Eagles - Niners Diary: San Francisco Treats

> Scary game here; the Niners are too talented to be winless, and have ideal matchups at power RB and TE, not to mention home field and the Eagles' second-best QB. At least Shady McCoy's going to give it a go, and I have dreams that MLB Stewart Bradley might be better, an extra week off the concussion. There's also the fact that the Niners are 0-4 for a reason, and that I picked them to win this game. Which isn't exactly a smooch of death, but it's close...

> The opening SNF montage shows that NBC thinks America likes trannies, and who am I to argue, really? Ted Ginn Jr. with a big monster kickoff return, and we're starting out wrong. RB Frank Gore has a big hole but hesitates and slips, and stops with 4 yards. He goes right through the middle to set up third and inches, and if you long for the days of Buddy Ryan Run Defense, you are not alone. DT Broderick Bunkley's down, and that makes things worse. Gore around right for the easy first, and Bunk doesn't look like he's coming back. S Nate Allen cleans up Gore on a left sweep that fails for a four yard loss, and if you wonder why anyone runs outside the tackles, well, Niners coach Mike Singletary isn't a genius. A good looking screen to Gore is stopped after four; nice play by the LB. On third and 10, QB Alex Smith has all day and an open WR Dominique Ziegler, who catches it in stride for 20 yards and the first. Woof.

> Gore for 1, then takes a rollout from Smith inside the five, but the big second down comes back on an ineligible player downfield. Second and 14 from the gun, and old friend RB Brian Westbrook gets a shotgun carry for six yards. On third and 8 and have to get off the field, it's Smith from the gun to WR Michael Crabtree, who has an easy slant with his size for the first. CB Joselio Hanson just a spectator. First and goal from the five.

> DE Trent Cole with a real nice play to take Gore down for a loss. Unblocked, form tackle with hate; quality. From the gun on second, Smith finds Crabtree on a slant, and the WR shows pedigree hands as he beats CB Dmitri Patterson. Yes, Asante Samuel's absence is noted. Niners 7, Eagles 0, an eight minute drive, and much of Philadelphia is checking on that NLDS game right now. Can't say I blame them.

> KR/CB Ellis Hobbs wiggles his way past the 20 before more commerce. McCoy enjoys a pancake block from FB Owen Schmitt for a nine yard gain; the CB might be concussed on that. Wow. QB Kevin Kolb's low and away out is scooped by WR Jeremy Maclin to move the sticks. Kolb with a throwback deep ball to TE Brent Celek for a big gain, and he was open enough to call for a fair catch. 32 yards on the connection. RB Mike Bell for a yard. Kolb from the gun on second, and McCoy gets 6 on a rollout screen against pressure. Third and three from the 23 is a big play, and WR DeSean Jackson takes a wildcat snap for an easy gallop to the left. DJ punctuates it with a stiff arm, even. First down at the 15. McCoy makes a man miss in the backfield and gets four. From the gun on second, Kolb shows patience in the pocket to hit WR Jason Avant for the first, and Kolb is now 4 for 4 for 51 yards, and looks like a guy you want to use. McCoy slips into the end zone, but this one comes back on a Todd Herremans hold, and the penalty flag problem continues. From the 13, Avant on a screen to the nine as the crowd gets loud. From the gun on second, Kolb escapes pressure, rolls out and throws against the grain to Celek, who fights through the tackle for the touchdown. That was impressive all over, mostly on Kolb's part. 75 yard drive, and neither of these defenses is looking good right now. Tie game.

> Ginn's runback goes to the 25. Gore for a yard as DE Juqua Parker gets some well-deserved TV time. S Quentin Mikell with a nice stop on Gore on second, and the tackling has been better tonight, even if the coverage hasn't. On third from the gun, Smith avoids the blitz to find Crabtree for the first, and that's a bad whiff by the blitzer. Gore through the middle loses the ball with violence from OLB Moises Fokou and Bradley, and Hanson gets the loose ball for the turnover. Huge play.

> Kolb with time finds Maclin on a clean cross, and that's the quarter. Niner Fan is pretty quiet now, and as we go to commerce, things are looking up. Niners 7, Eagles 7.

> Shady to the 29 for three, then hits Maclin between the numbers for the first. From the 20, McCoy from the shotgun snap for five as NBC tells us T Jason Peters is probably done for the day with an ankle problem. On second from the gun, Kolb senses the pressure and wisely turtles as backup T King Dunlap is overwhelmed; he's going to need help. On third and 10, Schmitt takes the dump off to the 15, and K David Akers comes in to punch it in from 33. You kind of hate to see the team get that conservative in the red zone; Akers is going to hit that from 38 easily. But points are points, and Kolb looks genuinely confident right now. Eagles 10, Niners 7.

> Ginn to the 29, and Gore inside for a few as Niner Fan starts to voice impatience with the ground game. Boo, Niner Fan, boo. From the gun on second, there's motion from Cole, and it'll be second and three. Smith to Gore from the gun doesn't quite get the sticks as Niner Fan boos some more. On third and one, it's Smith to Crabtree from play-action on a deep cross, and the WR has a certain amount of Michael Irvin in him, really. Gore stuffed as the boos get louder, and they like it less when there is an illegal formation flag; DT Michael Patterson doing yeoman work on Gore inside. From the Eagles 45, Dub comes in, gets hammered on a blitz, but Smith slides off to the side for a few; ugly three yard gain there. On second and 12, Gore returns, and Smith goes deep for Ginn, but it's a bad ball, and Dmitry Patterson reacts nicely for the pick. Good arm punt, if nothing else; Green will start at their own 3 yard line.

> Backed up, it's Bell on a dive for three up the middle; nice surge by the line. McCoy has all kinds of room on a nice interior trap block, and he makes three men miss on the run for the first. From the gun on first, Kolb's first incomplete of the night is from an empty set to DJ. On second, a slow sprint draw to McCoy that was telegraphed by Kolb; just a yard. Third and nine is a big down, given that there are six minutes left in the half and good field position is likely with a stop. From the gun and alone, Kolb is jittery and runs into a sack, and there didn't seem to be much open. Punter Sav Rocca has been good thus year, and his long punt is taken by Ginn for thirty yards of lateral running and two clips. That's a gift, and more booing from Niner Fan; total field position change of 63 yards. The Niners will start from their own 20.

> The last two Niner possessions have ended with turnovers, but only three Eagle points. On first, Smith avoids pressure to find WR Joshua Morgan, but it's incomplete after an on-field review, correctly. Gore runs into his own center, then gets stomped by the DL for a 4-yard loss. and I'm kind of amazed by what's going on there. On third and long from the gun, Smith checks down from a complicated front to a Gore run, and the RB is stopped before the sticks for a three and out. Tasty. DJ takes a line drive punt for 22 yards, and Kolb will have it near midfield with 3:30 left and timeouts. Yes, Green hasn't wasted a timeout so far this half, blown a short yardage call, gotten rolled by the TE or dominated byt he opposing team's power running game. No, I don't know what team I'm watching, either. They really should be leading by more than three, though.

> Kolb with time finds DJ for 20 down the middle, and the WR adjusts well to the ball for the completion. Many openings starting to show in the Niner secondary. Flanker screen to DJ for three, and that's the two minute warning. Kolb is now 11 of 12 for 115 and a touchdown; more impressively, Gore is 13 for 22 with a fumble, and I haven't had to type TE Vernon Davis's name yet.

> From the Niner 33, McCoy takes it to the house, and boom goes the dynamite. Wow, that looked easy, and if Shady is not 100% with the rib problem, he might be the best back in the league. Nice work by the OL, of course, and the Akers PAT makes it Eagles 17, Niners 7 as Green shows some lightning, and this is the team that Eagle Fan hoped to see coming into this year; high accuracy, athletic defense, and more running than before.

> Akers with a held ball gets the touchback. From the gun, the Niners flinch to make things tougher on themselves. From the gun again, Smith looks confused, but Crabtree makes three men miss to move the chains and prevent another Eagles possession; ouch. From the gun, it's a Gore screen for another first, and the Niners are alive. Crabtree for another 20 as Smith stays alive; nice block by Gore on the blitzer. Crabtree now with 71 and the touch. Smith's first down pass is knocked down by Allen on a blitz; another good play by the rookie. From the gun on second, Davis gets his first catch, but it's in bounds and short. Niners take a timeout, and on third and seven, Smith to Crabtree on a curl that's stopped soon, and it comes back on another ineligible man downfield. Cole looks like he blew out a hamstring; he's going to the locker room. On third and 12 with Green taking the yards, Smith misses Crabtree deep, but the play is wiped on an offsides by Parker as NBC cites a delay of game call that was missed. Third and seven is at the edge of field goal range again, and Smith from the gun is tipped and incomplete, as Parker redeems himself. With 48 seconds left, K Joe Nedney comes in to hit the long field goal that always goes in against my laundry; this one connects from 50. Eagles 17, Niners 10, with 43 seconds left. Green has three timeouts and a hot Kolb, so we should see some effort, provided the kickoff isn't a disaster.

> Hobbs with a nice runback that ends badly for him, and with 36 seconds left, Green starts at their own 37. Kolb from the gun tries a telegraphed double screen and grounds it intentionally. On second, Kolb rolls to Celek for seven yards and a clock stoppage. On third, Kolb does a terrible job sensing the pressure, and compounds the error by getting stripped. Good grief. Dunlap can't play solo, and the Niners have it at the 35.

> The defense fails to cover Crabtree again, and he converts a cross to get into field goal range. From the 23 with ten seconds left, Smith tries Davis in the end zone, but the ball is off; Hanson never sees the pass. Yikes. Nedney from 40 hooks it left; phew. With two seconds left, Reid sits on it rather than show that Kolb can't throw it 75 yards, and that's the half. Eagles 17, Niners 10.

> Starting the third, Hobbs makes a mistake taking the ball out of the end zone and doesn't get to the 20, but the play is called back from an offsides. The rekick is always dangerous for the defense, given the effort expounded in covering a kick, but Hobbs only gets it to the 20 as the Niners special teams is clearly winning their part of the fight.

> McCoy with a head of steam and five yards. It looks like the line has more comfort doing that. On second, Kolb rolls right, plants his feet and floats a deep ball to Maclin, who owns the CB for a 41 yard gain; real nice play by the second year WR. Bell for a yard. Kolb from the gun misses Maclin in the end zone, as CB Nate Clements had a better line on the ball than the WR. Third from the gun and alone sees Kolb barely miss Celek, as LB Patrick Willis has good coverage, but the TE dropped that one. He does that a lot. Rather than try a 51-yarder, Rocca pops it straight up for a thoroughly unsatisfying 15 yard punt. Hateful call, hateful execution, and I really wanted that field goal back.

> Smith rolls and throws it away on first. Cole is questionable, Bunkley out, and Peters most likely out as well. Smith from the gun on second has another flinch penalty as Niner Fan grouses. Dub in, and Smith gets engulfed by reserve DLer Antonio Dixon; DE Darryl Tapp also got penetration. Third and 21 from the six sees Smith roll and hit Davis for a way too easy conversion, and that's just inexcusable defense. It's not overstating it to say the game might change on that...

> And just that fast, Gore is in to break off a 17 yarder as the Niner offense has a pulse. Bradley got erased there. Gore wiggles in the middle as the ball comes loose, and the refs huddle and give the ball to Green. Wow, Gore's kiled them tonight, and the replay shows irrefutable evidence that the ball was out. The Eagles will have it at their own 44.

> Kill shot time? Kolb checks down to McCoy instead and gets six yards. Shady is a shoestring away from a big run, but can't move the sticks. Third and two from the Niner 48 is big and the crowd gets loud. Kolb from the gun connects with WR Chad Hall, just off the practice squad, and that's a nice show of hands from the Air Force man, who is in for the injured Riley Cooper. Bell up the middle for a few as the Niners start to sell out the middle. McCoy with good patience makes it third and one from the Niner 30. Short yardage is Eldra Buckey from the gun, who takes a bad snap into the middle for a loss, and we have our usual Eagles You Crap moment. Fourth and one sees the team seal the deal, as Kolb drifts backwards, floats it to Celek, and watches it drop to the ground incomplete. Just once, I'd like to watch an Eagles game without one of these. Really hope that the lack of an Akers field goal on either of these drives isn't going to come back to haunt.

> Smith hits his RB on the hands, but it's dropped. A deep clock give to Gore gets two, and Cole's back, which is nice. Third and long is a big play after the You Crap, and Smith from the gun is alone, running up the middle, and going down in Tapp's arms, since he's not as quick as he thinks he is. Big series by the defense there. DJ can't get free on the return, and the Eagles will start at their own 16 with 20 minutes left in a too-tight game.

> McCoy for a few as the end around looks open. Shady makes a man miss on a telegraphed screen, and that's a first. McCoy dancing a bit too much on first, and gets nothing while hopping. On second, Dunlap gets beaten badly again, and if you are getting flashbacks to the Giants Winston Justice game, you are not online. Third and 18 sees Kolb pump faking and scrambling all the way, and he converts the first; impressive play, really, and one of the first times this year that the QB shows that he's a plus athlete on a scramble, at least at this point in his career. You also have to be impressed at how the Niners were buying pump fakes with the ball ten yards past the line of scrimmage. Real big play by Kolb there.

> McCoy to the left as Celek is off with a possible concussion, then center, and an actual time of possession gain is being developed here. Chain gang gives McCoy the first, and now DJ looks out of it, too. Good grief. This team needs a bye something bad.

> Kolb with time on first tries Celek and misses, so I guess he's not concussed so much. DJ still on the sidelines, and the Eagles are running low on weapons. A flinch makes it 2nd and 15. From the gun, Kolb's pass is batted down by Willis as the Niners blitz and get their hands up. The crowd rises for third and 15, and from the gun and alone, Kolb settles for Schmitt, who powers for 13 yards. Fourth and two from the 35 means another bad moment with Rocca pooching, but before that can happen, the quarter ends. Eagles 17, Niners 10, in a game that just feels uneasy.

> With the switch in sides, Akers is in to try a 54-yard field goal; dicey. He gets nearly all of it, but it's a yard left, and the Niners take it at midfield. Ouch.

> Smith to Morgan for a well executed button hook and first down. From the 40, Gore batters away for five. From the gun on second, Smith makes one of those career defining mistakes, scrambling to his left, failing to get rid of the ball quickly, and that's a touchdown after the fumble. Credit to rookie DE Brandon Graham for the pressure and Mikell for the return, but on the highlight reel of how Smith is one of the biggest first pick busts in NFL history, that will take a lead position. Eagles 24, Niners 10, and while there is still a ton of time in this one, it's hard to see how the Niners recover from that. Fourth Niner turnover. Wow, wow, wow.

> Ginn does what he can on the return, which starts the Niners at their own 40. Niner Fan is in full throated hate for their QB as he comes back on the field. From the gun, Smith is hit as he throws and it's a short duck. Big time booing now, with scattered chants for David Carr. On second, Smith double pumps and telegraphs the screen, then hits the man hard in the helmet. I think we're seeing some of the last plays of Smith's career as a starter here. On third, with the clock going down, Smith is nailed by Tapp for an incomplete, and that's a three and out with clearly audible Carr chants. I think we can safely stick a fork in the Niners' year here, and if this was the other way, you'd be hearing about how tough and negative Philly Fan is...

> As Carr warms up -- be careful what you wish for, Niner Fan! -- DJ comes back and McCoy gets three up the middle. He gets another two to the left as he closes in on 100 yards rushing, and the clock is running nicely now. Third and five from power sees Kolb's pass knocked down, and that's a weak three and out from an offense that could have put this one away. Rocca's punt is a good one, and while Ginn calls for a fair catch, he's hit by the gunner, blocked into the returner. The Niners start from their own 31.

> Smith back in as Niner Fan hates life. He avoids pressure forever and completes it to Gore, but this should come back and does, as the RB went out of bounds before catching it. Safe checkdown to Gore for five as NBC shows Singletary yelling at his QB. Smith to Ziegler on a slant for the first. Ten minutes left. From their 43, Smith hits Davis in stride for the big play against Bradley, and that's a 36-yard gain. This game's not over yet...

> From the gun against a blitz, Smith to Ginn for nine yards on a curl. Gore gets the first as we're down to eight minutes left; the Niners are showing alacrity. Smith to Davis for the perfect slant and TD as the TE wins the wrestle match for the score, and you have to be impressed by that drive if you are a Niner Fan. Either that, or disgusted that it means that you are likely to see more of Smith. Eagles 24, Niners 17, and I'm really not liking the third quarter squandered opportunities right about now. There's no way that you should be up 4-1 in turnovers with a defensive score on the road, with more total yards and time of possession, and have it still be a ball game halfway through the fourth.

> KR Jorrick Calvin with a nice return to the Eagles 36. Kolb from the gun and alone, and hits Maclin over the middle for 22 yards; nice play on both ends, but especially from the WR. Kolb pumps and hits McCoy on a screen; the RB gets seven and leveled with a fumble, but Herremans gets to it first to save a disaster. The combo even moves the chains; first down at the Niner 32. Six minutes left. McCoy dancing too much, gets nothing, but the clock runs. Maclin on a screen gets five. Five minutes left, third and five from the Niner 27. Huge play here. Kolb from the gun hits Celek in the hands inside the five, but LB Takeo Spikes is there, and that's yet another play that the TE doesn't make that they just had to have. Akers for 45 slides in, and phew. Eagles 27, Niners 17, with 4:35 left.

> Up to the defense now to put this away and seal Smith's fate. Akers with a good kick, but the coverage is mindnumbingly bad -- seriously, they were just running with Ginn, rather than trying to get him down -- and that's a 61-yard return and an immense play. Good grief. Last thing you needed there, and the defense is rattled enough to call time before the Niners can run a play. Yeesh.

> From the Eagles 36, Smith hits Crabtree for a couple and the clock runs; useful. Four minutes and counting as the Niners huddle; also useful. From the gun, Crabtree flinches for five. Smith avoids backside pressure from Parker to scramble for 11. No huddle, finally. Smith to Crabtree gets the first on a hook, but everything's in bounds. Great play by Smith off pressure and his back foot to Crabtree, and that goes for 16 yards and a first. First and goal from the nine.

> Smith to Morgan, and he's downed at the one for more time off the clock, but the defense is reeling now. Second and goal from the one sees Smith throw it out of the end zone; why they don't run it there, I'll never know. 2:07 left, third and one. They finally get it to Gore on a swing pass, and he takes it in easily as NBC calls pick. Nedney hits the extra point, and with 2:02 left and three timeouts, the Niners have a lot of options. If this defense has to get a stop for the Eagles to win the game, I don't think it's going to happen.

> Nedney kicks away, and Hobbs takes it to the 21 and sits. 1:56 left, with Green needing a first down, and maybe two, to win the game. McCoy goes left and backwards and predicted for a three yard loss and the first Niner timeout with 1:52 left. Kolb to McCoy, and the RB loses Clements but doesn't go hard enough for the sticks. Third and two with 1:41 left and the second Niner timeout. Unreal play call as Kolb throws an incomplete slant to Celek, and we have an all new You Crap moment for Green. The Niners still have a timeout. Just awful all over. Rocca punts it a mile, and Ginn brings it back to the 32.

> Smith from the gun on first, and Morgan makes a hideous catch and mistake, losing four and staying in bounds. Deep ball to Davis to the 45, and that's wildly predictable; Bradley is helpless against the TE. The Niners have the ball at the Eagles 45 as Mikell is hurt. At this point, I'm just hoping for overtime. S Kurt Coleman in for Mikell, and 46 seconds left. Niners don't even have to spike it.

> Smith tries a screen to Gore, but the pressure from Parker tips the ball, which is good, seeing how there was no one near Gore. Yikes. Smith misses Gore on an improvised fly route against late pressure, and it's third and 10 with 36 seconds left. From the gun on third, Smith is hammered, throws up a duck, and picked... and both flags are against the Niners. That'll do it. Credit to DE Trevor Laws for the pressure, and rookie Trevor Lindley for the fair catch pick, and that does it. Phew. Eagles 27, Niners 24, and if you are reminded of the Lions game were the team didn't put away a bad team but survived at the end, you aren't alone.

Next week is the Falcons at home, with a probable return from Vick, and another chance to finally win a game at home. I have no idea what happens, because this is just a maddeningly young, erratic and talented team. And if Avant squeezes the ball in the end zone last week, the division leader. That's this year's NFL for you...