With a huge win over Green Bay on the road in week 1, the San Francisco 49ers have made a major statement, rising?to number two in this week?s NFL?power rankings. They?ve once again put the entire NFL on notice that they can?t be taken lightly and that everyone better bring their ?A? game when they face SF. Now heading back to the comforts of Candlestick Park for their first home game they?re looking to continue their defensive dominance?when Matthew Stafford and the 1-0 Detroit Lions come to town.
The Lions squeaked out a come-from-behind victory over the St. Louis Rams, who picked off Stafford three times despite his throwing for 355 yards. Of those passing yards, 111 of them were caught by Calvin Johnson, who is looking to surpass the record set in a single season by Jerry Rice of 1,848 yards. Johnson amassed 1,681 receiving yards last season and he?s only looking to do better this year. But unless you lived under a rock last season, you know there?s very little love lost between the two?coaches, Jim Harbaugh of the San Francisco 49ers and Jim Schwartz of the Detroit Lions. Undoubtedly everyone remembers the scuffle that ensued from an overly enthusiastic post-game handshake and slap on the back?by Harbaugh after a come from behind victory by his 49ers over the previously unbeaten Lions in Detroit last season. The misunderstanding between the two coaches is a direct result of the fact that they are in effect the same person!
Both coaches have very fiery and straightforward personalities which turned the slightest misunderstanding/disrespectful gesture into a verbal conflict that almost resulted in?physical contact?and ultimately involved other coaches and players from both teams who were trying to back up their respective coaches. Now that almost a full calendar year has passed since the incident and both Harbaugh and Schwartz are trying to move forward, it shouldn?t be very surprising that this incident is still a topic of conversation.
Coach Harbaugh wasn?t quick to offer up an apology immediately following the incident and didn?t think apologies were necessary when he said, ?I don?t think that there?s any reason for an apology. We spoke about it after the game, and at some point we will talk in private. Apologies always seem to me like excuses.? According to Jim Schwartz, Harbaugh and he have seen each other a few times since the incident and he categorized their handshake greetings as ?without incident.? Schwartz says that when the two teams take the field on Sunday night the past incident won?t ?be on one player?s mind.? While Schwartz is saying all the right things to downplay the situation and Harbaugh certainly doesn't want to discuss the past either, we can be sure that somewhere lingering in the back of their minds, it?s still there. But even more so is the sour taste that was left in the mouths of the Lions by losing at home to the 49ers. Both teams are coming off victories in week 1 and are looking to build upon the things they did well, while the Lions are looking to return the favor by beating the 49ers on their own field.
?The 49ers showed once again they?re one of the stalwart defenses in the league, harrassing Aaron Rodgers all day long and forcing him into a few bad decisions which included a rare interception, rare because Rodgers only threw six interceptions all of last season. Rodgers was still able to put up over 300 yards passing although he was hit, pressured, and knocked down, given very little time in a steadily collapsing pocket all afternoon. That?s the aim of the aggressive 49ers defense, pour constant pressure on the quarterback and force him into making bad decisions, which could be a little disconcerting to Matthew Stafford. While Stafford is quite good, he?s no Aaron Rodgers, which is evident by the three interceptions he threw against the less superior although improved defense of the St. Louis Rams. Stafford will have to be much better if his Lions hope to win on the road in San Francisco.
49ers quarterback Alex Smith managed the game very well in week 1 as he completed 76.9% of his passes, threw for 211 yards, two touchdowns and zero interceptions. Smith has emerged under the tutelage of Jim Harbaugh as more than just a game manager, he?s shown his teammates that he?s on the field with a purpose?.WIN! Veteran tight end Vernon Davis said, ?When I look in Alex?s eyes, I see determination. I see a guy who wants to succeed. He wants it bad.? And that?s been very apparent as he?s now thrown 185 consecutive passes without an interception, becoming the franchise record holder for most consecutive passes without an interception.
One of the issues that plagued Smith for most of his career has been the turnstile of head coaches and offensive coordinators he?s played for who?ve never really had much confidence in him. It seems that?s been solved with some stability in the head coaching position with Harbaugh as well as Harbaugh?s confidence in Smith?s abilities and that he?s going to make the right decisions on the field. Better talent at wide receiver has also increased Smith?s confidence in that he can make all the throws necessary because he no longer has to try to force the ball to Vernon Davis as his only playmaker. Michael Crabtree who had a phenomenal collegiate career but who?s underwhelmed the NFL so far as a result of nagging foot injuries and lack of practice time, seems to have found himself again as he had seven receptions for 76 yards. Many would agree that this could very well be Crabtree?s final opportunity to prove that the 49ers didn?t make a mistake drafting him 10th overall in the 2009 NFL Draft with the lack of production he?s had so far in his young NFL career. He should be even more motivated to prove his doubters wrong now that they 49ers have other options at wide receiver such as Mario Manningham, formerly of the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, and the?ever-perplexing Randy Moss, fresh off his one year retirement.
If Crabtree is able to regain the form he had in college at Texas Tech, where he was a two-time Biletnikoff Award winner, two-time Paul Warfield Award winner and a two-time All-American; then the 49ers could finally have a potent yet balanced offense that could possibly take them to the next level, a spot in the Super Bowl. Prior to this season, the 49ers have had to heavily favor running the ball with their workhorse Frank Gore and then find key spots to throw the ball to Vernon Davis. A better passing attack along with their tough defense makes them a tough out for any team they may face.
The 49ers will have just a bit too much defense for the Lions in this matchup and will get a key defensive turnover late in the game that will cement their victory. The Lions inability to run the ball effectively will put the pressure on Stafford?s arm more than against the Rams and will ultimately lead to a few errant throws which the 49ers defense will capitalize on. 49ers win their home opener, 31-27.?
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