Phil Dawson. Colin Kaepernick. Chris Borland. Frank Gore. Ahmad Brooks. Michael Crabtree. These guys are gamers, or as Jim Harbaugh likes to say, football players. The San Francisco 49ers came to New Orleans at 4-4 in a must win game if they have any chance at the playoffs. They started strong and went into halftime up 21-10. The offense was stagnant in the second half due to several dropped passes and some questionable play calling. So with 1:55 left in the game, San Francisco found itself down 24-21. After two dropped passes by Anquan Boldin and one by Michael Crabtree, it was 4th and 10 with the season on the line. Kaepernick dropped back and scrambled himself out of the pocket to complete a 51-yard pass to Crabtree – big kudos to both Kaepernick and Crabtree for making that play happen. The drive ended in a Dawson 45-yard FG. After an offensive pass interference call on Jimmie Graham of the Saints that negated a TD, the game was in OT, where Ahmad Brooks was able to force a Drew Brees fumble that Borland recovered and Dawson turned into a 35-yard FG to win the game (MVP anyone?). Boom! Drop the mic.
The 49ers needed this win like nobody’s business, and they got it in on the road against Drew Brees and a Saints team who had won 11 straight at home. They got it after a week of the rekindled “Will Harbaugh stay or go?” rumors and everyone and their brother writing off the season. Yet, they figured out how to make the plays and get a win. Though the offensive line showed up for the majority of the game, I still have some offensive concerns – Kaepernick was sacked three times, one in which Carlos Hyde and Anthony Davis seemed to get confused on who was blocking who, and Boldin and Crabtree each dropped a number of crucial passes. But, the run was back in full force with Gore rushing for 81 yards and a TD and the team rushing for 144 yards overall. And Kaepernick was very sharp, in control, and looked confident. Most importantly, they won.
These guys are gamers. Next week, the Niners will find themselves on the road, in another must win game, against the New York Giants. Dawson. Kaepernick. Borland. Gore. Brooks. Crabtree. Oh, and some guy named Aldon Smith will be back. I like our chances. Go Niners! #BeattheGiants