Fanboy Sports Blog: 49ers

Something worked itself out during the 2006 season that has strange implications for this upcoming three game stretch.  Football is a sport of karma, of luck, of serendipity, perhaps even divine providence.  In a season where fans are looking for meaning, perhaps this will encourage us. 

The 49ers were 1-3 after the 41-0 drubbing by the Kansas City Chiefs.  Alex Smith completed 52% of his passes for 92 yards and threw two picks for a rating of 27.4.  He came back in the very next game against the Raiders, and though he only threw for 165, he had three touchdowns.

The week after the bye, the 49ers were 2-4, then were embarrassed by the Bears at Soldier field 41-10.  Immediately upon returning home, the 49ers went on a three game tear, beating two opponents out of the division, finishing with Seattle at home 20-14.  Smith completed 75% for 163 and a TD.

The 49ers then lost three games that could have really benefited from having an effective defense (story all year), before walking into Seattle with a chip on their shoulder, and coming away 24-14, in a game that was 24-7 until a garbage time TD with 15 seconds remaining in the 4th.  Everyone remembers this as Smith’s statement game, even though he had statement games against Arizona (wk1), St. Louis (wk2), Philadelphia (wk3), Oakland (wk5), San Diego (wk6), and Seattle earlier (wk11).

And now, to the Denver game.  On the road, final game of the year, playoff hopes on the line for the Broncos.  The Broncos did not play terribly well this game, and had this year’s defense been on the field it wouldn’t have been as close.  Heck, if just Patrick Willis had been on the field they might have gotten a few more tackles!  What the team, and of course Alex, showed is the determination to stay together and never give up fighting.

Last season’s 3-game win streak was the only grouping of consecutive wins the 49ers had all year, and this season they won their first two.  Now, having lost 4 straight games, including the week after the bye, the time is ripe for another win streak.  We have the 2-4 Saints, coming off a tough game against a weak Falcons team.  We follow that up with a road game against the same Falcons team, after they fall to the third-string left tackle.  This team is imploding, and we may even be lucky enough to get Chris Redman.

The Seahawks have a bye, then they go on the road to Cleveland to face a strangely hot Browns team with a balanced offense.  If the Seahawks win, they’ll be 5-3, and if the Niners win above, they’ll be 4-4.  On Monday night, it will be a showdown for the NFC West lead, and if the Niners win, it’s 5-4 for both teams, and the Niners have the lead based on division record.

The next two games against the Sants and Falcons is the time for this team to come together, play smart, and I think all things are ready to click.  When you saw improvements this season, it has always been something new, while something new developed a problem.  Things hit bottom when Smith got hurt against Seattle, and steadily the other offensive castmembers began to address their issues.  I believe that this next game is when all these diverse things come together, and if they can be successful in this march to the Division lead, I believe they can truly move forward and on to the Division lead.  If Mike Nolan winds up taking a 2-14 team to 4 wins his first year, to 7 his next, to the playoffs his third, then what will people say of Mike Nolan’s ability to coach this team?

I don’t believe this team is bad enough to suffer a five-game LOSING streak, when their longest losing streak last year was three.  They have to be better than this year, but now is the time to show it.  Optimists are beginning to wonder after three straight losses (even though with Trent Dilfer–must remember that), and Pessimists are beginning to flush this season prematurely.  Now is the time for this team to get it done.

If anyone reading this is going to be at the game, spread the word–now is the time, and the fans must generate more support now than they have up until this point.  The Monster Park crowd will be ECSTATIC to have Smith back in the lineup, and the team will be pumped.  EVERYONE will be relieved not to see Trent Dilfer under center, and that relief will be the emotion that removes the pressure and wakes up the team.  They have to have our support.

Because… we are the FAITHFUL.

Source:  http://www.nfl.com/players/alexsmith/gamelogs?id=SMI031126&season=2006