Lowering Expectations

I just had a feeling that the niners wouldn't show up for the denver game.  All the media talked about was Peyton breaking the record and wouldn't you know it, he start lighting it up as soon as the game starts.  As soon as he did that trot on to the field, it was already over.  No pass rush.  No coverage in the secondary.  The performance from the niners early was just sorry.

The niners couldn't seem to do anything right at the start of the game.  The blocking was not there.  Three and outs giving the ball back to Manning only made it worse.  Sometimes it just seems like the niners take the day off.

Something really smells funny about this year.  I thought the niners would be doing better than last year, but it seems like they are taking a step backwards.

They get all of these new players, but they can't seem to move the ball or score.  The protection for Colin is not there and they still have a hard time just getting a stinking play in without calling a timeout.

After the start of the game, I figured out quickly that the game was going to line up with the whole story line of Manning and breaking the touchdown record.  I knew they probably had all the footage and special crap for the halftime show.  After a seeing a couple of series, I had enough and turned the channel.  

The niner defense is just not as strong as in the past.  They might be selling the idea of playoffs and superbowl, but I am not buying it.  They lose games and they don't even look competitive.

It is just like the times when they would head up to Seattle and get roasted.  Something is just not right. I have also noticed something different about the games in general in the nfl these days.  Teams will get a big lead at the beginning of a game and then some how the team from behind finds a way to creep back into the game until the final minutes.  Whatever happened to teams locking down wins?  

It is still early in the season, but the niners just don't look like world beaters.  The tough defense of the past is just gone.

Part of the reason is the changes to the rules in the league.  Defense can't come up and make plays.  They call just about anything trying to break up a receiver from the ball.  The big hits are just not allowed.  You can't hit the quarterback without getting a penalty.  

I guess I have to take it down a notch when it comes to watching football.  It is just entertainment after all.  

Desean Jackson - The Redskins

Desean picked the Redskins.  I don't really know about that pick.  He is probably still thinking about going up against the Eagles a couple of times per year.

I really would have liked to see him back in Cali with the niners though.  He would have been a great compliment to the other 49er wideouts.

At least he landed somewhere.  The Eagles really did him dirty.  I think that they just didn't want to pay him.  It is funny how they always show those big contract numbers at the start, but it doesn't seem like players ever really hang around enough to get all the money.  They get cut before the real money kicks in.  

I am really hoping that the Eagles fall on their faces.  They might still pick up a receiver in the draft, but I hope they fail.

I never really liked the eagles.  I did root for them when they had Donovan McNabb and T.O.  They were exciting to watch.  They kept Riley Cooper after that racial rant video and that spoke volumes about what is okay in philly.  The really funny part was hearing all disparaging remarks about Desean while they just ignored Riley Cooper.  Message received loud and clear.

I hope Desean Jackson lights it up against the Eagles every time they play each other.

DeSean Jackson > Riley Cooper

The Eagles released Desean Jackson, but they kept Riley Cooper? Hmmm.

So Riley gets a multi year extension and Desean gets his walking papers.

Niners should upgrade the kick return and punt return game

I was really hoping that the niners could land Desean Jackson.  He would be able to fill so many different holes.

The kick return game for the niners seemed to fall flat last year.  LaMichael James didn't seem to really shine in that position last year.  Maybe he will get a better feel for it this year, but I would love to see Desean Jackson in the red and gold.

He could open the offense.  Desean is super speedy and it would cause real problems for 49er opponents.  The niners need to upgrade at the receiver position. 

Seattle upped the ante with getting Percy Harvin and they are already scary good on the offensive side of the ball.  Remember that Harvin didn't play in hardly any games during the last season.  A healthy Percy Harvin is going to be problems for NFC West teams and teams that have to play Seattle.

The niners have some good options for Colin Kaepernick, but it never hurts to add more.  Getting Desean Jackson on the field at the same time with Boldin, Crabtree and Davis would be a problem for defenses around the league.

I would really like to see Desean returning kicks.  These NFL games are coming down to extra points and field goals.  Better field position will lead to more points.  

The niners should really do what they can to land Desean Jackson

Seattle Defense and Peyton Manning

What about the pass rush?

What about the Legion of Boom?

Peyton Manning is not mobile, but he can deliver the ball.

Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom will have their hands filled with the Denver Broncos Receivers and Tight ends.

Seattle is going to need to keep Peyton off the field.

Who will win the Superbowl?

I don't really even care this year.

The Niner Seahawks game just was over the top.

The refs got into that game early and they never let up.

Russell Wilson is a great qb, but he just doesn't seem like the Russell Wilson from last year.

He might show up big in the Superbowl.

Is Peyton Manning going to walk away from the game if Denver wins the Superbowl?

It will be an interesting match up between the Broncos offense and the Seahawks D.

Who do I think will win?

This year I could care less.

I have no problem with Lynch ( Oakland ) , Richard Sherman and Russell Wilson getting a ring.

Manning has been playing off the charts the whole year.

I just don't know what the deal is with the niners.

Wildcard Weekend Day 2

Did you really pay attention to the AFC Wildcard game on Sunday?  I really didn't care who won that one.  The Bengals ended up losing to the San Diego Chargers.  

I just noticed that the games were much closer this wild card weekend.  The Bengals turned the ball over too many times.  In the playoffs, you don't get a chance to make too many mistakes.

Phillip Rivers is a good quarterback and if you give him enough chances, he will get the job done.  The Bengals are a good young team, but they have been saying that for years.  If you start listening online, more people are starting to question if Andy Dalton can win in the playoffs.  They are also starting to talk about Marvin Lewis.  

The 49ers and the Packers was a good game, but again, this game should not have been this close.  Seems like most of the playoff games are coming down to the end of regulation.  

The 49ers were dominant in the first quarter, but they kept settling for field goals.  I don't know what the 49er play callers have against running the ball inside the redzone.  It made no sense to throw that many passes down there.  The score could have easily been 21-0 in the first half.

The Packers were not able to move the ball early, but they got it rolling when they were allowed to grab and hold like they worked for the wwe.  Eddie Lacy started slow, but kept on picking up steam.  He looked like he was ready to break a big run at some point.  The weather played a big part in this game.  Players were dropping due to injury.  I don't know how many Packer starters went down.  

The amount of no calls in this game was just amazing.  Aaron Rodgers was able to complete a pass after one of his offensive linemen put a choke hold on a 49er defender that had him in the grasp.   I guess the refs were looking at their shoes when the play was happening.  It turned into a big play that resulted in a touchdown.

The Packers seem to have a real problem dealing with Colin Kaepernick.  He was able to break contain on a number of plays that resulted in big yards and first downs.  The last drive was really a back breaker for the Green Bay Packers.  Green Bay really had a chance to end the 49er comeback, one of the defensive backs just couldn't hold on to an interception.

The Niners milked the clock and put up a game winning field goal to escape all the holding and no calls to leave the frozen tundra with a victory.  

Wildcard Weekend Day 1

How did the Kansas City Chiefs lose the game?  It made absolutely no sense.  They had a huge lead.  Somebody should get fired for that one.  To be that far ahead and lose in the last few minutes is just crazy.  

I am not a big Alex Smith fan, but today he did his job.  He probably played the best game of his career today.  It must really sting to play that well and still get an L.  

There is really something funny going on with some of these nfl games.  In the past, a team would get a lead and put a team away.  Now, it seems like teams don't want to use the instinct to lock games down.  It is really strange.

The New Orleans Saints beat the Philly Eagles.  I didn't really care who won this game.  It was some good entertainment.  This was another baffling game.  The Eagles seemed like decided not to use their best option on offense ( DESEAN JACKSON ).  Sure the run game is good, but you need to get the ball into your play makers hands.  

The Saints really had a chance to put this game away, but they let the Eagles make a real game of it.  Turnovers did play a role in it.  The Saints really used some good time management close to the end of the game.  I saw the last play that the Eagles scored on and it just looked like the line was unbalanced, like the Saints wanted them to score with enough time left for them to come back.  The Saints proceeded to march down the field and drain the clock to kick the winning field goal.  The running game for the Saints showed up at the right time. 

Can't wait for the second day of wildcard weekend.