Blame Harbaugh

SAN FRANCISCO — Jim Harbaugh made the key error of the Niners 27-24 loss to the Cowboys.

With 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter, David Akers hit a 55-yard field goal to give the Niners a 10 point lead, but Dallas’ Keith Brooking got called for a 15-yard leverage penalty on the play.

Harbaugh had a decision to make: Take the points, or take the penalty, which would have given his offense a first down at the Dallas 22 yard line.

He took the points, and that was the wrong decision.

He explained his thought process after the game: “The thinking behind it at the time was to have the two score advantage at that point. Felt that we would be able to get off the field and that would lead to a victory.”

He felt a ten point lead against the Cowboys with 11 minutes left in the 4th quarter was a big enough lead to win, and he was wrong. Call it a learning experience for the novice head coach.

If he had taken the penalty, he still could have called conservative plays, as he seems to want to do when this team has a lead. He could have called three Gore runs up the middle, taken two minutes off the clock and still kicked the field goal. Or he could gone for the touchdown by letting Alex Smith actually pass.

That’s the dominant impression I got from the press box. I’m on my way home to look at the film. I’ll be back at you later with my grades.

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