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Week 8: San Francisco 49ers vs. Indianapolis Colts
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(Image created by Samuel Lam)
After losing their first game of a five-game stretch, the 49ers face their toughest opponent of the season as they hit the road to face the Indianapolis Colts. The 49ers will start Alex Smith at quarterback in hopes that his arm and offensive smarts can help the team keep pace with the undefeated Colts.
In starting Smith, the 49ers also had to make some changes to the offensive line. With Tony Pashos on injured reserve, the 49ers will start Chilo Rachal back at right guard and Adam Snyder starts at right tackle.
Another change to the team is on defense, where Tarell Brown will start at cornerback over Nate Clements. This is a slight demotion for Clements, but since the team will be in a lot of nickel package, he will get his fair share of plays on the field. Clements won't cover Reggie Wayne but will take the inside receivers or Pierre Garcon or Austin Collie.
Speaking of the Colts offense, last year's MVP Peyton Manning is having another superb year and the offense can quite easily run up the score on the 49ers early. How can the 49ers stop one of the strongest teams in the game?
There are a few keys for the 49ers in this game against the Colts:
- Get Crabtree started
Like last week, the 49ers have to use Michael Crabtree. His speed and hands give the 49ers a new dimension in their passing game. Especially with a better arm in Alex Smith, the 49ers hae to fight fire with fire against the Colts scoring ways. Crabtree will have to become the big offensive threat the team needs in order to get the 49ers on a roll. - Offensive line protection
This goes both ways. The 49ers have to protect the pocket on offense. Their struggles has led to mediocre passing games and a struggling running game. If the 49ers can prevent the sacks (especially on Dwight Freeney) then maybe the 49ers can run the ball better. Smith will definitely have a better chance of running the offense.
And on defense, causing any disruption on the offensive line and Peyton Manning may be the best chance for the 49res to stay even on the field. - Ball control
The Colts are very methodical in scoring on offense, especially late in the game. They can score a touchdown in four plays or take their time and score in 12 plays. One thing the 49ers have to do is limit the time possession of the Colts. That may be hard with a struggling offense. But if the team can at least keep the ball out of the Colts' hands, that would at least help keep the game close.
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Today's injury report:
49ERS
DOUBTFUL
S Reggie Smith (groin)
QUESTIONABLE
DE Ray McDonald (ankle), LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder)
PROBABLE
CB Marcus Hudson (shoulder), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), T Adam Snyder (calf)
COLTS
DID NOT PARTICIPATE
RB Donald Brown (shoulder), WR Anthony Gonzalez (knee), CB Marlin Jackson (knee), T Tony Ugoh (not injury related), K Adam Vinatieri (right knee)
PARTICIPATED ON FRIDAY
DT Eric Foster (shoulder), DE Dwight Freeney (knee), LB Ramon Humber (illness), S Bob Sanders (not injury related), TE Jacob Tamme (hamstring), WR Reggie Wayne (groin)
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The five-game stretch that will test the 49ers goes through the toughest opponent in the Colts. This will either make or break the 49ers. A loss will send the team into a 3-4 record and with more tough games ahead, I don't know if the team can recover.
Follow me on my Twitter for updates throughout today's game and check back here as I plan to update this page throughout the game live.
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1st Quarter
- Robinson takes the ball to the 29-yard line and the 49ers run to Gore on the first play for five yards...Joe Staley got injured on the play...he injured his right knee and Barry Sims takes over...Davis out of bounds on 3rd down play. 49ers punt.
- Colts take over on their own 15 on punt...on a third down pass play, Clark fumbles the ball and the 49ers recover on the IND 25, but he might not have had full possession...Indy challenges..Clark ruled down by contact., 4th down.
- Clements returns punt to the SF 30 yard line...Frank Gore breaks two tackles and rumbles 64 yards for a touchdown! SF 7-0. He ran right up the middle behind Rachal, broke two tackles and it was a footrace to the goal line.
- IND starts on own 22...a short screen pass, a short run and an almost interception by Dre Bly forces the Colts to punt again.
-Smith falls after getting foot tangled with Heitmann...Gore run goes for -1 yard...Robert Mathis pressure forces a bad throw, 49ers to punt.
- After an incomplete pass and a short run, Reggie Wayne takes a bubble screen all the way to the SF 49 yard line...After another incomplete and short run, Manning hits Collie for a 14-yard gain...Spencer knocks away a sure TD pass after a holding call and a completed pass to Clark followed by a short Addai run sets up a 38-yard attempt. Up and good. 7-3 SF.
- SF starts on own 12... a nice pass to Isaac Bruce to 28 yard line for a first down... Crabtree grabs another first down but on the next play, Bob Sanders picks off a deflection off Crabtree and takes it to the SF 36.
2nd Quarter
- It's 3rd & 4 from the SF 15 yard line...Manning overthrows Clark and it's 4th down...33 yard FG by Stover. 7-6 SF.
- Starting on own 30, Gore runs up for a short gain...they run again and get another short gain... on 3rd and 7, Smith hits Davis for only 2 yards. SF punts.
-After two short runs, Brown stops Wayne from getting a first down with a big tackle. Three and out for IND.
- Holding penalty takes away a first down for SF and the 49ers end up punting again.
- A. Franklin sack forces a 3rd & 10 for IND and an incomplete pass forces a punt. SF starts on own 22.
- A short Gore run followed by a Davis false start...Smith throws the ball away.. on 3rd & 13 Smith hits Crabtree short by 1 yard. SF to punt again.
- Colts start on own 18...a deep pass to Clark is broken up by Michael Lewis...Addai gains two yards on a sweep...Garcon grabs a first dowb pass on an out route on T. Brown... 2 MINUTE WARNING WITH COLTS ON 3RD & 4...Overthrown pass to Wayne.
- SF starts at the 11 yard line with 1:44 left on the clock...Deep pass to Crabtree to SF 37 yard line...then hits Bruce at midfield. Out of bounds...hits Davis for a 10 yard gain, another first down...:51 left on clock on IND 40 yard line... hits Gore at 25 yard line.... roughing the passer added on after the play. 1st & 10 on 13...hits Gore on the 8 yard line out of bounds...Smith hits Davis in the end zone for an 8-yard score...PAT good and SF leads 14-6 with :33 left.
-IND starts on their own 39...Hits Collie to SF 38...Hits Clark to SF 29...Hits Collie again now at the 13 yard line. Colts set up for field goal with :06 yard line...Stover hits 31-yarder with :01 left. 14-9 SF.
3rd Quarter
- Colts start on own 26...a short gain and a false start pushes them to a 2nd & 13...Sopoaga sacks Manning on the 15...3rd & 20 on the 16 yard line, Mannings hits Garcon to the IND 48 yard line...After an incomplete and a short gain, Manning hits Wayne for a first down... a short pass, an incomplete and Ray McDonald sacks Manning by the ankles. 4th & 11 and Stover hits 40 yrd FG. 14-12 SF leads.
-SF starts on own 22...Gore runs up for 2 yards, then gets a 7 yard swing pass making it 3rd & 1...Norris runs up the middle for a first down...A play action sets up another 3rd & 1, and another Norris run gets the drive moving on...On a quick out pass, Crabtree fumbles the ball recover by the Colts... Singletary challenges, but might not be enough evidence to overturn it...call stands.
- Colts on SF 42...Manning overthrows Garcon and Wayne....now third down...Garcon out of bounds on incomplete pass and Colts go three and out without gaining a yard. SF takes punt to their own the 20 yard line by Brandon Jones.
- After only 3 yards on two runs, Smith is forced to throw the ball away and the 49ers have a three and out. IND take over at their own 30.
- Colts get two quick first downs now on SF 42...a Sopoaga offsides gives the Colts another first down...Addai takes it to the SF 22 as the 3rd quarter ends on that first down run.
4th Quarter
- Addai takes a stretch play and throws to a wide open Reggie Wayne... Spencer bit on the play.... Colts fail 2-point try. IND takes lead 18-14.
- Starting on own 21, Crabtree grabs a tip-toe catch for a first down...another first down throw to Bruce and the 49ers find themselves in IND territory...Coffee gets a first down run taking the 49ers to the IND 34...3rd & 6 from the 30 yard line, a delay of game pushes them back 5 yards...Adam Snyder gets beat and Mathis sacks Smith. 49ers punt.
- Colts start on own 10...Manning hits Clark to the SF 47 for a first down, after a short run and a 7-yard pass, on 3rd & 3 Manning overthrows Collie. Colts to punt.
- Jones fields a punt on the SF 6, should have let it go for a touchback... After a first down pass to Gore, Smith hits Crabtree to the IND 34 yard line...Smith has two overthrown passes and on third down gets sacked by Dwight Freeney.
- Colts start on 33...Colts on 3rd & 3, hits Clark for 5 yards...3rd & 4 at 2 minute warning on SF 36...The Colts end up getting the necessary first downs and that ends the game.
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