be thankful they are still in the Bay Area and Jed York is shooting for this to be ready in 2.5 years in time for the 2014 season. You have the usual crtics that don’t like the design and that it looks different. I think it looks quite nice and why do you want the cookie cutter stadium from 10 years ago? This will state of the art and anything now is an improvement on the Stick.
The Stick has all the great memories nut it’s time to move on.
Looks like the stadium will be in Santa Clara. I don’t like it but it is much better than it not being in Northern California. I hope they put an RV park within walking distance.
Maybe with hotels across the street that could take the place of bringing the RV.
The operose with this stadium project seems to be finally paying off. I guess if it were easy it wouldn’t be such a big deal.
Bullit, as it stands NOW, the Niners WILL face NO in the Divisional Playoff Game.
1. GB (Bye)
2. SF (Bye)
3. NO
4. DAL
5. ATL
6. CHI
If both the Saints and Cowboys win their home playoff matchups, GB would play the lowest remaining seed (#4 DAL) and the Niners would host NO.
Drew Brees and Co. are gonna light us up like a 40 ft. Christmas tree. Oh well. At least they’ll be one legitimate NFL QB on the field that day.
Dennis
I stand corrected and your paorongs make more sense as if you read an explanation it can be quite confusing.
Anyhow I am counting on your recent streak of being wrong about everything Niners to carry us through to at least the championship game.
Then you most certainly don’t want to hear my prediction of a Niners victory this Sunday vs the Rams. I’ll reverse just for you to keep everyone, and my streak of being wrong about “everything Niners” happy and in tact. 21-20 Rams.
How is Suh spending the first of his two weekends off? By hitting a curb, light pole, drinking fountain and tree with his car. Now that’s what I call a superfecta.
http://tinyurl.com/78z5s3b
Dennis
You’re too kind. Why is Suh driving arouns in a 1970 Chevy Coupe? Calssic car? Maybe a Chevy SS? Or should I say WAS a Checy SS.
Some people are always crashing in the same car:
http://youtu.be/l2vEtfyveeY
I blame David Bowie and his hit single, “Under Pressure” for spawning the demon seed that is Robert Van Winkle. a.k.a. Vanilla Ice. That worthless POS pilfered Bowie’s song and made himself quite a comfortable living out of it. Ice Ice Baby…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rog8ou-ZepE
And I give you guys full permission to curse my name as that stoopid ass song is now repeatedly lodged in your head. Word to your mother…
did i just hear the lambs are going back to LA and the jags to St. louis ?
The eight year playoff drought ends today!!!!
With the Rams reduced to a collop these days, we should be able to chew them up and spit them out for the division title.
Del- That was the first, and last, time I saw Vanilla Ice. I was surprised to see he is a white guy.
Fearless forecast Niners 27 Rams 3
Something to keep your eye on today. Josh Johnson is starting for Tampa Bay because Josh Freeman is hurt and can’t go.
You can consider this an audition for next year and see if JJ is a bona fide NFL starting QB.
Baas inactive for GB-NYG game – headaches. Good grief.
enough of josh johnson please
Vernon’s drop cost me about 20 fantasy points. Luckily, it won’t cost me a victory.
The new York 49ers are much better than the old York 49ers!
Frank Gore needs 1293 yards to become the all time leading rusher for the 49ers.
Gore passed Perry today the most 49er NFL yards. When accounting for Perry’s 2 years with the AAFL 49ers (1948-1949) Frank needs 1293 more yards to pass him.
I am quite pleased this evening.
Yeah, the Pro Football (NOT the NFL) Hall of Fame shows Perry as having 8689 yards as a 49er.
.
The NFL doesn’t recognize the AAFC yards. They should.
The 49ers tied the the Rams today for the all-time series lead.
I’ll bet you that New Orleans selects Kellen Moore QB with their 2nd rd pick next draft. He’ll learn under Brees and become his heir apparent. It just seems like it’d going to play out that way.
I couldn’t be happier with who we took in round one this year. It seems when he is in, it is “Aldon All the Time!” I pronounce it “All Don All the Time.” It’s catchy! Anybody notice him knock multiple OTs straight back today with a bull rush? He knocked one on his ass. The kid is a freak.
He’s a keeper Berger. I’m already lobbying the kids for a White 99 Jersey.
His long arms are DeMarcus Ware-like. He’ll only get stronger as he goes thru off season conditioning too.
I’d say Baalke has proven to be a very competent GM thus far.
funny how our new lean mean and speedy pass rusher … is bull rushing 0-linemen !
WOW !
DIVISION CHAMPS !
New post is up.