Official Niners @ Pats postgame thread

[Joker]

I'm not sure what you think Cunningham could have done tonight, but helping against the run wasn't going to happen, and that means that he wasn't going to be out there much.

I saw Vince continually lose his footing in the first half and big holes through the A gaps most of the game...somebody needs to break down the tape and explain why...

 

[Sciz]

The Pats' 92 offensive plays are the 10th most all time in a non-overtime game, and most in a decade. It also gives them the first, third, and fifth most plays in a game this season.

 

[ivanvamp]

Three games where the special teams was a big factor on why they lost

Arizona- Blocked punt that puts them on the 1
Seattle- Washington return to the 43
49ers- James run back, holding that puts them back instead of being at the 18

And of course one of 49ers borderline illegal block knocks Dennard out of the game. Because had he been, Crabtree is stopped right where he catches the ball.

Because of turnovers and special teams' play, here was the average starting field position last night:

SF - own 42
NE - own 19

The Niners had essentially a +345 hidden yardage advantage (23 yards per possession over 15 possessions). The Pats never started off better than their own 34, and 13 of their 16 possessions started off at their 25 or worse.

The Niners had 8 of their 14 possessions start off at their 30 or better, and they got the ball in New England territory four times.

Just disastrous play by the special teams, and the turnovers didn't exactly help.

 

[ivanvamp]

Lots of props for Brady, we are so damned lucky to have him, a once in a generational talent. That being said, he has to take some of the blame for the loss. The INTs were killers, and also he got the ball back 3 times after being down 38-31, and only helped get us a field goal. That first INT killed us, though he made an amazing play to stop the Pick 6. I give Brady a C+ tonight.

The second INT was right in the hands of Hernandez, who bobbled it up into the air and into the arms of Smith. That led to a TD that made the score 31-3. That was a huge play and Hernandez should have caught that ball. He got alligator arms because it looked like he was worried about getting hit.

 

[Mack Herron]

Most worrisome was receivers running free behind the secondary. Reminded me of the old defense. Everything else looks correctable.

 

[IllegalContact]

what I didn't like:
- poor play calling and execution in the first half......it was so freaking obvious to everyone how much PT niner defenders get that they can easily be gassed. there's no reason the pats should not have implemented more hurry up in the first half. It works.....use it
- matt patricia is holding this defense back
- never see a couple of running backs turn into suck-****** so fast
- I fear that the pats have become just as inept as everyone else playing in cold/wet weather


I am optimistic and here's why:

- we still have woodhead and bolden
- the comeback.....if the pats can do this against the niners, they can do it against anyone.......literally, no lead is safe against the pats.
- this game took away any complacency the pats might have moving forward for the rest of the year. they will play angry and they will play prepared.

 

[goheels22002]

The second INT was right in the hands of Hernandez, who bobbled it up into the air and into the arms of Smith. That led to a TD that made the score 31-3. That was a huge play and Hernandez should have caught that ball. He got alligator arms because it looked like he was worried about getting hit.

That was the worst decision Brady and the coaching staff made all night. Hernandez had just received a helmet to helmet hit and should not have been on the field. He should have been talking to the medical staff. For Brady to throw it right to him seconds later was absurd and dangerous.

I do not understand these rules designed to protect players. If the referess call a helmet to helmet hit, then the recipient should sit out at least one play to make sure he is all right.

Overall, I think this was a good late season smack in the mouth to focus these guys on what playoff football looks and feels like. There is a lot of tightening up to do, and Belichick has a lot to work with now.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

As a 49ers fan, I felt pretty confident going into the second half, but even up by 28 points, I knew that Brady was good enough to come back and win, especially with key 49ers defensive players leaving the game.

This game pretty much went how I expected it to. The Patriots have a powerhouse offense, a weak defense, and the game ended up being decided by one score. I didn't expect the 49ers to run up so many unanswered points so quickly, or for the Patriots to come back just as quickly, but at the end of the game, it was pretty much what I expected, although maybe with twice the points on the board.

Hopefully everyone who got hurt today will be healthy by playoff times and if these two teams keep playing like they are now, there will probably be a rematch of this game in New Orleans.

Fair comment. The Pats came out flat. Brady's throws maybe four picks all season before this game and he throws two last night.

SF deserved the win, but, if I were a 'niner's fan, I 'd probably want to face anybody but our guys in New Orleans. Belichick doesn't lose twice in the same season to teams he plays twice and I don't think one of his teams will turn the ball over four times to the same team again.

Enjoy the win. You deserve it. But, we're not going away, even if the road to NO is a little tougher now.

 

[ivanvamp]

That was the worst decision Brady and the coaching staff made all night. Hernandez had just received a helmet to helmet hit and should not have been on the field. He should have been talking to the medical staff. For Brady to throw it right to him seconds later was absurd and dangerous.

I do not understand these rules designed to protect players. If the referess call a helmet to helmet hit, then the recipient should sit out at least one play to make sure he is all right.

Overall, I think this was a good late season smack in the mouth to focus these guys on what playoff football looks and feels like. There is a lot of tightening up to do, and Belichick has a lot to work with now.

Good points.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

...

3 loses to the NFC West. Bet nobody saw that coming looking at our schedule before the season.

Speak for yourself. I had them 12--4 on the season because I thought SF and Seattle (in Seattle) would give them fits. Arizona was the only real surprise, but if you'd asked me in August if they might lose three of those games I'd have said what I said in my pre-season prediction: "Stuff happens, so that could happen."

 

[PatsFanSince74]

They got all the breaks, pretty much all the calls, we played absolutely dreadful, and we still made it close.

Good luck in the playoffs Niners, you'll need it.

yada yada.

you make your breaks. we fumbled twice and were picked twice and after we tie the game our ST gives Kaepernick the ball on our 35 yard line. I don't care if a magic fairy made the ball bouce one way or the other, they recovered five of their fumbles and we didn't.

we're the ones who need some "luck" now in the form of a Cleveland win or a KC miracle over the Broncos, because the one place I don't want to play in January is Denver. I can see us winning three on the road in the playoffs, but Denver scares the **** out of me.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Let the game be in Denver or Houston. With Gronk back this offense will carve whatever AFC team up.

I believe that was about 400 yards and 31 points on the #1 defense in the 2nd half, only losing by 7 after turning the ball over 4 times and the special teams having probably its worst game.

Also I still think there is an ever so slight chance Houston could lose their last two games. They gotta deal with Peterson next week. Dude is on a mission and is single handily carrying that team.

from your lips to God's ears.

 

[jah]

Can we stop lying to ourselves by saying BB doesn't lose to the same team twice in a season?

05 Broncos
06 Colts
10 Jets
11 Giants

We would actually break a 2 year streak by not losing to the same team twice this year.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Once again, Brady did the heavy lifting and the D let him down, although the kickoff coverage didn't help on the return following the tying score.
...
I know some are dubbing this as a "moral victory" or an "impressive comeback" but I don't care. They had the momentum and let it slip away.

He played lights out in the second half, but otherwise that's revisionist history. he threw two picks and had a 69 Pass Rating last night. He's still Tom Brady, but every now and then we have to admit that he isn't perfect.

I don't believe in moral victories either.

 

[PatsFanSince74]

Re: MVP should have been sealed up tonight

This will seem very insensitive but I don't really care about the MVP race right now and I'm pretty sure, neither does Brady.

I don't know whether he does or doesn't care about it, but after Peyton went into Baltimore and put in an unspectacular but error free and workmanlike performance for a big W yesterday, we probably shouldn't be too focused on it. two picks and a 69 pass rating last night didn't help Tommy's case.

 

[Bobs My Uncle]

Too many uncharacteristic mistakes

 

[Halifax_Pats_Fan]

I gotta admit I don't feel too bad this morning....I think this will be a great game to help our team grow and respond. I am glad Gronk WAS NOT there last night. Remember, we want to get healthy for the playoffs and knowing what he could have done had he been there eases my mind a bit.

Personally I am really excited about the next couple games and going into the playoffs.

Let's face it we got a great team, and a great QB, great QB.

San Fran played tough and they caused a few turnovers, give them credit, they played well.

But we did not quit.

Learn from that game...and move on. We are in good shape. BB has got some great teaching point from this game.

BUmmed we lost, but certainly hopeful for the rest of the season and esp. the playoffs....!

 

[Bella*chick]

Great heart. I'm proud of our guys.

But. Two picks. Two Fumbles lost. Too much. ST giving up a return to our 35 after Brady brought them back didn't help either. In fact, ST penalties also hurt us all night.

Now we need some help from Cleveland or Kansas City against Denver, but we can't control that, so let's just focus on winning out. 12--4 after digging a 3--3 hole would still be better than I expected back in October. Third seed at the worst.

I don't want to hear any whining about how "doomed" we are without the Bye.

Sure, the Bye would have been great for all of the reasons that have been rehearsed ad nauseam in other threads, but we're gonna have to get to New Orleans the hard way. If you don't think we can, please let me know so I can put you on ignore.

Yeah, having the Bye would be nice, but it's not going to happen. We're gonna have to do it the hard way.

That said, MY GOD, HOW do you give up such a long return after the tie game? HOW? Were there uncalled holds? Please tell me it was a reffing thing because MY GOD.

 

[ensoul]

Cannot get too upset considering they have not lost a game in two months. What was frustrating was non stop turnovers. I did not think they got any help from the refs either. Ed Hochuli is a complete embarrassment to the game. The dude explains calls so much that he is startng to confuse himself.

Anyway while I am not down on the team this could be a back breaking loss because now they have to go to Denver; history shows this team does not bode well in Denver.

 

[Bella*chick]

Speak for yourself. I had them 12--4 on the season because I thought SF and Seattle (in Seattle) would give them fits. Arizona was the only real surprise, but if you'd asked me in August if they might lose three of those games I'd have said what I said in my pre-season prediction: "Stuff happens, so that could happen."

That was the lovely replacement ref game where Woody actually scored what should have been a game winning TD.

Some real bad breaks in our earlier losses this year.