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Week 10: San Francisco 49ers vs. Chicago Bears
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(Image created by Samuel Lam)
Desperation, must-win, however you want to look at this game, that's what it is. With a four-game losing streak and a load of inconsistency, the 49ers are seeing their playoff hopes slip away.
After a four-turnover performance against the Titans last Sunday, the 49ers had a short week to prepare for hte Chicago Bears. The Bears defense has struggled recently and the 49ers need to take advantage of that.
But given how head coach Mik Singletary continues to promote the better days of the team, how much of us actually believe that the team can improve? This game is the last straw for the fans. Another loss takes them out of the playoff picture. A win will get the ship back on course.
Obviously for the 49ers, there needs to be a balance between run and pass. The 49ers dialed up 51 pass plays last Sunday and RB Frank Gore only ran the ball 15 times. That is not going to be the winning combination tonight. The team has to find some consistency on both ends and execute accordingly.
I don't want to analyze too much into this game, but the headline is simple: Win or go home. It's not the playoffs, but it will be a playoff feel for the 49ers.
There are a few keys for the 49ers in this game against the Bears:
- Turnovers
The 49ers have turned the ball over 11 times during the four-game losing streak. And on Sunday's four turnovers against the Titans, those ended up being 24 points for Tennesee. Prior to the losing streak, the team only had two turnovers. Quite simply, hold on to the ball. - Gore needs to get carries
Most elite running backs get to carry the ball over 20 times a game. Frank Gore has carried it only 13 and 15 times, respectively, in the last two games. That's not enough for the team's best offensive weapon. And Gore is making big gains out of those carries. Gore needs to get his chances to run the ball and pace the offense. - Aggressive play-calling
On defense, the pressure to Jay Cutler will be key. Forcing the quarterback to make quick decisions (whether it's a blitz or strong secondary coverage) will help the 49ers early on. And on offense, the team has to prevent the short passes. A few deep balls to Crabtree, Morgan or Hill should open up the field for the offense.
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Today's injury report:
49ERS
OUT
CB Nate Clements (shoulder), RB Glen Coffee (concussion), DT Demetric Evans (shoulder), T Joe Staley (knee).
WR Isaac Bruce (ankle)
PROBABLE
G David Baas (shoulder), CB Tarell Brown (rib), TE Vernon Davis (shoulder), RB Frank Gore (eye lid), WR Jason Hill (ankle), WR Brandon Jones (knee), S Michael Lewis (quadricep), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), LB Takeo Spikes (shoulder), S Curtis Taylor (shin), TE Delanie Walker (shin, knee)
BEARS
OUT
S Kevin Payne (back), LB Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee), RB Garrett Wolfe (back)
QUESTIONABLE
S Al Afalava (shoulder)
TE Desmond Clark (neck), DT Tommie Harris (knee), CB Charles Tillman (shoulder)
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This is it. This the last gasp for any playoff hope. The 49ers sit two games behind the Cardinals who have just gotten hot again. A win here helps the 49ers in a major way. A loss will derail their course from a playoff berth. That's what is at stake tonight. They won't be mathematically eliminated if they lose, but chances become very slim.
Follow me on my Twitter for updates throughout today's game and check back here as I plan to update this page. (Today's game can also be seen on the CW Network).
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1st Quarter
- 49ers win toss and defer, so Bears get the ball and start on 18 yard line...Short pass to Forte for 2 yards..After incomplete, on 3rd & 8 the Bears go for a short 3 yard pass and Bears punt.
- SF starts on own 41...Crabtree almost makes a sideline, but it was pulled out by Tillman. Singletary challenges it...Ruled incomplete and SF loses timeout...Crabtree takes a 15 yard pass to CHI 44...On first down, Gore goes for a 5 yard gain...Gore runs again for 3 yards to make it 3rd & 2 on the CHI 41...Crabtree grabs another pass for a first down to the 28...Vernon Davis picks up 6 yards and injures LB Nick Roach...Offsides gives SF a first down, but Davis follows up with a false start...1st & 15 on 22, Gore runs it up to the 14 yard line...After an incomplete, on 3rd & 7, Smith gets sacked on the 21 yard line. SF goes for field goal. Nedney misses it right.
-CHI on own 29, Forte goes for no gain and 1 yard on next play...on 3rd & 9, Bears get only to 24 yard line and they punt.
- SF starts on own 26...Gore takes it to the 30 yard line on the first play, but a no gain on second play...On 3rd & 5, Jason Hill is a couple inches short...SF will punt.
- CHI starts on own 11 after penalty...Clark goes for a 6 yard catch...Forte runs it to 20...On 3rd & 1, Forte picks up 2 yards...1st down, incomplete to Hester...Olsen catch to the 38 yard line...Olsen gets another catch to SF 40...On 1st down, Olsen to SF 33...End of first quarter.
2nd Quarter
- On 2nd & 3 on the 33, Forte gets 2 yards...On 3rd down, Forte picks up the first down...Incomplete pass to Olsen on first down...Forte takes it to the 14 yard line for a first down...After a no gain, Earl Bennett picks up 9 yards...On 3rd & short, Cutler sneaks it for a first down...1st & G on 4 yard line, Forte gets 1 yard...He gets another yard, and on 3rd down Culter forces it down the middle and Aubrayo Franklin intercepts Culter.
- SF starts on own 11...Smith sacked on the 6...False start on Vernon Davis, SF to 3 yard line...A screen to Morgan takes it to the 14...3rd & 7, a screen to Gore to 22 for first down...Shovel pass to Gore for 9 yards...Gore picks up 1 yard for a first down...Nick Roach deflected a pass and nearly picked it off...2nd down, draw play to Gore for 4 yards...3rd & 6, Morgan to 45 for a first down...Smith throws interception to Zach Bowman on CHI 19.
- CHI starting on own 19, a false start and a holding makes it 1st & 19 on 10...Short pass to Forte for 4 yards...Screen play to Forte goes all the way to SF 49...Brown picks off Cutler and takes it all the way to the CHI 14.
- Gore runs it right to the endzone nearly untouched. SF leads 7-0.
-CHI starts on own 17 with 1:55 left in the half...Cutler goes to Hester again and Lewis almost picks it off...Short run by Forte for 2 yards...on 3rd & 8, screen to Forte to 31 yard line...Cutler hits Bennett to own 48 yard line...On 1st & 10 with 0:37 in the half, Cutlers pass is knocked down by Brooks at line of scrimmage...After delay of game, Cutler hits Knox to SF 46....Then hits Olsen for a first down to the SF 39...Incomplete pass to Hester, then Spencer gets called for pass interference (getting to ball too early)...On SF 35, Cutler hits Hester to 27 yard line...CHI goes for 45-yard FG (but a delay of game pushes them to a 50 yard kick)...Gould makes it with 2 seconds left. 7-3 SF leads.
- Balmer takes squibb kick and that's halftime.
3rd Quarter
- SF starts on own 20...Gore goes for 3 yards...then Gore gets stuffed for -3 yards...On 3rd & 10, Crabtree goes for 5 yards and SF punts.
- CHI starts on own 49 after Delanie Walker penalty...Screen to Hester for 8 yards...Forte loses 2 yards on a run...3rd & 4, a bad pass to Hester goes right to Dashon Goldson.
- SF 1st & 10 on own 45, Gore goes no gain on run...swing pass to Gore goes for -3 yards...On 3rd &12, an interception is taken away by an offsides...3rd & 7, a draw play to Gore goes for 6 yards....QB sneak on 4th down and Smith is short.
- CHI takes over on own 45...Screen play to Forte all the weya to the SF 23...2 yard pass to Hester, followed by a Forte run for no gain...3rd & 8, a 1 yard pass play to Bennett...38-yard FG is good. 7-6 SF.
-SF starts on own 31...Crabtree gets it to the CHI 49...Morgan gets a 4 yard catch...Gore loses 2 yards on run play...3rd & 13 after false start, Davis gets to the CHI 47 (inelligible man downfield declined), SF punts
- CHI starts on own 29 after facemask...Forte goes for -1 on run...Incomplete on next play...On 3rd & 11, Olsen grabs first down to 45...Incomplete to Forte on first down...Inelligible downfield on CHI and an unnecessary roughness on Tarell Brown offsets the play...Now 1st & 10 on 41, incomplete pass and 2 yard gain leads to 3rd down...Incomplete by Cutler and CHI will punt.
- SF starts on own 6...Gore gets nothing on run...Davis goes for a 5 yard catch...3rd & 5 when 4th quarter begins.
4th Quarter
-3rd & 5, incomplete to Morgan. Three and out.
- CHI starts at midfield...Forte gains 2 yards on rush and then followed by a 1 yard gain...3rd & 7, Mark Roman intercepts Cutler.
SF starts on CHI 44, swing pass to Gore for 5 yards...After an incomplete pass, Gore takes a direct snap and fumbles it on 6. SF recovers...Gore takes next run to the 1 yard line...Next play, Gore gets no gain...3rd & G on 3, Smith throws it away. Nedney makes FG. 10-6 SF.
-CHI starts on own 16...2 yard pass to Hester, then a an incomplete to Knox...3rd & 8, Cutler is pressured and throws it away. Punt time.
- SFstarts on own 18...Gore goes for -1 yard on first play, then followed by a run by Gore all the way to the 40...Gore runs again for 3 yards, followed by 4 yard pickup...3rd & 3, toss play to Robinson for 4 yard gain and first down...Gore gets nogain on first down run, followed by a CHI offsides...2nd & 5, Gore gains 2 yards...3rd & 3, Robinson gets 5 yards on a shovel play for another first down...1st & 10 on 38 and Gore gets no gain, CHI calls timeout...2nd & 10 on CHI 38, Gore gains 2 yards...Smith scrambles to 34 and CHI calls timeout...SF punts from CHI 34
- CHI starts on 20 after touchback...Cutler scrambles and throws incomplete, and next play overthrows Bennett...3rd & 10, illegal formation is declined and Cutler throws incomplete...On 4th down, Cutler throws incomplete but illegal contact on Bly gives CHI first down...CHI called for holding...1st & 20, Forte gains 12 yards, but unnecessary roughness on Bears puts them back 15 yards and that's the 2 minute warning...2nd & 20, Hester for a 10 yard gain...Forte catch goes to 45 yard line...On first down, Olsen gains 6 yards...Hester moves it to the 39 yard line...Cutler spikes it... Hester is at 30 yard line, Knox to 22 for first down...Cutler spikes...Cutler completes the pass to the 12 for a first down...Overthrows Olsen...Michael Lewis pick off Cutler and the 49ers hold off to win!!!!
Recap coming up!
Follow me on Twitter for updates. Check me out here @SLam49ers
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