NFL Week 4 San Francisco 49ers, 26 – Philadelphia Eagles, 21
San Francisco entered this contest with something to prove – that the previous two weeks had been anomalies. This week, when opportunity presented itself, the Niners were going to grasp it firmly and wring its rubbery neck until it coughed up some points.
So it began that in the first quarter, San Francisco’s defense stopped Philadelphia at their 37 and forced them to punt. This was a pattern that would haunt Philly the entire day. Beginning at their own 17, the 49er’s offense began with a short passing game…and a QB sack which pinned them back at the 2-yard line – bad luck. Then bad luck turned awful as SF’s end zone punt was blocked by Philly’s Trey Burton and recovered by Eagle Brad Smith for a touchdown. Score: 7-0.
If this upset SF’s offense it was not evident on the next series. San Francisco, starting at their own 20, went 69-yards in 14 plays to the Philadelphia 20 before opting for a Phil Dawson 3-pointer. Score 7-3.
Again, Philly had no luck moving the ball out of their territory. On receipt of the kick and again beginning at their own 20, it was time for a change. The ball was handed to Frank Gore who made a four yard gain. A Kaepernick scramble gained 23 yards and pushed the Niners to their own 47. Was it time for another run? We will never know. Philly’s Brandon Graham broke through the line and sacked Kaepernick for a loss of seven as the quarter ended. SF needed a game-changer.
Appeals to the football deities were answered in the second quarter when SF called on Frank Gore. His reception of a short pass and subsequent 43-yard run to the end zone lifted fans from their seats. SF was finally ahead, 10-7. We praised the Great Poobah of Pigskin for his blessing.
Our jubilation was glorious but brief as on the next series, Kaepernick’s pass intended for Brandon Lloyd was intercepted by Eagle Malcolm Jenkins and returned 53-yards for a touchdown. Kicker Cody Parkey made it 14-10. To add insult to injury, on the _very_next_possession, San Francisco’s punt on fourth down at their own 36 was run back 82-yards by Eagle Darren Sproles for yet another touchdown. In only three minutes, the game had slipped sideways and put the Eagles up 21-10 with 8:49 remaining. We were dashed. We had been deceived a false god.
After trading drives, San Francisco did manage a seven play drive and a field goal which nudged the score to 21-13 at halftime. The color returned to our cheeks. Special acknowledgement goes to Niner defensive end Justin Smith who smote a late quarter Philly drive by recovering a fumble.
It must have been firm lips and tight nether cheeks during the halftime locker room talk, because San Francisco returned to the field with the settled determination of the pros we have come to admire and support. On Philly’s first drive of the third quarter, Niner cornerback Perrish Cox recovered Eagle receiver Zach Ertz’s fumble and handed SF excellent field position at the Philly 23. Eight plays later – using a mix of both passing and running – San Francisco claimed their touchdown due with a 12-yard Kaepernick to Stevie Johnson pass. SF was back in the game, 21-20.
That pattern – of Philly unable to move the ball and San Francisco moving the ball – continued the rest of the game. What also changed was the 49er’s approach to offense…they would now usel more of their running game rather than attempting to pass for large gains. A Phil Dawson mid-third quarter field goal set up by a series of runs was the reward – Score 23-21 Niners.
In the fourth, San Francisco added another field goal following a ten play drive – Score 26-21. Then the unexpected happened: The Philadelphia offense awoke and racked up 90-yards in a 15 play, last gasp drive to win the game. The collective breath was held. Credit the 49er defense for a flawless goal line stand at the SF one yard line which forced the Eagles to turn over the ball on fourth down.
With 1:50 remaining, San Francisco went to ground (and forced Philly to burn through their time outs) but could not achieve a first down to put the game away. Philly has 1:23 left, but having blown the previous series, they reverted to the ineffective bunch they had been all day. After a four and out if was left to Capt. K to kneel out the win.
