1.) You really don't think our secondary played well in the playoffs? (without Dowling) Against Cruz/Nicks/Manningham, and the Ravens? I'd say so.
Against Cruz, Nicks, and Manningham, they allowed Eli to complete 30 of 40 passes (75%), for just under 300 yards (296) and a 103.8 passer rating. I'd say they did a good job on Cruz (4 rec, 25 yds, but a td), but Manningham and Nicks killed them.
Targets-Receptions
Nicks: 13 targets, 10 rec, 76.9%
Manningham: 9 targets, 5 rec, 55.6%
Cruz: 4 targets, 4 rec, 100%
TOTAL: 26 targets, 19 receptions, 73.1%
That's a very, very high completion percentage to wide receivers. On the season, here were these guys' completion/target numbers (including postseason, but MINUS the Super Bowl):
Nicks: 163 targets, 94 rec, 57.7%
Manningham: 90 targets, 47 rec, 52.2%
Cruz: 158 targets, 99 rec, 62.7%
TOTAL: 411 targets, 240 receptions, 58.4%
So they allowed a QB/WR combo that completed passes at a 58.4% clip in their 19 games prior to the Super Bowl to complete 73.1% of their passes in the SB. That's terrible.
How about against the Ravens? In the AFCCG, here were the Ravens' receivers:
Boldin: 8 targets, 6 rec, 75.0%, 101 yds
TSmith: 5 targets, 3 rec, 60.0%, 82 yds, 1 td
Evans: 4 targets, 3 rec, 75.0%, 39 yds
TOTAL: 17 targets, 12 rec, 70.6%, 222 yds, 1 td
This combo over the course of the season (up til the AFCCG)?
Boldin: 113 targets, 61 rec, 53.9%
TSmith: 99 targets, 51 rec, 51.5%
Evans: 27 targets, 5 rec, 18.5%
TOTAL: 239 targets, 117 rec, 48.9%
So they allowed a QB/WR combo that had completed 48.9% of their passes during the regular season to complete a whopping 70.6% of their passes in the AFCCG.
Bottom line: their pass coverage was pretty bad against opposing WRs in both the AFCCG and Super Bowl. I know they held the Ravens and Giants to 20 and 19 (the offense gave up 2 points on the safety) points, respectively, but it wasn't because they covered the Wide Receivers very well at all.