Saturday NFL Playoff Open Thread - 49ers/Saints; Broncos/Patriots
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 1:01 PM PST
in BN Community
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PrintWith the Alabama/LSU Championship game and the rest of the bowls now behind us, the only football left comes from the NFL. This afternoon and evening features a couple of good matchups, interesting not just because of the allegiances of various BN frontpagers.
The San Francisco 49ers will be playing host to the New Orleans Saints, with that game kicking off in about 30 minutes (1:30PST, 4:30 EST, Fox). Aside from being an excuse for the 49er fans among us to cheer, two of our new football coaches were part of the 49er organization, with head coach Jim Mora having served as defensive coordinator during the early 2000's, while linebackers/special teams coach Jim Ulbrich spent his entire decade-long NFL playing career in San Francisco.
The nightcap sees the New England Patriots host gbruin's Denver Broncos (5pm PST, 8pm EST, CBS). The idea that Tom Brady has been beaten out in the press by Tim Tebow this week is kinda crazy in the big picture, but I imagine that Tom will let his play tonight speak re that. This is your open thread for this second-round Saturday.
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OT
Oregon up 12 on Arizona at Arizona at halftime. Are the Ducks for real?
No one in the Pac-12 is for real
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
Tebow or no Tebow?
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 1:42 PM PST up reply actions
That's a Harbaugh team
They’ll hit you and hit you and hit you some more. I love it (not the injury part. The hitting part).
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 1:50 PM PST up reply actions
Love the way the 49ers play on both sides.
Old school. Physical.
"I have one word for you...Be careful."
-Jose Guillen
Harbaugh recruited Luck, tried to get RGIII and turned Alex Smith into a QB
Doesn’t he have to be foremost QB guru right now? Especially for the last part.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 1:52 PM PST reply actions
Luck was the real deal in high school
He’s a very smart, athletic, disciplined kid.
I think the rocker swings both ways. Luck made Harbaugh look good, too.
sjh
Yeah, finding Luck wasn't the impressive part
It was more about 1) getting him to Stanford and 2) the work he did with Luck in that redshirt year. I can’t remember any redshirt freshman looking as prepared and confident as he was. Obviously Luck being incredible played its part too though.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 2:22 PM PST up reply actions
Me too -- and I usually don't like pro sports as much as college gaimes
I think I’m starved for quality, intensity, and commitment
sjh
Interception!
49ers intercepted and returned it to the 3 yard line
What the heck is happening to New Orleans?
How much fun can someone must those folks be having?
Go Bruins!
They didn't impress outside the Dome
and Harbaugh had his boys ready to go (like that’s a surprise). Remember the Saints got ambushed by the Seahawks in the playoffs last year too.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 2:23 PM PST up reply actions
Time for the QB to throw
Receivers getting separation. Is this what people are referring to when they speak of “football?”
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 2:58 PM PST up reply actions
Go Niners!
Just drove to LA listening to the game….
Niners averaging almost five yards per carry
but they keep throwing it. Makes sense.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 3:48 PM PST reply actions
Your comment above?
“time for QBs to throw”
That was for Brees
and when he was getting time on those 3-4 possessions on both sides of the half. Not so much anymore.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:24 PM PST up reply actions
Score please!
Just landed. Made the captain give us updates. Niners still up?
by Nestor on Jan 14, 2012 4:24 PM PST via mobile reply actions
49ers up 20-17
4th quarter
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
about 11:15 to go
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
Offense has been horrible
They haven’t moved the ball for points since the first couple possessions, but the Niners’ defensive line has taken this game over.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:30 PM PST up reply actions
10:46 - Saints about to punt
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:30 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Niners up 20-17
offense doing nothing since the end of the 1st quarter. Thank god for the D and for Andy Lee…
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:29 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Not a Tresey D
Tenacious, in your face, hard hitting D is beautiful.
And, notice that cushions are not a part of it.
I hope we get a great DC that fires up and uses our talent.
sjh
Huge run by Gore
down to the Saints 22
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
GORE!!!
49er ball in the red zone!
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:33 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Akers FG
23-17, 7:36 left
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
23-17 Niners
Akers with field goal #3.
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:36 PM PST via mobile reply actions
With Niners defense
Got to have faith.
by Nestor on Jan 14, 2012 4:39 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Surprised is took them that long to move Brees out of the pocket
Good play call.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:41 PM PST reply actions
Touchdown Saints
This one is on the offense.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:45 PM PST reply actions
24-23 Saints, 4:02 to go
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:47 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Ugh
I am 15 mins cab ride from home. This is killing me.
by Nestor on Jan 14, 2012 4:48 PM PST via mobile reply actions
What a pass by Smith
Oh, and Vernon Davis is still a freak.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:49 PM PST reply actions
niner ball on the Saints 26, 2:30 to go
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:50 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Alex Smith to Vernon Davis
what a throw!
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
3rd and 7, NO 28 yard line
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:53 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
9ers gonna try and run as much clock as possible now
Saints have one TO plus the 2 minute. 9ers need this 1st down.
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
Oh crap
12 men in the huddle. Ugh.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:52 PM PST reply actions
ugh... 12 men in the huddle
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:52 PM PST via mobile reply actions
And now a timeout
SF shooting themselves in the foot here.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:53 PM PST reply actions
HARBAUGH!
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:53 PM PST reply actions
TD run by Alex Smith!
"The true athlete should have character, not be a character."- John Wooden
"I never met a person from whom I did not learn something."- John Wooden
Main twitter
SBN twitter
ALEX FING SMITH!!!!!!!!!!
rolled out to the left, ran the ball all the way in!
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:54 PM PST via mobile reply actions
failed 2 pt run
29-24 Niners, 2:11 to go
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:58 PM PST via mobile reply actions
For N
Niners lined up with no one in the backfield, one tight end, four wide on third and seven from the 28 then went with a called QB sweep. WR cracked down with the block to open it up then Staley pulled and got 15 yards downfield for the finishing block. Gorgeous.
Two roads diverged in a wood and I – I tweeted my followers to ask which I should take
by Ryan Rosenblatt on Jan 14, 2012 4:58 PM PST reply actions
Saints starting from their own 11
2:08
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 4:59 PM PST via mobile reply actions
2 minute warning - 2nd and 1 @ NO 21yd line
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 5:00 PM PST via mobile reply actions
make that 1 and 10, now 2nd and 10
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 5:02 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
Sorry Nestor
66 yd TD pass Brees to Graham up 32-29
niners starting from the 15
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 5:07 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Vernon Davis
crying on the sidelines with joy
Clearly
I left a good luck charm in San Franciso in last 48hrs. :)
by Nestor on Jan 14, 2012 5:15 PM PST via mobile reply actions
What a great great game. Alex Smith becomes a man.
And Davis helps The Catch become The Throw.
Determiation to Win
Smartest thing I’ve heard Johnson say.
Both teams really did play hard and to win. What a great game.
sjh
New Orleans's greatest strength and downfall
was their fast paced scoring offense. Had they worked the clock a little, they would have won this game.
Freaking Alex Smith/Vernon Davis
Un-freaking-believable ending to the Niners game! Go Giants now!
Go Bruins!
by Bruin1996 on Jan 14, 2012 5:38 PM PST via mobile reply actions
I guess that I was right...
in thinking that Tom Brady would have a message to send tonight.
formerly bruinhoo
by Patroclus on Jan 14, 2012 7:43 PM PST via mobile reply actions
Harbaugh Did Not Play It Safe
Biggest takeaway for me today was that good things happen when you trust your players, and let them loose.
I can’t imagine many NFL teams running a QB sweep on 3rd and long in field goal range- too worried about fumble or some other problem, so run it up the middle for a FG. The result instead- TD.
Then on the final drive, less than 20 seconds, FG sends it to OT. So what does Harbaugh call? Pass for the winning TD.
Quite a contrast to David Shaw, who took the ball out of Luck’s hands and left the entire game on the skinny shoulders of a freshman place-kicker.
It is clear that the Niners players would run through a brick wall for Harbaugh. It is easy to see why. Hope we can get that kind of passion, intensity and take a risk mindset in the future.
+1
Hope Mora is lot more like Harbaugh than Neuheisel. It’s better to play to win and fail than to play not to lose.
Go Bruins!
by Bruin1996 on Jan 14, 2012 10:41 PM PST via mobile up reply actions
It also doesn't hurt when you have Patrick Willis and Vernon Davis to coach.
As a Niners fan, this past decade has been painful to experience, not too unlike our Bruins. Hopefully this unbelievable turnaround is foretelling of a UCLA resurgence. I hope.
GO NINERS!!!
GO BRUINS!!!
Coach Makes a Huge Difference
Mike Nolan and Mike Singletary also had Patrick Willis and Vernon Davis to coach. It always surprises me how much difference a head coach can make in leading a team of former all-americans who have played their game as professionals for a long term.
If Harbaugh can make that much difference with a group of seasoned veterans, imagine how much difference a coach can make with a group of still developing 18-22 year olds. Why DG and Block can’t grasp this is beyond me.
I hope that you are right also about the Niners and UCLA. One great quote from Vernon Davis post-game interview on KTVU. “It was us against history. It was us against no. It was us against can’t.”
Please Jim Mora- inspire players to those heights.
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