This is the opening for my Tuesday article on the five key moments of the 49ers’ season. The article will run in the Press Democrat newspaper, and I’m also posting it here.
David Akers raised his arms triumphantly at midfield and then doubled over, bowing his head to the ground.
Anthony Dixon picked him up and hoisted him into the air. Behold, David Akers! The 49ers dashed from the sideline to midfield to get to him. Jim Harbaugh got to him first, jumped over Dixon and slapped Akers on the helmet.
Akers was the hero. Akers had done it.
He had made a 63-yard field goal, tied for the longest in the history of the NFL. Akers had given the 49ers a nine-point lead over the Packers in Green Bay. And then the first half of the first game of the season ended.
This was the first defining moment of the 49ers’ season — there are five in all. At the time, it seemed to symbolize three simple things:
To read the full article, click here.
49ers RSS feed
Loading ...
Well done, Iggy-san
Incredible read Grant! Thank you!
I think our 26-3 loss at home to Giants was a top 10 defining moment. It
was a wake up call to York, Baalke and Harbaugh that something must change.
6. Cundiff will miss one field goal out of 4 and 49ers lose, after Kaepernick caused two unwanted timeouts, completed 52% of his passes, went 3 and out a lot and fumbled the ball for a costly Packers score. Some people will still not blame him for it and blame Cundiff. 49ers miss NFC Championship.
Josh,
I think you’re right. Very good post. Clown!
That’s BS…… You can tell by the broken english….
What type of fan..wants his team to struggle and fail? Makes no sense
The type of fan Jordo was last season. Remember – 49ers a “QB away from the playoffs”. Then, 49ers a “QB away from the Superbowl”. His attempts to place serious money on a 49ers loss. That’s what type of fan wants his team to struggle and fail, ask him.
Bay,
BS was football dumb, 49er dumb. However BS wasnt illeterate. Josh is an 18 year old dropout Seahawk loser.
7. Josh will leave town and follow Alex wherever he goes. ;)
Good work, Grant. My only question is about the Smith concussion. It has been widely documented that the hit that took Smith out was on a qb sneak after the Dunbar hit, yet that is the photo that gets shown and the hit that gets talked about. Is this because of the nice photo and great instant replay television showing a big hit instead of Smith just pushing into a pile and coming out concussed or is it nobody believes Smith, Harbaugh and the team reports as to when it occured?
http://49ers.pressdemocrat.com/2012/11/inside-the-49ers/full-harbaugh-transcript-from-monday-presser/
“he said that he had the blurred vision after he got up from the quarterback sneak, which was maybe two possessions after the hit that you’re referring to”. A quote from Harbaugh as to when Smith said he sustained the concussion.
@ Grant:
That was a good read. It is my hope and expectation, however, that the true defining moments of the 49ers’ season happen in the next three games.
Crabtree has had a great season, but to call him one of the best wide receivers in the NFL? That might be a stretch, Grant. I think he’s definitely in the 2nd class of elite WRs, and he has a chance to become one of the more dominant. But at this stage he is no Calvin Williams or Andre Johnson.
You’re right. I’d say Crabtree is top-10.
I agree Crabs might not be “one of the best” receivers in the league but you can’t compare him to AJ or CJ because they don’t play the same position. They might all be receivers but the Johnson’s and similar(Owens, Moss) are true X receivers while Crabtree is a slot. They are not asked to do the same thing and their roles on the field are completely different.
It’s not an apples to apples comparison, try comparing Crabtree to Amendola or Welker and you’ll at least be on the same page.
A perfect comparison for Crabtree would be Marques Colston.
Crabs is the best WR the Niners have had since TO but he’s not in TO’s class yet. TO was an explosive dominant WR who could take over a game when he was in the zone. Crabs has improved greatly, but he doesn’t have the speed to be as explosive as TO was. Pretty darn good though and easily the Niners best weapon in the passing game right now.
Good article Grant.
Who’s Calvin Williams?
Grant congrats on getting your article published. I was wondering every other writer who has written the 49er blog was also the PD’s 49er beat writer. When is the paper going to break down and make you the beat writer for the 49ers? Its a promotion that is long over due.
Grant unless Justin Smith can play QB better then Alex or Colin or receiver better then Crabtree it’s fairly silly to call him the best player on the team. He’s arguably the best player on the defense although I’d take that Pepsi challenge against Willis any day. It’s still a team sport and like Aldon suffering with the loss of Justin so to would Justin’s production drop if he didn’t have the linebackers that are playing behind him.
I’ll start to consider Crabtree elite if he can follow up this season with a similar one next year, otherwise it was just a one hit wonder season and Crabtree will be nothing but the ‘competent’ receiver he’s shown to be so far.
I said linebackers behind him but the truth is that it’s probably our secondary that makes Justin Smith look as good as he does at times. If they couldn’t cover receivers like they do then the QB’s would be getting the ball out before JS would have a chance to make a play. Smith was solid in Cincinnati but wasn’t considered elite until he had the supporting group that he has around him now.
To extend your fifth defining moment. Kaep and Crab both wearing the same hats at the end of the Cardinals game. Back slapping, clowning around, laughing. That’s the core of a new team that has moved on from a dour Alex Smith team.
Dour?
looking for lamichael to have a big day saturday.. returning kicks & in limited touches.. we need to get the ball in the hands of our game changers. SMASH THE CHEESE HEADS!
Gotta run outside on them. I’d like to see Boobie Dixon and La Michael get chances to run wide on the Cheeze heads.
Run up the gut with Gore over and over isn’t going to cut it….
Right on about the Crustacean Sensation Mr. Crabtree.
6. The offensive firepower of Hunter and Williams lost in a single play.
7. Outside Linebacker Haralson and draftees Cam Johnson and Darius Fleming injured in preseason… setting the tone for the late season defensive fall off.
8. The Vikings beating Green Bay, giving the 49ers a MUCH needed bye.
I agree with your #7 Brodie
Smith was concussed on a QB sneak. It was 31-3 when NE started scoring. generally an amateurish article.
Typical Cohn quality stuff.
Alex Smith said Dunbar’s hit had the biggest effect.
Justin Smith got injured when the game was 24-3.