Congratulations to the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens on winning their conference championships.
A Harbaugh Super Bowl. I'm sure that will be talked about a bunch over the next two weeks.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez hasn't announced that he's retiring but it sounds like he's leaning that way. He's had an amazing career. It's incredible that he's behind only Jerry Rice in career receptions. He's one of the best, if not the best, tight ends to ever play the game. I remember a Saturday in Cal's Memorial Stadium in 1993 when I heard that an excellent high school tight end from southern California was coming to Berkeley. He would play football and basketball for Cal. Gonzalez excelled at both sports. I've been a fan of his since those Cal days. Amazing football player. It's been a real treat to watch him pay for nearly twenty years.
Atlanta watched a 20-point lead evaporate last week. They still won that game against the Seattle Seahawks. Yesterday the Falcons jumped out to a 17-point lead early. A 10-point lead at the half. The Falcons lost to the 49ers because the offense couldn't score in the 2nd half. Not because the defense gave up two touchdowns in each half.
Colin Kaepernick did an excellent job of not forcing things. He ran wild last week. He didn't force those runs this week. He dropped back and took what the defense gave him. He became a pocket pass. The kid's got skills.
49ers corner Chris Culliver's interception half way through the 3rd quarter changed the game. Atlanta was moving the ball and the offenses of both teams were scoring at will. The game was turning into a shootout. The defenses started making plays following Culliver's big play. It became a better game. Offense and scoring is always fun but I think games are better when there are nice plays on both sides of the ball. We had Aldon Smith recovering a Matt Ryan fumble. We had Dunta Robinson stripping the ball from Michael Crabtree at the goal line. Carlos Rogers stopping Tony Gonzalez short of the first down. That forced the punt that led to the 49ers' winning touchdown drive. I prefer a 28-24 game with some defensive stops over a 45-42 shootout. It's better football.
While Michael Crabtree and Randy Moss provide Kaepernick with nice receiving options outside the numbers, I think that they miss Mario Manningham. He provided a terrific third option before his injury. Fortunately, the 49ers have a tight end with receiver-like speed and skills in Vernon Davis. He's showing again that he steps up in the playoffs. The 49ers better hope that nothing happens to Crabtree or Moss in or before the Super Bowl.
The 49ers got some real breaks in the penalty department. The Falcons were called for two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on plays in which 49er players could have gotten the same penalty. The most stunning of non-calls was when four 49ers picked up Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers and held him horizontal for a moment and then tossed him to the ground. Right in front of an official. I'm not sure how you let that stunt go.
I really envy the excess talent that the Falcons have at receiver with Roddy White and Julio Jones.
The Falcons paid a ton to move way up in the draft to select Jones. Many questioned the move then. No one questions the move now. Julio Jones is a fantastic football player.
I really like the 49ers short yardage offense. A lot of teams add an extra lineman in those sets. The 49ers add two. They have a terrific offensive line to start and then add two more big guys to it. It's overpowering.
It was amazing to see Jacquizz Rodgers carry 49ers defensive end Ray McDonald for about five yards. Rodgers is a little guy but he runs much bigger. He had a great career at Oregon St. Atlanta probably drafted him to be a change of pace back but I think that they have a three-down back.
"Colin Kaepernick runs like a gazelle. Tom Brady runs like Giselle."
-heard on Rich Eisen's podcast
Ravens safety Bernard Pollard has been a nightmare for the Patriots:
-makes the tackle that thrashes Tom Brady's knee in 2008
-makes the tackle that thrashes Wes Welker's knee in 2010
-in on the tackle that injures Rob Gronkowski's arm this season
-yesterday he knocks Steven Ridley out of the game with a concussion
The Patriots had the ball inside the Ravens 25-yard line six times. They scored one touchdown. That was the difference in the game.
Joe Flacco coming alive in the second half was a big difference too. Like the Falcons, the Ravens have a couple of dynamite receivers in Anquan Boldin and Torrey Smith.
The Ravens have some of my favorite non-Vikings players in the league. Boldin, Ray Rice and Ed Reed in particular. Bryant McKinnie definitely isn't one of them and he played for the Vikings.
Ray Lewis' fantastic career continues.
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