The season is at the halfway point, but it’s virtually over in the NFC West. And that’s why Jim Harbaugh is the leading candidate for NFL Coach of the Year.
He has the San Francisco 49ers in first place with a 6-1 record and a four-game lead over second-place Seattle. If Harbaugh’s team can maintain its physical, dominating approach, the franchise may actually gain a playoff berth and a first-round bye.
The last time the 49ers had a first-round bye was 1997 when they lost the NFC championship game to the Green Bay Packers. The last time the Niners were in the playoffs was the 2002 season when they beat the Giants in a 39-38 wild-card classic. It’s been pretty much downhill ever since.
There are other quality Coach of the Year candidates, like Buffalo’s Chan Gailey and Cincinnati’s Marvin Lewis, but Harbaugh stands out from the simple fact that the 49ers were 1-6 at this point last season and drowning under Mike Singletary’s leadership.
Still, it hasn’t been pretty in San Francisco. The 49ers beat the Seahawks on Ted Ginn, Jr. kick returns and their only was loss was to the Cowboys, when Tony Romo rallied the troops with a cracked rib. In fact, a team with a worse record like the Saints may be better than the 49ers, and we all know that the Eagles can’t wait for a chance at redemption against this bunch.
But Harbaugh’s overall approach — built on a power running game — has been a winning one. It’s created toughness on both sides of the ball while allowing quarterback Alex Smith to gain confidence and learn how to win.
In fact, last year’s team total offensive yards were a tad better than this season’s current total, besides one noticeable exception. Harbaugh’s team has been averaging 137.5 rushing yards a game — and this is after the 49ers failed to reach 100 yards in each of their first three games.
And while setting a physical approach with his offensive line, the counterpart is a stout defensive front. In one of those most unusual stats, the 49ers are the first team since the 1920 Buffalo All-Americans (9-1-1) to score a rushing touchdown in all of its first seven games while also not allowing an opponent to score a rushing touchdown. That's 1920, as in the league’s first season!
Ahmad Brooks' helmet-less sack of Browns quarterback Colt McCoy on the locker room bulletin board after last week’s win. Brooks ended up with a bloody lip, which brought a smile to Harbaugh.
The coach is always preaching about doing extra work. Harbaugh’s latest motivational model or gimmick is that of a little man, Fredrick P. Soft, who sits on your shoulder and tells you it’s OK to sit on the couch, drink lemonade and watch sports instead of putting in extra work hours. Apparently the little man wears a cap and a hat according to Harbaugh.
“When things are going well, you want to be extra hard on yourself,” safety Donte Whitner said. “That’s one thing that Coach Harbaugh gets across. He always tells us he wants things to suck more than they possibly can. That’s what he’s talking about. If you’re hard on yourself, if you get up an hour earlier than what you normally do . . . you’re making it suck a little more for yourself, but in the process you’re getting a little bit better and helping the team.”
Harbaugh can be an odd, but competitive coach. And even though he is winning, he definitely doesn’t like the attention. He hasn’t given any national interviews and his other big news was when he shoved Lions head coach Jim Schwartz in the back during the handshake from hell after beating the Detroit Lions in Week 6. Harbaugh didn’t like being questioned about that incident once it was over, either.
He wishes that he and his team would fly under the radar. And we all know that will be impossible to do as long as the 49ers keep on winning.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: When the Bucs upset the Saints a couple weeks ago, Tampa QB Josh Freeman was perfect in the pocket. Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams dialed up all kinds of blitz packages, but none generated any turnovers. In fact, Freeman burned the blitz twice for touchdowns and he wasn’t sacked, either. It was only Freeman’s second career 300-yard game. Running back Earnest Graham also ran wild against the Saints, but now the Bucs get LeGarrette Blount back and figure to attack New Orleans with him.
Saints QB Drew Brees loves to operate out of a three-WR set with TE Jimmy Graham in the slot. Brees, who has thrown a touchdown pass in 35 consecutive games, loves throwing to Graham and RB Darren Sproles, who have 49 and 51 receptions, respectively, this season. Only New England Patriots WR Wes Welker has more. Without injured RB Mark Ingram, the Saints need to run Pierre Thomas and Sproles more. The good news is that RT Zach Strief returns.
In the teams' first meeting in Week 6, the Bucs dominated on both sides of the line, and the Saints are worried about Bucs rookie pass rusher Adrian Clayborn. Brees had a bad game (29 of 45 for 383 yards and 1 TD, but 3 INT), much like his performance against the Rams last week. Against Tampa, Brees also missed a wide open Robert Meachem while trying to force a throw to Graham. The Saints had four turnovers in that loss.
CZAR’S SCOOP: Freeman sprained his right throwing thumb in the Oct. 23 loss to the Chicago Bears in London. Freeman was added to the NFL injury report after Saints coach Sean Payton telephoned the league, asking what’s up after seeing Freeman taped up while watching the NFL Network. Morris is adamant that Freeman's injury is not an issue — he’s practiced the past two weeks without any problems. “Ask the Saints, I guess they reported it, you can ask those guys,” Morris said. “He came in and practiced during the bye week, and didn’t miss anything this week.”
Payton won’t be on the sidelines today, but hopes to be down on the field pretty soon. He injured his left knee and leg in the loss to the Bucs and missed the entire second half.
If Brees throws a TD pass today, he’ll tie Brett Favre for No. 2 on the NFL's all-time list with 36 consecutive games. Johnny Unitas is No. 1 with 47 consecutive games.
Both quarterbacks Brees and Freeman have thrown 10 interceptions this season. Brees was sacked six times in last Sunday’s 31-21 loss to the Rams and has been dropped 19 times this season. The six sacks by the Rams were the most allowed in Payton’s 88-game regular-season tenure with the club.
Bucs safety Tanard Jackson, who just returned to the team after a year-long suspension, swears he will remain on the straight and narrow, and the Bucs extended his contract.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Seattle figures to start QB Tarvaris Jackson, but then he should have started last week, too. There is no doubt that Jackson gives the Seahawks their best chance at winning and they need to use the no-huddle alignment and some quick slants to WRs Sidney Rice, Doug Baldwin and Ben Obomanu. Dallas OLB DeMarcus Ware already has 12 sacks this season and Seahawks rookie OT James Carpenter must contain Ware's lethal first step. Ware had 11 tackles and four sacks of Eagles QB Michael Vick last Sunday. It should help Seahawks RB Marshawn Lynch that Cowboys LB Keith Brooking will be subbing for injured ILB Sean Lee (wrist). Dallas CB Orlando Scandrick also starts for injured Mike Jenkins.
The Cowboys’ problems have mostly been an unwillingness to target receivers Miles Austin and Dez Bryant more often. Austin, who had three touchdowns in the Cowboys' Week 2 win over the 49ers, has only five catches for 43 yards in the last two games combined. Tony Romo has been glued to TE Jason Witten and been unwilling to take many downfield chances ever since the QB's two pick-sixes in the brutal Week 4 loss to the Detroit Lions. This could be a close game if the Cowboys are unwilling to open up the offense and simply try to play dink-and-dunk and run rookie RB DeMarco Murray. The Seahawks have an aggressive front seven, but their offense has been a major disappointment all season long.
CZAR’S SCOOP: Terry Bradshaw’s daughter, Rachel, a Nashville songwriter and Atlantic recording artist, will sing the national anthem today.
Dallas punter Mat McBriar will again attempt to kick despite nerve damage in his left plant foot.
A victory would give the Cowboys a 3-0 mark against the NFC West this season and an 11-9 mark at Cowboys Stadium, which has not been much of a home-field advantage since opening three years ago.
You can bet that the Seahawks will be looking for a quarterback in the offseason after failing to draft one this year. This game marks Dallas coach Jason Garrett’s 16th regular-season game. He has an 8-7 record.
Romo continues to wear a Kevlar vest to protect his cracked rib, but he’s feeling and breathing better each week.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This could be a low-scoring game because the 49ers, who are 3-0 in the Eastern time zone this season, plan to keep running the football and limit Alex Smith’s downfield opportunities despite improved play from WR Michael Crabtree and the overall quality of TE Vernon Davis. San Francisco has averaged 188.5 rushing yards in its last four games and the 49ers are the only team with a rushing TD in every game this season while the defense still hasn’t allowed a rushing TD. The key is whether Jim Haslett’s Washington defense can stuff RBs Frank Gore and Kendall Hunter, thus hoping to force Smith into a passing game.
Redskins QB John Beck is now 0-6 in his career as a starter and he’s playing behind a shaky offensive line and minus his best running back (Tim Hightower, out for season). The Redskins claimed Dallas RB Tashard Choice (hamstring), but he’s not healthy enough to play. Washington allowed 10 sacks last week against Buffaloand have been averaging only 11 points in its three consecutive losses. There has been no time for Beck to go deep to WR Anthony Armstrong.
CZAR’S SCOOP: With all the talk of the 49ers possibly clinching the NFC West by Thanksgiving, coach Jim Harbaugh said his timeline is December. “We’ll get to December and see how many wins we have, see how many we need as it relates to the season,” Harbaugh said. The 49ers' toughest remaining games figure to be the Giants at home on Nov. 13, the Harbaugh Bowl against the Ravens and Jim’s brother, John, on Thanksgiving and then the Steelers at Candlestick on Dec. 19.
San Francisco NT Ricky Jean Francois, who played for LSU, stirred controversy in the Bay area when he said that Stanford QB Andrew Luck’s stock would drop if he played in the SEC. Jean Francois helped LSU win a national title in 2007. “If he ever plays Alabama, LSU, that draft stock is going to fall,” Jean Francois said. “That will be one game they don’t show the scouts.”
49ers DE Ray McDonald stayed in Santa Clara rather than fly home to Florida during the bye week because he hates to fly.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Falcons will be minus LT Sam Baker (back), but they are getting rookie WR Julio Jones back and he figures to be eased back into the offense after missing two games. Jones, who had 25 catches in five games, can stretch the Colts’ porous defense and also is a better blocker than his replacement Harry Douglas. The Colts’ Dwight Freeney should be too much for OT Will Svitek, who starts for Baker, while Colts center Jeff Saturday could get muscled by Jonathan Babineaux. Falcons QB Matt Ryan has been beaten up this year, but the Colts are weak in the secondary and they have no one to stop TE Tony Gonzalez or WR Roddy White. The Falcons plan to run RB Michael Turner against the Colts’ undersized defensive front. Turner has rushed for more than 100 yards in consecutive wins and has three runs of 50 yards or more this season.
On the flip side, the Falcons are pretty stingy against the run, keeping each of their last four opponents' leading rushers to 50 yards or fewer. But we all know the winless Colts' only chance is for QB Curtis Painter to be able to connect deep with the team’s veteran receiving corps. Indy’s offensive line remains a patchwork group and No. 1 pick OT Anthony Costanzo will be a game-time decision while Mike Pollack and Ryan Diem continue to be hampered.
CZAR’S SCOOP: Peyton Manning still hopes to be able to practice in December, although he admitted this week that his neck fusion still hasn’t completely healed. “I still have some of the same issues I had before the fusion as far as the nerves and the regeneration,” Manning said. The four-time MVP said that his surgery gave him the most stability for the nerves to regenerate. But there remains a chance that once he’s healed that he could still be risking his neck and back by playing football.
This is why the Colts haven’t put him on injured reserve, because GM Chris Polian and owner Jimmy Irsay want to see what he can and can’t do before making a decision on whether to draft Stanford QB Andrew Luck if given the opportunity. Manning is signed for three more years, but what team would want to trade for a 36-year-old quarterback at $23 million next season, and one with a questionable health future? If he can play, it would probably be in Indianapolis for one more season even if the team does draft Luck.
It sound ridiculous to write that the Colts would actually consider releasing Manning. Peyton said he should know more the first of December. “That will be three months from the surgery,” he said. “I just can’t give a prediction of where I’m going to be.”
After the offensive line allowed 13 sacks in its first three games, Falcons coach Mike Smith said the staff was considering shaking up the starters. But one of the fixes was limiting Ryan’s five- and seven-step drops while also rolling him out more often.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: This is the first meeting between these two teams since the Giants upset the unbeaten Patriots in the Super Bowl at the end of the 2007 season. New York comes in without injured RB Ahmad Bradshaw and WR Hakeem Nicks, which means that RB Brandon Jacobs must step up. Giants QB Eli Manning has been super all season, with the exception of the loss to Seattle when he committed three turnovers. He faces the NFL’s worst pass defense, one that has struggled to put pressure on opposing quarterbacks and one that is weak at safety with James Ihedigbo and Sergio Brown. If given time, Manning should have time to find WRs Mario Manningham or Victor Cruz on deep posts and sideline routes.
On defense, the Giants figure to have DBs Antrel Rolle and Corey Webster rotating on Pats WR Wes Welker, but they better be mindful that Patriots QB Tom Brady has thrown 27 touchdown passes to his tight ends since 2010. Brady struggled against the Steelers’ press coverage last Sunday and New England doesn’t have much of a running game. There is no doubt that Brady doesn’t have much confidence in WR Chad Ochocinco. The Giants' pass rush (NFL-high 26 sacks) could prove to be too much for Brady, just like it was in Arizona when an 18-0 season ended with a 17-14 loss.
CZAR’S SCOOP: Both head coaches were ultra kind to each other this week and there’s no questioning the fact that Belichick has fond memories of his 13 seasons with the Giants as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator. He tells FOX’s Jimmy Johnson as much during a Sunday pregame show interview. Since Coughlin’s team upset the unbeaten Patriots at the end of the 2007 season, Belichick has failed to win another playoff game. In fact, his last championship season was 2004.
It is interesting to note that Manning of late has been playing like the quarterback who played such mistake-free football during that four-game playoff run in 2007. Manning has thrown for 2,127 yards, 13 touchdowns and only five interceptions, and has a 102.1 rating — more than 20 points above his career rating of 80.2 coming into the season. He has been interception-free in four of seven games, with a three-interception performance in a home loss to the Seahawks the only questionable game of the season. The Giants had five turnovers that day, but are plus-7 in their other six games.
The Giants were forced to put special teams player Justin Tyron on IR this week with a broken arm. In fact, Tyron played more than two quarters with the injury and finished last week's Dolphins game with a key tackle of Reggie Bush on a fourth-quarter punt that pinned the Dolphins at their own 16 in the 20-17 win.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: The Chargers are six-point underdogs at home and it seems unlikely that their defense can slow down Aaron Rodgers and the unbeaten Packers. San Diego plans to run Mike Tolbert and hope that QB Philip Rivers can stay away from costly interceptions (NFL-high 13 turnovers) and maintain possession of the ball. Packers CB Charles Woodson figures to stick with San Diego TE Antonio Gates, who usually is double-covered. The Chargers probably won’t have WR Malcom Floyd or RB Ryan Mathews for this game. The Packers’ pass defense will get back Sam Shields and outside LB Frank Zombo.
Look for Rodgers, who has already thrown 20 TD passes this season, to attack either Chargers CB Antoine Cason or rookie Marcus Gilchrist and stay away from Quentin Jammer. San Diego has struggled to get pressure on opposing quarterbacks and if they are forced to blitz Rodgers, it could be a long day for the Chargers considering the depth of the Packers’ receiving corps and the rapid development of Green Bay TE Jermichael Finley.
CZAR’S SCOOP: Rodgers has six 300-yard passing games this season, only one short of Brett Favre’s single-season team record. Rodgers could set a league record today with an eighth straight game of having a passer rating of at least 110 — he is tied with Hall of Famer Steve Young, who had a seven-game streak in 1994 when Rodgers was a 10-year-old in Chico cheering for his beloved San Francisco 49ers.
It is no surprise that most San Diego fans and talk radio experts are screaming for the heads of coach Norv Turner and GM A.J. Smith for the Chargers’ 4-3 start. But just about everything that can go wrong has for the Chargers, starting with Monday night’s center snap to so many injuries that Jackson and Gates rarely practice, plus running back Ryan Mathews can’t stay on the field. Owner Dean Spanos understands the situation and barring a total collapse both men should be safe.
Rams coach Steve Spagnuolo, a disciple of late Jim Johnson, the former Eagles defensive coordinator who loved blitzing, has shown teams that you can survive — maybe not win — by not blitzing Aaron Rodgers. Ken Flajole, the Rams' defensive coordinator, said that Rodgers “has gotten better every year and beaten pressure with the quick throws, I think people are going to dial the pressure back on him a little bit and be more willing to play coverage. They are saying, 'Hey, listen. This guy recognizes pressure. He’s going to get the ball out fast and pressure’s not going to get home.' ” There is no doubt that Rodgers has the ability to beat single coverage deep.
WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Rams QB Sam Bradford says he wants to play today and it all depends on how well he moves on his left ankle, one that suffered a high ankle sprain, in pregame warm-ups. The coaching staff wants him to play if he can move and protect himself.
The Cardinals apparently will start QB John Skelton, who was 2-2 as a starter last season. Starter Kevin Kolb is hampered with a turf toe. The Cardinals have won eight of the last nine games in this series. The Rams don’t have a cornerback who can stick with Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, who has caught 12 TDs against St. Louis.
This game should feature a heavy dose of Arizona RB Beanie Wells vs. St. Louis RB Steven Jackson, who rushed for over 150 yards in the win over the Saints last Sunday. The Cardinals have struggled against the run lately. The stadium roof will be open today, something that rarely happened when Kurt Warner was the quarterback here.
CZAR’S SCOOP: Bradford actually took some shotgun snaps on Thursday and his left ankle is out of the protective boot, although he does have a brace protecting the ankle. He said he’s looking forward to playing with new WR Brandon Lloyd.
The Cardinals have a lot invested in Kolb, having sent cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a second-round pick in 2012 to the Eagles for him. Then they signed Kolb to a five-year, $63 million deal. They are just hoping that Kolb can improve his play this season, so he will be more effective next season.
No. 1 pick Patrick Peterson became the first Cardinal since Vai Sikahema in 1986 to return two punts for touchdowns in the same season. Sikahema and Ollie Matson hold the franchise career record with three. “That's my No. 1 love — punt returns,” said Peterson, who starred at LSU last season. “I told my guys at the beginning of the week, ‘All I ask for is give me five yards and meet me in the end zone.' ”
The Cardinals have won just three of their past 18 games. They had a seven-game losing streak last season, and they currently have a six-game streak.
NY Jets at Buffalo, 1 p.m. ET: Bills coach Chan Gailey has never beaten the Jets in what is an early AFC East showdown game. Buffalo is coming off a 10-sack game in last week’s shutout of the hapless Redskins. Jets QB Mark Sanchez better be careful because the Bills are plus-9 in the turnover department, led by safeties George Wilson and Jarius Byrd. This could be a high-scoring game if the Bills can protect QB Ryan Fitzpatrick from the Jets’ blitzes and also keep RB Fred Jackson in the flow. Rex Ryan’s team is winless on the road this season, plus the latest news is that Ryan plays a Boston lawyer who happens to be a Patriots fan in a new Adam Sandler movie.
Cleveland at Houston, 1 p.m. ET: The Texans catch the Browns once again without RB Peyton Hillis, whose hamstring problems reared up again on Friday. This should put Hillis into an even deeper funk with no new money in sight. It means that Cleveland’s running game will be in the hands of Chris Ogbonnaya and Thomas Clayton, who was signed Tuesday. Houston WR Andre Johnson (hamstring) will be a game-time decision, but it makes sense to rest him with a bye two weeks away. Wade Phillips has turned Houston’s defense around; it ranks third overall and fifth against the pass. The Texans’ running game of Arian Foster and Ben Tate (both have more than 500 yards rushing) could prove too much for Cleveland, which is allowing 127 rushing yards a game. Houston has never been 6-3.
Miami at Kansas City, 1 p.m. ET: The Chiefs have won four straight after looking like one of the NFL’s worst teams in the first two weekends of the season. They are 9-2 at Arrowhead since last season. The Dolphins are winless and now must deal with Chiefs rookie WR Jonathan Baldwin, who had a TD catch in his first home game and gives QB Matt Cassel another target besides Dwayne Bowe. The Chiefs are using a running bac-by-committee with Jackie Battle helping Thomas Jones and Dexter McCluster. The Dolphins are playing better, but they just can’t seem to finish games.
Denver at Oakland, 4:05 p.m. ET: Raiders QB Carson Palmer says he knows his new team’s playbook, plus he and some of the receivers worked out during the bye week, hoping to find a rhythm against the two-win Broncos. Palmer will have to survive without RB Darren McFadden, who has a foot injury. Michael Bush will start with Taiwan Jones in relief. The Broncos have their own headaches, trying to help QB Tim Tebow with more shotgun and spread formations, but their roster lacks depth and a lot of playmakers. Raider fans wanted Terrell Owens, but Hue Jackson opted for another Bengals’ castoff in WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
Cincinnati at Tennessee, 4:05 p.m. ET: The surprising Bengals are 3-1 on the road this season and seek their fifth straight win (last done in 1988) with rookie QB Andy Dalton. The Titans are still waiting for Chris Johnson (he needs 100 to reach 5,000 rushing yards) to get into gear and coach Mike Munchak has been so frustrated with his production that Javon Ringer will continue to get some carries. Titans QB Matt Hasselbeck has played remarkably well and has been injury-free this season, keeping No. 1 pick Jake Locker on the bench.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh, 8:20 p.m. ET: This is a huge showdown game as the Ravens look for their first sweep of the Steelers since 2006. Baltimore needs it in order to finally host a playoff game, something it hasn’t done since the 2003 season. Pittsburgh committed seven turnovers in the 35-7 loss on opening weekend in Baltimore, but Ben Roethlisberger has been on fire during four-game winning streak, throwing for 11 TDs while completing 67 percent of his attempts. Joe Flacco’s offense has been struggling, although he did throw for three TDs in the Week 1 win. Look for Terrell Suggs to take advantage of the right side of Pittsburgh’s O-line.
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