Here is the opening to my column on the 49ers-Packers game.
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Let’s start with a blunt statement. The 49ers played a beautiful game against the Packers, a work of art. The score was close, 30-22, but the game wasn’t close.
The 49ers had their way with the Packers, a good team with a great quarterback. And the Niners, blunt facts being what they are, never were in danger of losing.
Because this was the 49ers’ first game of the season, the marquee game on Sunday, let’s use it as a primer of Niner football, and review what we learned on a lovely late-summer Green Bay afternoon.
To read the full column, please click here.
Streetglide
Yeah, the game was scary to watch at some points, especially the last five minutes or so. One thing for sure is the west coast offense is alive and kicking (did I really say that?) in Frisco… :
September 10th, 2012 6:47 am
Joe H
You’re column (Monday) was spot-on. The Niners dominated the Packers in both O and D. The one blemish on Special Teams for the punt return TD.
I can’t name all the players who made outstanding plays on every down, every possession. From Aldon Smith’s relentless pursuit of Rodgers to the complete stuffing of the running game or the tipped pass Culliver made while being outstretched and in the air. Wow! the D was awesome.
Alex Smith played great. Moss finally opened the Red Zone up. Davis makes a tight catch in the end zone and “Old Reliable” Frank Gore pulls a dancing Fred Astaire move into the end zone. Wow! The O was awesome.
But where is the mention of the ref’s? Didn’t see anything about that camera shot of Harbaugh where he was so mad that he was foaming and spitting in total rage because of the horrific calls in the 1st qtr. That was the stuff classic films are made of!!
But NO, can’t say anything bad about the SCAB ref’s that completely made fools of themselves on virtually every call, made or not. That will upset some lawyer during labor negotiations…etc.
The Scab refs (see Scab Officials, CohnZone) have absolutely demonstrated that they cannot officiate NFL league games.
(I wonder how Las Vegas feels about the Scab refs?)
September 10th, 2012 9:54 am
Tiburon Dave
The NFL got put on notice yesterday that the 49ers are the team to beat. Barring significant injury to any 2 of a half dozen key players, this team will play into late January…should be a fun season…
September 10th, 2012 10:10 am
Mark M
The most impressive win in Harbaugh’s tenure. It was better than the Saints win because of the all around great play from every component of the team, and due to the location and the quality opponent. The refs added some ugly to the performance, but otherwise, it was straight up virtuoso with all the bells and whistles
September 10th, 2012 10:26 am
mbabco
Interesting to go back to the Manning / Smith as 49er issue. Manning looked pretty darn good yesterday – notably, though, he looked the best running the no-huddle offense. I have to think that if he’d ended up here, something would have had to give. Looking at Harbaugh’s Stanford teams and the way he’s built the 49ers, he might just be a lot happier with Alex Smith (at least the way he played yesterday) as the QB over Peyton Manning. Fun to speculate what Manning could make of this offense (it has a more weapons this year). Fun to speculate what Smith might make of it if they let him try some deep throws to Moss when Moss is single-covered.
Lowell, I’m curious. After (admittedly just) one game, still think the 49ers would be better off with Manning as QB (please factor in Harbaugh’s preferences in here)?
September 10th, 2012 11:02 am
Giantsfan
Alex Smith 1, Lowell 0…I guarantee that Alex will come out on top over Lowell this year…not that it means anything. The real measure is the won/loss of the team, but some of us are counting the Lowell columns too.
September 10th, 2012 11:36 am
Alex
Good article. Perhaps this shows that Alex has gotten better at reading defenses?
I’ve never seen him hit so many open receivers. But, there are open receivers fairly often in any game. The fact that Smith is hitting open receivers – does that show improvement in adjusting his progressions? or was it luck?
I guess only time will tell.
September 10th, 2012 11:55 am
Dennis
I agree with everything you wrote. They looked prepared and looked like they could have beat any team in the league yesterday. That was an awesome display of football; every facet of it, including the coaching.
As for the ref’s, the best that could be said is that they did not affect the outcome of the game. They could have with the bad call on the punt return. But most of the calls the TV guys thought were questionable turned out to be good calls.
September 10th, 2012 12:04 pm
Gopal
Did it seem to anyone else that the 49es used their passing offense in the first half to set up their running game in the second half?
They began the game with a three and out, of course, but after that it seems like they were flinging the ball all around the field.
September 10th, 2012 2:12 pm
CohnZohn
mbabco, I’d prefer Manning
September 10th, 2012 5:31 pm
russell
I am not a Niner fan, and not always the most objective when it comes to that team, but WOW. That was good, hard-nosed football in a tough place to play against a very good team. Very impressive, and much more dominant than the final score indicates. I am also no Harbaugh fan, but his team is focused and hungry for sure. (all of that hurt me a great deal to type out)…..
September 10th, 2012 6:52 pm
KauaiRobert
Sup-Har Bowl???
.
.
.
*ALOHA*
September 11th, 2012 5:18 pm
Giantsfan
I think Smith is a better option than Manning at this stage in their careers. Manning basically is a statue and to me, looks like he’s lost arm strength. Alex is mobile and can move around which seems to be something our offense needs, ie: better at improvising (again, at this stage).
Also, if I recall correctly, Manning signed for 90 mil? No way. 26 yr old version, sure, but not at 36, after being out all last year.
On top of that, Kaepernick doesn’t seem too far off. Will Alex even been around in 3 yrs? Not sure…not saying he shouldn’t be, just wondering if Kaepernick doesn’t step sometime between now and then. The guy has great tools.
September 12th, 2012 11:26 am