If you're a Chiefs fan (which I'm sure you are since this is Chiefs blog), then tonight's game on NFL Network (7 pm central time) is almost as important to you as the Chiefs vs. Rams game on Sunday. Or at least it should be. If the Chargers win tonight, then they are only a half game back of the Chiefs going into Sunday. If the Chargers lose, then they are a game and a half game back going into Sunday with two games left and would be out of the playoff race unless the Chiefs absolutely fall apart in their remaining three games.
The Chargers have one of the easiest remaining schedules in the league; after San Francisco tonight, they play at a disappointing Bengals team (that has blown games all year and has nothing to play for but pride which seems to be lacking), and at a Broncos team that has been inconsistent in playing but consistent in losing.
Now, both teams are capable of beating the Chargers; Cincinnati has a lot of talent and Denver is still a tough place to play in December. Tonight, however, remains the most likely chance that the Chargers lose in my opinion.
The NFC West has been putrid this season, but this works in the favor of the 49ers tonight. The 49ers find themselves still in the playoff race for the NFC West with a 5-8 record. They come off a 40-21 win against their division rival, Seattle. 14 of Seattle's 21 points came at the end of the third quarter and in the fourth quarter, after San Francisco had already scored its 40.
In Alex Smith's return to starting quarterback (after Troy Smith's 3-2 stint), he was 17-27, 255 yards passing, threw for 3 touchdowns and accumulated a 130.9 qb rating (and that was with Michael Crabtree only catching one pass for one yard). With Frank Gore (and his 853 yards) out after fracturing his hip, rookie Anthony Dixon and veteran Brian Westbrook combined for 83 yards on 23 carries. Westbrook added 87 yards receiving. The 49ers defense intercepted Matt Hasselbeck 4 times throughout the course of the game.
We all know what the Chargers did to the Chiefs last week: 31-0, 426 total yards, 207 of which were rushing yards, and held the Chiefs to 67 yards of total offense. I'm going to bet that Alex Smith does better than Brodie Croyle though in this game. Both teams are fighting for their playoff lives, both teams virtually need to win out to be in a position to make the playoffs, both teams need this game. The question that will be answered tonight is who wants it more and will the Chiefs benefit from the result?
Injury report for tonight's game. San Francisco: Patrick Willis-Questionable, Takeo Spikes-Questionable, Brian Westbrook-Probable. San Diego: Larry English-Doubtful, Antonio Gates-Doubtful, Malcolm Floyd-Questionable, Legedu Naanee-Probable, Marcus McNeill-Probable.
I will have a post after the game tonight about the results and its affect on the Chiefs.
So, do you also think Alex Smith is the reason the 49ers lost this week? I wouldn't say he did much better than Brodie Croyle out there. You don't think it could just be the Chargers can play good football?
ReplyDeleteThe Chargers defense is the best in the league statistically, but teams have had success on them.
ReplyDeleteThe week before the Chiefs game, the Chargers lost to the Raiders. In that game, the Raiders played much like the Chiefs do. Jason Campbell threw for only 117 yards and one touchdown, and Michael Bush and Darren McFadden combined for 192 yards rushing. This was in San Diego. You have to believe if the Raiders could do that, then the Chiefs, who have a better rushing team and a more consistent qb, could have done that. But our more consistent qb was out.
I gave Brodie Croyle a hard time last week, but Alex Smith did do better than Croyle. Smith was 19-29 for 165 yards and 1 interception. The 49ers were moving the ball on San Diego early but after the overturned td and a failed fourth down, the Chargers were able to get up by enough points to make the 49ers abandon their gameplan.
This game was a blowout, as was the week against the Chiefs. But don't let the Chargers last two games fool you, they are beatable. Hence their 8-6 record.