Between the Niner game and the free UFC night of Hunt vs. Silva I don't think I've jumped up and down so much watching tv in one weekend in a very long game.
Didn't realize just how much the Hawks secondary grabs, I was really surprised to see it on almost any catch. But man, Kap fubar'd some stupid simple throws in this game.
Good game by your 49ers.
Anyone and everyone who thought Seattle would blow out San Fran was clueless. Division games are tough and SF was defending home field. There is a lot of pride there, especially after the 29-3 beat down earlier in the season on MNF. SF has been playing well as of late, is getting healthier, and frankly this was a must win game. If SF loses they are in a dead heat with Arizona and they play week 17. This win puts SF clearly in the 5th/6th seed wild card slot, separates them and CAR from the rest of the wannabees, and forces Arizona to go to the Clink and win to even make week 17 relevant. The game also set up well for SF with Seattle coming off a Monday night game and traveling.
That said the game was close. Good on Gore exploiting the over commit by the sub for KJ Wright (who was injured earlier in the game), but if SF failed there game over. SF then exploited Carroll's horrible history of clock management. First is the time out on 3-and-7 where Kap ran for 8. Carroll should NOT have called the TO. As SF got the 1st (obvious QB run--poor execution by SEA / great execution by SF) SEA could have called a time out, and then the 2 minute warning would have stopped the clock after 2nd down. Seattle would have gotten the ball back with 1:20 left. Ok, so Carroll screwed up. The next screw up was not letting them score the TD. 30 seconds is hardly enough time to march down the field with NO timeouts. Best chance IMO is to let them score and have 80 seconds to run whatever you want.
Seattle needs to also stop whining about penalties (see SB in 2005--champions overcome those things, not whine). But I do find your comment about SEA DB's holding one sided--SF receivers where holding and pushing off all game. If the refs are going to allow the receivers to hold, grab, and push then the DBs need the same latitude. In fact there was an example of a no-call where Boldin TACKLED a defender on a pass play. Likewise when Lane was called for a facemask it was because a SF player had his hand in his pads holding all the way down the field.
The game was a drag out, knock'm, sock'm physical brawl. SF brought the heat, defended home field, and stayed true to themselves--tough D and running. Late in the game Seattle looked to play a "don't lose" strategy which SF exploited. If Sherman wants to whine about the game he can whine about the O Coordinator not calling a good game. Wilson started off 8-of-11 for 144 yards. And then they went away from what was working to play conservative--I think they underestimated SF in this regards and SF manned up.
I am sure the SEA haters are saying SEA cannot win on the road but 5-2 and losing the games by 6 and 2 points is a sign of a strong team. Under different circumstances (i.e. Seattle playing SF on a normal week in the playoffs) I think SEA has a fair shot at winning that on the road. While SF could beat SEA in the Clink in the playoffs I think right now I would favor SEA by at least a TD at home.
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