hambone1818
2nd Team Getting Their First Start
- Joined
- Oct 28, 2007
- Messages
- 1,631
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It's a loss, no doubt...there were ugly moments, most notably the fumbling, the terrible reaction to the fake punt (can't remember who was on the outside--Arrington maybe--but whoever it was looked like he was going through the motions, backing up for his blocking and seemed completely taken by surprise) and allowing the kickoff return/quick TD after crawling back into the game.
All that said, this team showed a LOT in their comeback bid. First and foremost, the generic don't give up attitude; this team showed amazing resolve and knowing they'll have a tough road unless Denver gifts them the #2 seed they'll need it. The offense absolutely dismantled the best defense in the league for 25 minutes, Brady put on an absolute clinic in the second half and he did it without the best all-around weapon in the NFL. The defense, minus the Crabtree TD, was wholly dominant in the second half. Sure, Kapearnick had four TD throws, but San Fran started drives inside NE territory a ridiculous eight times, and inside the NE 30 on half of those occasions. I don't care what kind of D you have, you're giving up a lot of points when defending a short field all night, the fact that they shut SF's offense down during the comeback and basically gave up the one big play the last 25 minutes tells me a ton about where this defense has come.
And finally, I don't prescribe to the idea that a team needs to lose a game to get that 'fire in the belly' late in the year...but I think this game is the perfect thing to motivate this team: they have to be proud of the way they fought, but they also have to be embarrassed at the mistakes. They have to be pissed at the loss, but they also have to be encouraged that they dismantled the best defense in the league for 25 minutes. And finally, they have to be frothing at the mouth for a rematch, I want to see Kapaernick and the Smith's in the playoffs and I'm sure this team does too. Gronk's back this week, the team has two weeks to 'rest'--get everyone healthy and get the offense running on all cylinders and bring on the playoffs! :rocker:
All that said, this team showed a LOT in their comeback bid. First and foremost, the generic don't give up attitude; this team showed amazing resolve and knowing they'll have a tough road unless Denver gifts them the #2 seed they'll need it. The offense absolutely dismantled the best defense in the league for 25 minutes, Brady put on an absolute clinic in the second half and he did it without the best all-around weapon in the NFL. The defense, minus the Crabtree TD, was wholly dominant in the second half. Sure, Kapearnick had four TD throws, but San Fran started drives inside NE territory a ridiculous eight times, and inside the NE 30 on half of those occasions. I don't care what kind of D you have, you're giving up a lot of points when defending a short field all night, the fact that they shut SF's offense down during the comeback and basically gave up the one big play the last 25 minutes tells me a ton about where this defense has come.
And finally, I don't prescribe to the idea that a team needs to lose a game to get that 'fire in the belly' late in the year...but I think this game is the perfect thing to motivate this team: they have to be proud of the way they fought, but they also have to be embarrassed at the mistakes. They have to be pissed at the loss, but they also have to be encouraged that they dismantled the best defense in the league for 25 minutes. And finally, they have to be frothing at the mouth for a rematch, I want to see Kapaernick and the Smith's in the playoffs and I'm sure this team does too. Gronk's back this week, the team has two weeks to 'rest'--get everyone healthy and get the offense running on all cylinders and bring on the playoffs! :rocker: