The NFL Pro Bowl

The NFL made a good move when they decided to move the Pro Bowl to the weekend before the Super Bowl.  Instead of having a whole two weeks before the Super Bowl, you still get to see some football even if it is the Pro Bowl.

Getting all the stars from the NFL together seems to help with the pain of your favorite team not being in the Super Bowl.  Did this season go by really fast or was it just me?  The NFL Playoffs up to this point have been great and the pro bowl puts a cap on this puppy until the show down between the Patriots and the Giants.

Do you really care who wins the Pro Bowl?  No.  It is just the last time you get to see your favorite stars perform for a few plays and then it is on to next season.  The great thing about the NFL is that football never really stops when you think about it.  After next week, fans can quit worrying about this year and start thinking about the NFL Combine and Draft.

The NFL Pro Bowl  is just like the appetizer before dinner.  You know that the big meal is coming soon.  Only a few more days and the rematch will be on.

The San Francisco 49ers 2011-2012 Season

It was a year that started off with unrest and turmoil.  The NFL was going through a labor dispute and no one knew if there would even be football played this year.  The 49ers were coming off of a 6-10 season and the departure of head coach Mike Singletary.

Enter a new head coach Jim Harbaugh and a host of issues from the past regimes.  Alex Smith had struggled throughout his entire career in San Francisco and the 49er faithful were ready to part ways with him.

The 49ers had built a strong defense but it was never enough to help them advance to the playoffs or a winning record.  There was a tough decision ahead of Jim Harbaugh.  Should he start his tenure with the 49ers with Alex Smith at the helm?  Would they have enough time to get his offense installed with a shortened workout schedule? 

Harbaugh took a chance on Alex Smith and the rest is history.  The San Francisco 49ers powered with a strong defense and solid offensive play were able to turn the ship around in dramatic fashion.  The defense delivered big hits and turnovers all season.  Alex Smith while not an elite NFL quarterback, made the plays when he needed to and did a good job of protecting the football.

The defensive backfield was upgraded in the offseason with the additions of Carlos Rodgers, and Donte Whitner.  This 49er defense brought the big hits every week and with the first preseason game you could notice a difference.  The 49er linebackers have been a strong point during the season. 

Patrick Willis and Navarro Bowman bring the heat and close on running backs with swift, bone crushing tackles.  The defensive line got an upgrade with the addition of rookie pass rusher Aldon Smith.  Aldon Smith provided the pressure and showed his speed and skill by getting to the quarterback and causing problems for offensive coordinators all year long.

The 49er defense gave the 49er offense plenty of opportunities to make plays by generating turnovers.  Defenders contested passes, made big gambles that resulted in interceptions, and leveled punishment for receivers that dared to catch the ball while coming across the middle of the field.

The offense showed sparks at times. Tight end Vernon Davis is finally starting to turn into the player that many had imagined.  His speed and catching ability were showcased during the post season.  All it takes is a few steps of separation from a defender and Vernon Davis would be in the end zone. 

Frank Gore and rookie running back Kendall Hunter showed flashes of speed when given the opportunity.  The 49ers offensive line improved in their pass protection and gave quarterback Alex Smith more time to throw. 

At the beginning of the season, no body would have picked the San Francisco 49ers to have a winning season?  A new head coach, a struggling starting quarterback and shortened training camp made for tough headwinds for the Niners.  Despite all of those issues, Head coach Jim Harbaugh came up with a way to rally his guys and bring a winning brand of tough football back to San Francisco. 

The 2011-2012 San Francisco 49ers accomplished more than anyone could have hoped for in a first season head coach.  They won the NFC West Division.  They knocked off the high-powered offense of the New Orleans Saints and Drew Brees.  They advanced to the NFC Championship game against the New York Giants.  They took the game to overtime and just came up 3 points short in what could have turned into a trip to the Super Bowl.    

NFL Jerseys - Are you going to have one on during the Super Bowl?

Are you looking for professional football team jerseys?  NFL jerseys change over time and they are a way to show support for your team.  NFL jerseys are not cheap.  You may end up paying over a hundred dollars for the real thing.  

When you sit down to watch the game, when they scan the crowd you will see a bunch of supporters wearing these jerseys.  They show their favorite players numbers and it shows how committed you are as a fan.

NFL playoff games can have you on the edge of your seat.  With each snap of the football, you are watching for the biggest play of the game.  Sometimes strange things happen in football games.  A player may score a touchdown.  A kick returner may muff a punt.  Your team may end up losing the game.  But one thing usually remains even when your team loses.  There is still a deep affinity for the team. 

The way that real fans show their support for their favorite nfl team is by wearing hats, jackets and nfl jerseys.  When you are driving around town, you will notice the die hard football fans.  They have their cars detailed with the logos of their favorite teams.  Some fly flags and beep their horns when they pass you by on the street.

NFL Jerseys make you feel like you are part of the team.  You are not actually on the field and taking the hits, but you are showing your solidarity with the team. 

Teams change their uniforms from time to time.  So when you get an NFL Jersey you may have something of value in the future.  You will notice that sometimes during the year teams will wear some of the older uniforms.  You may be able to find some of the old uniforms online.  They call the old jerseys throw back jerseys.  It is a way to show some support for some of your older favorite pro football players and knowledge about the history of the game. 

NFL Football Jerseys are stylish and a great way to show your support for the team.  They even track how popular NFL Players are by the number of jerseys sales they have during the year.  Who is your favorite NFL Player?  Do you have their jersey?

New York Giants Headed to the Super Bowl

The niners lost the big game.  The offense could not move the ball in the fourth quarter and they lost the turn over battle.  This game was a nail bitter.  It went back and forth but the Giants came out on top.

San Francisco 49er fans can keep it real.  Did they really think that Alex Smith would win a superbowl this year?  Did they think that the Niners would make the playoffs?  What about even having a winning record?  What ever the San Francisco 49ers are paying Head Coach Jim Harbough, they need to triple it.  For the first time in years Alex Smith started playing with a bit of confidence and the team actually learned how to win games.

The New York Giants are a good football team.  They got two key turnovers that changed the complexion of the game.  Special teams made the difference in this one. Victor Cruz is a really good receiver and Eli Manning is a solid quarterback.

Now the Super Bowl is set between the New York Giants and the New England Patriots.  This will be a good game but I think the New England Patriots just have too much offense for the New York Football Giants.  Tom Brady is not Alex Smith.

NFL 2012 NFC Championship Game

The big game is finally here.  The winner will advance to the super bowl.  I am hoping that the 49er defense can keep the Giants in check so that they can move on and get back to the big game.

Alex Smith played well last week and this week he will have a big test with the Giants defense.  He needs to protect the ball and perform at the same level that he did against the Saints.  Alex Smith really showed something in the game last week.  During his stint in San Francisco I have never seen him as confident in his game as this year.  He is being decisive and making the throws when he needs to make them.

Eli Manning has already proved that he can win the big game and he is a tough competitor.  The Giants receivers are decent.  Victor Cruz can be a monster if you don't cover him.  The 49ers defense needs to keep the pressure on Eli and get a high number of turnovers like they did last week.  The Giants offense is good but it is not a quick attack offense like New Orleans.  The Giants want to grind it out and beat your defense up.  They want to wear you down and run ruff shod and demoralize a defense.  The 49ers love to make big hits and I hope they set the tone early by stuffing the run and making the receivers pay when they try to catch the ball.  They sent a message last week and they need to play with the same level of focus.  They cannot have the mental breakdowns like they did against the Saints on a few of those touchdown passes.

NFL Playoff football is more competitive than the regular season games.  It really comes through on each play. They know that one mistake can lead to them having to go home and miss out on an opportunity to head to the superbowl.

2012 NFL Playoffs - NFC Championship Game

There is something about the playoffs. Each game is played at a higher intensity level than the regular season.

The 49ers beat the Saints in a dramatic last second score.  The Giants went to Green Bay and shocked the NFL.  Now the road to the super bowl goes through San Francisco.

Who do you think will win?  I never thought that Alex Smith would be a decent quarterback in the NFL. Alex Smith has been solid at the quarterback position this year.  He has protected the ball this year.  His performance in the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Saints in the NFL Divisional Playoff game was something for the history books.  He led the team to not one, but two scores.

Alex Smith Autographed Jersey - Autographed NFL Jerseys

Vernon Davis and the 49er offense outscored the New Orleans Saints and nobody really thought that could happen.  The New Orleans Saints offense showed their quick strike ability.  It was a shame that the game had to end.

The 49ers are going to bring a strong defense to the table in the NFC Championship game.  The hits that were displayed against the Saints should have the New York Giants thinking about who is around them when they catch the ball.  The 49er defense was able to get turn overs at key moments during the game.  A huge hit and a turn over by Dante Whitner set the tone.

Eli Manning Jerseys

Eli Manning has won the big game and they have the playoff experience.  Both of these defenses should provide big hits and exciting plays.  The New York Giants Defense is coming on strong.  They bring big pressure and the pass rush cannot be ignored.

The New York Giants are going to be confident coming into San Francisco.  They have a quarterback that has won it all.  The Giants offense comes with a running back committee that is hard to bring down.  This will be a good matchup against the 49ers defense.  Expect some major collisions on Sunday.  The 49ers and Giants played a game earlier this year and the niners came out on top but they will not forget how close that game was.  Eli threw for over 300 yards on the day but the running attack was kept under check.  The Giants are a different team now.  Victor Cruz is a deep threat and seems to catch just about everythig thrown his way.  Hopefully, this game will be just as exciting as the division play off games.

NFL Playoffs - NFC Divisional Game - San Francisco 49ers vs New Orleans Saints

This is going to be the game to watch next week.  We all know that the winner of this game will be going to Green Bay to face the Packers.  Powerful offense against a strong defense.  They save defense win championships.  Will the 49ers defense be enough to slow down the Saints high powered offense?

Get the NFL Jersey for your team

49ers fans have to be concerned about this matchup.  They are coming off of a week without playing so hopefully they will be rested and ready to play.  The Saints just had too many weapons for the Detroit Lions.  Drew Brees is accurate and touch competitor.  They will need to have constant pressure in order to disrupt his precise passing.  Will Aldon Smith be able to get to Brees?  If he is not able, how many points will the Saints put up on the board?

San Francisco 49ers gear

The Saints might be licking their chops. Does Alex Smith really scare the Saints defense?  The Saints remember that first preseason game and how much pressure they applied to the 49ers.  Did the 49ers forget that lesson from earlier this year?  I don't think so.  The question is going to be if the 49ers have an executable game plan that can keep Alex Smith protected and move the ball effectively against the Saints.  You know that they want to control the clock, put points on the board and turn the game over to the defense.

New Orleans Saints Gear

This should be a really exciting football game.  When it comes to the quarterback position, who would you rather have behind the center, Alex Smith or Drew Brees?  No question.  Now, Alex Smith has to prove to himself and the rest of the 49er faithful that he can lead this team to the championship level.

San Francisco 49ers versus New Orleans Saints - Who do you think will win?

Regular Season is over

The nfl regular season is over and now it is win or go home. When your team is in the playoffs you have hope that this could be the year that they win the superbowl. Deep down you might know that some of the other teams are stronger. In the nfc, the greenbay packers and the saints seem to have the most potent offenses. Will the 49ers defense be able to continue to get turnovers and keep people out of the end zone? Is Alex Smith for real this year or is he going to pull off a performance like Tony Romo in the playoffs? There are so many questions that are going to get answered in the next few weeks. Expect to see some good tough games. This regular season really flew by. Get your nfl jerseys get ready for playoff. Playoffs. Yep. Playoffs.