49ers

The 49ers lose at Soldier Field. It was a game they were supposed to win and win by a wide margin. The weather had a say. The Bears defense had a say. However, the biggest concern is the discipline of the 49ers themselves. Having watched them live in their last preseason game at Houston, I noted it but quickly dismissed the issue. It seems the 49ers lack of discipline in game three of the pre-season has followed them from Houston to Chicago. Eleven penalties for close to 100 yards cannot happen.

Thursday Night marked the third game in thirteen days that the 49ers played. Perhaps the fatigue led to the mistakes. Perhaps a well-coached Texan defense playing fundamental Tamp 2 Defense aided in that fatigue. Whatever it was, the 49ers performance on the whole was abysmal. Over the course of the game the 49ers committed an uncharacteristic eleven penalties for 104 yards. Conversely the Texans were flagged five times. Eleven penalties are eleven avoidable mental mistakes. Eleven penalties can lead to eleven reasons why a team loses an important football game. I don’t think the 49ers committed eleven penalties in their first two preseason games combined. Perhaps fatigue led to eleven lapses of judgement. However, the problem could be more systemic.

Saturday night’s game capstones at two-day joint practice with the Vikings. The 49ers sat most of their starters. Nate Sudfeld and Brock Purdy traded snaps, with an ever-changing offensive line. The 49ers executed 5 drives into scoring range, coming away with points four of those drives. The one time they failed, the Vikings defensive line jumped offsides, forced and recovered a fumble. The referee’s failed the Niners during that drive. Overall, the Niners have depth. Their depth shows that they have very difficult cut decisions ahead.

The 49er’s off season seems to have centered around where in the NFL will Jimmy Garoppolo end up. While others debated Jimmy G’s future, the 49ers quietly prepared for the season. Step one was to execute the best draft possible. Judging by the performance of game one, the 49ers brass executed the draft and rookie free agent market masterfully. Step two involved Trey Lance’s continued development as the team’s signal caller. He executed 11 plays, throwing 4-5 for 92 yards and a TD. 76 of those yards came on a 3rd and 9 wherein Lance hit a wide-open Danny Gray for a house call. The Jimmy G drama has had no effect on the team. It’s time to leave him in the past where he belongs.

It was a great season for the 49ers. I don’t think anyone expected them to make the playoffs, let alone drive all the way to the NFC Championship. They gave a laudable effort. As a long time, 49er fan, I am thankful for the years Jimmy Garoppolo played for the 49ers. He is a respected leader in the locker room. Jimmy G is a team guy, not a me guy. He doesn’t have the biggest arm. He makes an occasional bone headed throw, but he is a leader. He allows his teammates to excel. He played thru exceptional pain and injuries this playoff season. He showed grit, fire and leadership. That is what you want in a quarterback. Hopefully Trey Lance learns from Jimmy G’s example. I am thankful for two NFC Championship trips and a Superbowl trip that Jimmy G had a hand in. I am sorry to see him go. I don’t think we ever saw his true potential due to his injury history. Despite his pending departure, the future is bright. They have an excellent young corps of players to build on. I think the Trey Lance era is about to begin.

49ers stunned the Packers and the rest of the football world Saturday night. The Packers were supposed to win by at least six points. It was the largest betting line of the weekend. They had all the advantages. The Packers have been resting since week sixteen. They were playing at home. They have Aaron Rodgers. Meanwhile the 49ers were coming to Lambeau Field’s frozen tundra with a banged-up roster.

The 49ers. The Cowboys. The history! The drama! 1998 was the last time the 49ers and the Cowboys were in the playoffs at the same time. Neither made it to the Superbowl that year. In the early 90s, the 49ers and the Chiefs met at the NFC Championship three years in a row. The winner of that game went on to win the Superbowl. In January of 1982, during the NFC Championship, the infamous “Catch” occurred against Dallas, in the waning seconds of the game, catapulting the 49ers to the Super Bowl and their first title. The 49ers and Cowboys have had shared Charles Haley, Deion Sanders, Terrell Owens, Ken Norton and Larry Allen. These are not insignificant players. They are all in the hall of fame except Ken Norton. The shared history of these two squads is significant. So is the rivalry.

The San Francisco 49ers are set for an ancient NFL playoff rivalry game with the Dallas Cowboys. There was a time when either of these teams met in the playoffs, the winner usually went on to win the Superbowl. Given how both squads have played this season, that could be true this season again. But then again, maybe not. The 49ers have been played a very difficult schedule this year, battling injuries all the while. The Cowboys have had similar issues with injuries along their offensive line, defensive line as well as their wide receiver core. Now, both teams are getting healthy at the right time in the season and are set to face off in likely the best game of the weekend.

The 49ers kept Jimmy Garoppolo around for a couple of reasons. One, they knew that Trey Lance would not be ready to start. He was just too raw at that point. For a player as young as Lance, it is important to sit, watch, and learn how to be a professional football player. Two, the 49ers brass thought that they had a legitimate shot at the playoffs this year. They were not wrong.