NEW ORLEANS — This is the live blog for the pregame of the 49ers Week 12 game against the Saints in the Superdome. I’ll update this frequently with information and analysis from the press box.
11:01 I walked from my hotel to the Superdome. It took my dad and me about a half an hour. It seemed like the entire city was out tailgating. It was very festive and a lot of fun.
11:16 There are reports that Alex Smith has passed his final concussion test. If that is true, he will likely back up Colin Kaepernick today.
11:32 Kaepernick and Smith are both warming up on the field. Kaepernick is stretching his quads and Smith is running backward.
11:34 The Bears are slaughtering the Vikings 25-3 at halftime. I expected the Bears to struggle blocking Jared Allen. He has a sack and a QB hit, but he’s not affecting the outcome of the game.
11:36 The Raiders are losing 24-0 at halftime. Dennis Allen has made the Raiders worse somehow. I wouldn’t be surprised if he got fired after this season.
11:51 Kaepernick is throwing warmup passes to Ricardo Lockette. Smith is throwing to A.J. Jenkins, and Tolzien is throwing to Garrett Celek.
11:57 Brandon Jacobs is active. So is Alex Smith.
11:59 The 49ers inactives are Scott Tolzien, A.J. Jenkins, LaMichael James, Trenton Robinson, Will Tukuafu, Joe Looney and Ian Williams.
12:08 The 49ers announced “no lineup changes.” That’s ambiguous, because Alex Smith is listed as the starting QB on the depth chart, but the P.R. staff just said “Kaepernick is expected to start.”
12:12 The Saints inactive players are CB Corey White, CB Elbert Mack, LB Scott Shanle, T Zach Strief, T Charles Brown, DT Tyrunn Walker and DE Junior Galette.
12:24 Kaepernick and Smith are throwing warmup passes side by side. Jim Harbaugh is catching for Smith.
12:25 Smith just stopped throwing. He’s talking to Harbaugh. Smith seems to have a lot to say. Harbaugh walked away to talk to Vic Fangio.
12:26 Now Kaepernick and Smith are taking turns throwing passes to Harbaugh.
12:37 It is freezing in the Superdome. Mindi Bach is passing out Ricolas in the press box in anticipation of the cold that will hit all of us soon enough.
12:41 Kaepernick and Smith are taking turns throwing deep outs. It seems like Kaepernick’s passes get to the receiver twice as fast as Smith’s. Harbaugh is handing off to the running backs.
12:43 Smith just under threw Manningham by five yards on a deep post. Kaepernick over threw the pass immediately after.
12:46 Kaepernick is warming up with the first team offense against the first team defense. Smith is watching.
12:47 Now Smith is on the field warming up with the second team offense against the second team defense.
1:18 The Saints starting right tackle, Zach Strief, will not play. That means Ahmad Brooks should have a big game going against the Saints backup.
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In new Orleans for vacation going to saints vs 49ers. go 49ers everyday all day!!!
Have fun!
Thanks Montana man!
Enjoy Hov!
Cheer like a banshee!
This game makes me more nervous than any other game this season. Drew Brees in the dome is just scary. Add the revenge factor from their humiliating defeat at Candlestick. The defense was having fun on Bourbon Street last night – I hope they don’t come out flat like the Vikings and Rams games.
Amen, Clem.
@ Hov
We expect to hear you, Bro!
Wat up Niner Nation
Orale!
Were gonna lose today. :-(
Reasons
1 grant picked a 49er blowout
2 we are inconsistent this season
3 its fricking N.O and we have never faired well there.
4 the done factor
5 the saints are playing Super Bowl caliber football right now
6 revenge
7 because I picked this loss earlier in the year.
Can’t win them all folks. I hope I am wrong and grant is right “for once” hey even J23 was right once. Lol but I hope if we lose its not an embarrassment.
*dome*
Md we lose today and so many things start to go sideways. The QB position, the belief in JH decisions, and playoff implications.
This one is huge, we need it badly!
Prime – Good post.
We need to stay in hunt for #1 playoff seed. A loss today jeopardizes #2 seed.
Did you hear that?….Just popped first beer! Lagunitas IPA’s all day baby (Red Bulls at halftime)! Get amped up!! Go Niners!!
A salute Crabs! Should be a good game. Enjoy!
Salute
Guys and lady… If it wasn’t NO I wouldn’t be trippin.
Md,
What’s wrong with you man?? We are NOT losing this game dude. You are killing me. We hot this. Now get something to eat and drink. Get your popcorn ready and enjoy the show bro. Saints are weak. That defense will give up a 1000 points today bro.
No outcome of today’s game will surprise me 23. It could either be a shootout or one could blow out the other.This is a big game that the Niners need.
C’mon MD!
Shake off the bad vibes bro.
Reasons why we win today:
1. Offensive line is playing ‘beastly’
2. CK7 brings a great vibe to the whole team
3. CK will spread the ball around
4. CK will run just enough to keep the Saints off-balance
5. The defense played a mediocre game in the playoffs against the Saints last year and will show up big time.
6. Aldon Smith/Justin Smith will wreak havoc on D.Brees
7. Our defense will snuff out their running game
8. Special Teams is due for a big game and this is a fast turf.
9. We have a coach
10. Saints don’t (lol)
Sorry MD, but I have to disagree with you. The Niners will win today for this reason: My parents traveled all the way to NO to watch this game. They’re in the stands sportin’ the red and gold.
They bought their first set of season tickets last year so logic tells me they’ve brought the team much luck when they’re at the games :-)
P.S. – Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!
Hey stranger! Good to hear your parents are bringing good juju to the Niners. I guess you inherited your good football preference (as opposed to your hubby).
Hey 49erGirl, long time no hear.
Hope your folks have a great time. And their being at the game sounds like a good reason to me for the win today (lol).
The Jimi Hendrix curse is 2 for 2 (Ari and Chi games).
I command you Jimi, put the wicked curse on the Saints……NOW!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4QghNBwyt8
Well, the night I was born . . .
Lord, I swear the mooned turned a 49er red . . .
The night I was born . . .
I swear the mooned turned a 49er red . . .
Spaceborn – Atta boy! You rock! Go Niners!
…….Get some Aldon!!!!
Yeah, got the strat tuned and ready . . . the crew will be here any minute and the party will start. Actually have a drummer and bassist coming, too. The Spaceborn half-time show is going to rock the neighborhood – not counting the kickoffs which I hope are many!
LOL, just noticed I wrote “mooned” instead of moon, not only once but twice – and I haven’t even had a beer yet!
Pace yourself Space. :-) Sounds like that’s the place to be! Enjoy
Totally disagree that this game is doom and gloom, our STARTING QB is a rising star, he will get better with time, while AS had a 8 foor ceiling, CK has the sky, JH wants a dynamic offense, not a safe one. You need to take risks as a head coach and I trust our Coach of the year.
As with most 49er games under Harbaugh, the QB is irrelevant. Will the defense show up? Will Roman remember to pound the rock?
Why isn’t the game on yet? Argh.
CK will throw for over 300 yards today, we are not playing the Bears and go conservative in the second 1/2.
Our QB was irrelevant because we had to play around him, he is the weakest link in the chain.
A QB irrelevant? Go Tebow!
Agree with ya Neal…
If we lose this game, we have a full blown qb controvery, the possibility of a divided lockerroom. This is huge. HUGE!
Huge! A lot riding on this decision by JH!
The 49ers Super Bowl drive started on Monday night. This is the dress rehearsal for their next visit on the first Sunday in February!
Not to mention this blog will be crazy!!!! Crazier!!!
No QB controversy, JH drafted CK to replace AS, you don’t waste a high second round to sit on the bench, it just came sooner than later, What if CK plays lights out, but our defense and special teams sucked, this game is not totally on CK. It is laying seeds for the future, we have already seen enough weeds.
No excuses, Super Bowl or bust!
“JH drafted CK to replace AS”
You actually heard JH say that or is that just speculation. Maybe he just drafted him for insurance. I have yet to hear JH say that.
I should clarify. If we lose this game because of poor qb play, we have a full blown qb controversy. at least in the eyes of the media!
Yes I actually did hear that, both Jed York and TB said they need to draft a QB because of inconsistent play with AS, ok not directly from JH but Harbaugh had said he loves this kid that he picked and that was confirmed from MM of comcast, you want to hide in a bubble be my guest gobble gobble
We don’t need a wicked curse on anybody what we need is for NINERS D to come out and do what they did last week as far is the O I like to see FG run,run and run to stablish the pass atack ….
Willie – You got a problem with Jimi? :-)…..Go Niners.
Josh Freeman just Alex’d two wide open receivers in a row. If the Falcons pull out a win it’s all on Freeman.
Tukuafu is sitting for Jacobs. Intriguing.
http://instagram.com/p/Sdk9MEieiy/
I’ve seen way too many of that sort of picture during the past 24 hours. The team seems a lot more focused on having fun in NO than dealing with an angry Saints team.
Hammer mentioned getting a rush on Bree’s. I agree, but it’s not about sacks as much about hurries. Bree’s gets rid of the ball fast, so hard to sack. We need push up the middle and DL swatting some balls. Gots to stop the run 1st. I’m worried Fangio will be Tempted to drop 8 sometimes; I hate that.
Even if you sack Brees his birthmark will toss a TD.
Apparently one shouldn’t mix sweet potatoes and eggs as it seems to cause a strange reaction. LOL. Any mushrooms in the jus? ; >)
+1
Brandon Jocobs is active.
Dang! You beat me too it.
Now here’s a time I’m enjoying your indelicate style! Ha!
Uh-oh. Somebody must’ve been naughty. The replies are all kittywumpus again!
Jacobs sighting! Means we be running baby! Once those safeties start cheating up, let Kaep throw off of play action!
Enjoy the game guys. Unfortunately work calls for me. My boss didn’t buy that every day the Niners play a game is a national holiday. :-)
MidWest – Is your boss a Raida fan? Bummer man. :-(
Grief is nature’s most powerful aphrodisiac.
Amazing!!! We can’t start down THAT road!
Good man, Coffee, good man!
I’m so jacked up I can barely contain myself right now!
I was hoping to see a LeMichael James sighting as well. Not enough room on this roster!
With Tuk inactive, do we see Dobbs at TE in heavy formations? Or Jacobs there with some sneaky options?
Sorry, Grant! Must keep profanity (even that aimed at Saints) to an acceptable level … :(
Ah the double edged sword of fantasy football. I need Bree’s to have a good game in order to win in one of my preferred leagues. I need us to win a shoot out!
Who is second string today? Is Tolzien active?
Smith. Tolzien is inactive.
Damn Falcons took lead, 24-23 now. Go Bucs!
I know it’s not Christmas yet, but I’m going to get really depressed and drunk if we lose this . I’ll sober up when we make the plaoyffs….only to get drunk again after we win the Superbowl
lol Me too!
Seattle and Miami turning into a real good one. Go Dolphins!
The Superdome hasn’t played a single No Limit or Cash Money record yet. All they’re playing is top-40 rap tunes. It’s disappointing.
Consider the source son.
Grant-
You do remember the Crescent City’s demographics, don’t you?
I was hoping to hear some New Orleans rap, like Mystikal or Juvenile, not generic radio hits. Oh well.
Totally legit expectation, I see your point now.
Crap…I hate kickers…way to go Tampa
Will Jacobs see the field today? I think the 49ers would be wise to use this guy.
Rookie wide receivers making a difference this week: Sanu, Wright, Blackmon, Broyles, Hilton.
Rookie wide receivers on the inactive list: What was the name of that guy the 49ers drafted?
yawn
Atlanta got lucky again!
Dolphins win!
Yes! Seahawks lost!
Dont know why everyone pumps up the Seacocks..Not a good team..They can only win @ home..And its not cause of their fans its the stadium design..Seattle was actually voted the fourth worst sports town in America….Haha…joke of a franchise.Lets get a win.
Lets go get it! We Dat!
We Dat indeed!
Enjoy the game everyone. Go NINERS!!!!!