Weekly Golden Nuggets
In preview of each week’s game, 49ersParadise.com recaps some of the weeks best moments and the key notes you need to know before this week’s #49ers clash. This week’s opponent at: Cardinals, Time: Sunday 1:25 PM PST…
The 49ers enter the final week of the season in better health shape than most… which may have those of you betting folks paying attention. If you are, Sports Betting Dime may be the place to look for more insight. All but Mario Manningham are expected to play (he was put on the injury reserved earlier this week). Manningham’s career with the 49ers may very well be done, as he was not able to contribute much of anything this season. Of course, to say the 49ers in good health shape ignores the rest of the injured reserve too, where players like Ian Williams sit, trying to get healthy from the rest of the season. Dan Skuta is the only other player questionable this week. Here’s the rest of the probable players:
Dan Skuta, Mike Iupati, Kassim Osgood, Justin Smith, Navorro Bowman, Vance McDonald, Frank Gore,Tarell Brown, Michael Crabtree, Mario Manningham
Recap:
According to 49ers.com the thrilling finish to the 49ers victory over Atlanta, and final regular season game (possibly the final game ever) at Candlestick will be named “The Pick at the ‘Stick”. It will go down in the history of great moments in the stadium as Navorro Bowman sealed victory for the 49ers. You’ll recall that the 49ers were up and down throughout the first half, and had a hard time containing the short passing game of the Falcons. Parts of the team are still not in sync, it will be really interesting to see how they come together in the coming weeks as the team moves into the NFL postseason.
Game Plan:
OFFENSE: Look for Frank Gore to have a big game. Gore wants the weight of the world on his shoulders and needs just under 50 yards to hit 10,000 in his career. Meanwhile the 49ers will still be trying to find some rhythm as they plug and play different receivers, backs and tight ends into the offense. Number one priority is to get through this game healthy.
DEFENSE: Expect the 49ers to try and lock out the Cardinal’s receivers. It will not be easy, but look for that to be a key to this game. Part of me wonders whether the 49ers should play soft on defense in the hopes of bringing more NFC West teams into the playoffs. That may set up for the most interesting playoff scenarios, and may create the best opportunities to knock Seattle out at home. Of course… there’s no way the 49ers defense is going to let it up in honesty - and instead, the 49ers are going to hope that the Seahawks drop another game, that the 49ers win, and clinch the division and homefield advantage of the Seahawks should they meet in the playoffs.
Key Matchup:
Michael Crabtree vs Patrick Peterson
Peterson Shadowed Anquan Boldin when the two teams met earlier this year and did a good job taking Boldin off his game. This week, the 49ers have a more legitimate receiving threat opposite Boldin and thus the Crabtree vs Peterson matchup. Simply put, the 49ers will likely be throwing to the guy that Peterson is not covering, and both Boldin and Crabtree have the potential to be big threats.
49ers vs The Officials:
This week Vic Fangio was questioned as to whether the Donte Whitner penalty on Steven Jackson was a legitimate call. Here’s the dialogue that highlights yet another bad call by the officials this year:
Q: S Donte Whitner got that flag first against Falcons RB Steven Jackson. We heard a lot of noise in the coaching box. Were you one of those people who thought maybe that shouldn’t be a flag?
A: “Well, you saw more replays of it than I did at the time, what did you think?”
Q: He was not fined by the NFL.
A: “Right. So, there’s your answer.”
Harbaugh-isms:
Coach Harbaugh on the back-to-back turn of events against the Falcons last week. You have to love how he talks about “different grills” in his quote. Classic Harbaugh.
“Yeah, still, I was thinking about it a little bit this morning, ‘what else that’s ever happened that’s been that good.’ I can’t think of something that’s been that bad either. But, the situation in the game, you really have to imagine that, who knows how many people out there were rooting for us to lose the ball game. Rooting for the underdog or the team that gets redemption after last year’s NFC Championship. Or, teams that that affected their playoff implications. I’m sure that there were high fives at different grills across the country when that onside kick sneaked through there and then they hit a couple passes, and then all of a sudden T. Brock and NaVorro Bowman make that play.”
Harbaugh vs the Media:
As usual Coach Harbaugh sparred with the media, being dismissive of questions he didn’t want to answer like the following:
Q: Has that been your message to the guys this week, that what you can control is how you play, not where or what?
A: I don’t think there’s been one message.
Quote of the Week:
In acknowledging the win on his 50th birthday, Harbaugh showed true excitement, and a rare glimpse into his true persona:
Q: Does it make the 50th birthday better, one of your idols there watching your team win?
A: “Oh, yeah. A plus, plus. Good to have that one at the halfway point. Gives me something to look forward to the next 50.”
Taking out the trash:
Cardinals Coach Bruce Arians threw Michael Crabtree under the bus when he said: "I do not see the same guy”. Expect Crabtree to want to make Arians look foolish.