12/21/24
January 05, 2014
49ers Edge Packers on Last-Second Field Goal: Phil Dawson, signed by the San Francisco 49ers this season, kicked a 33-yard field goal on the final play Sunday in a 23-20 wild card win over the Green Bay Packers. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who is now 3-0 against the Packers, ran for an 11-yard first down on third down to the Packers' 27 with 1:13 left, keeping the final drive alive.
And that concludes a chilly weekend where all the hosting "cold weather" teams lost.
Similar feel to the Saints-Eagles game, this one, especially at the end.
posted by etagloh at 08:58 PM on January 05, 2014
I find it amusing that the Packers are not really built for cold weather. Their only home playoff win in the Rodgers era was against an inexperienced backup QB (Joe Webb), and their only other cold-weather playoff win was against an even less-experienced backup QB (Caleb Hanie).
(Of course, I'm amused because I'm a Vikings fan who is sick of watching the Packers get every break when they need it, so there's some schadenfreude involved.)
posted by TheQatarian at 09:06 PM on January 05, 2014
and he's passing as well as most top pocket quarterbacks
Long time Niners fan, and although Kaep made many big plays to win the game, he did miss a number of routes - especially where he had VD 1 on 1.
Niners offense will need to be better to beat Carolina. The same defensive performance will suffice.
posted by cixelsyd at 09:08 PM on January 05, 2014
Glad I didn't have to throw a football in that cold. That had to be tough.
In another great bit of scheduling, Indy plays at New England next Saturday at 8:15, while the earlier game is in Seattle (versus New Orleans). Early forcast, though, is for temps in the 30s in Foxboro, which shouldn't be bad at all.
posted by dyams at 09:23 PM on January 05, 2014
I can't recall the defender, but one of the GB defense had- and dropped- a gimme interception on that last SF drive at around the 4:30 mark. Poor bastard will be thinking of that play for months.
I got absolutely creamed on the Pick 'Em this week; chose my teams and spreads based on a simple formula of weighting the home team, as well as the team with the better point differential and record. Net result, 3 of 4 Away teams won this weekend... and the one home team that won did so through an improbable, historic comeback.
posted by hincandenza at 09:42 PM on January 05, 2014
Niners offense will need to be better to beat Carolina. The same defensive performance will suffice.
The only way that Carolina wins next week is if their d-line is as perfect as they were during the regular season meeting. Unfortunately, I don't see that happening.
posted by NoMich at 10:21 PM on January 05, 2014
Somebody has to explain to me why Lacy was sidelined during Green Bay's last drive. Infuriated that the 49er's survived Green Bay but looking forward to seeing them get their asses handed to them by Cam Newton.
posted by phaedon at 12:42 AM on January 06, 2014
Did everyone see the replay of the winning field goal?
The ball passed between the arms of the diving Packer attempting to block it.
Sure, he was offside on the play (and the penalty was declined), but maybe he doesn't make the re-kick...
posted by grum@work at 08:22 AM on January 06, 2014
I never thought that in the history of the NFL there would ever be more than one Heidi game.
But now there are two, thanks to Fox, which saw fit to assign an Alpine shepherdess (Erin Andrews) to an Arctic sports event.
She and Peter must have all the goats in by now and she can go back to whittling by the stove with grandfather.
Watching Kaepernick run is positively electric, but there is still an element or two missing from his overall game. When I watch him operate the offense, I don't feel as though I'm witnessing consistent methodical mastery of the system. He's got a bit to go yet to be the complete package.
posted by beaverboard at 08:33 AM on January 06, 2014
Indeed, maybe he wouldn't have.
posted by Hugh Janus at 09:51 AM on January 06, 2014
When I watch him operate the offense, I don't feel as though I'm witnessing consistent methodical mastery of the system.
I think this is the second-year QB version of the system - i.e., a "don't lose the game" one. Their D isn't going to get trampled on very often, so their priority often is just possessing the ball as much as they can.
The risks he takes on his feet are pretty calculated...he is big, strong, knows to run out of bounds and isn't a fumble risk. He doesn't throw a lot of high-risk passes (he also doesn't have to) and is surrounded by sure-handed receivers. Gore, Hunter and James grind yards out repeatedly.
Put Kaepernick on Indianapolis and I think his development cycle would be different, but there's no reason for Kaep to run a complicated passing-oriented offence right now. Get the ball, hold the ball, put up a few points and let your D do the rest. He's shown in a limited sample that he can make clutch throws, but as a guy in his second-year I don't think you want him having to very often.
posted by dfleming at 11:47 AM on January 06, 2014
The offense he is executing has read options for the run game, but is very limited in the passing game - he pretty much locks onto the first option in all cases and runs if it's not there. I'll take that over the alternative of tossing balls all over the place and hoping for the best (cough .. Romo).
Scary to think how good the Niners could be if he learns to utilize Davis, Crabtree, and Bolden more consistently.
posted by cixelsyd at 12:48 PM on January 06, 2014
Exciting game, and not in a weird Arena League way like Chiefs-Colts. Kaepernick is brutal to defend when he's willing to take off and run as the opportunity arises, and he's passing as well as most top pocket quarterbacks. That's a killer combination.