Taming of the Lions

The 49ers had a hard test this week: the Lions in Detroit. To prepare for the game, Jim Harbaugh had brought in a ton of speakers thanks to connections at Stanford and blasted the noise on the practice field to try and prepare the 49ers for this game. The 49ers still had 15 penalties but it might've helped anyway.

The game had come and Detroit was riled up. Two teams that no one considered any good were in fact better than perceived and were fighting to see who was the most improved. The Lions owned the 1st quarter going up 10-0. The 49ers controlled the 2nd, however, thanks to Frank Gore's big run and TD run afterward, a safety on Stafford, and then a FG by David Akers at the end of the 1st half after Jason Hanson missed a FG for Detroit.

It remained tight throughout the 3rd quarter until Alex Smith threw a pick that led to a TD pass from Matthew Stafford to Nate Burleson in the early 4th. Lions ahead, 19-15. It seemed like an omen and any other year it would've been but not this one. The 49ers defense held on for the rest of the 4th while their offense found their rhythm. They would thanks to a great punt return by Ted Ginn Jr. with over 5 minutes left. Then the 49ers drove it within the 10 yard line giving them a 1st and goal opportunity. They failed to get in on 1st, 2nd, and 3rd down. However, 4th down, with just under 2 minutes to go, Alex Smith threw a pass to Delanie Walker who barely gets into the end zone. TOUCHDOWN 49ERS!!! They lead 22-19. A couple of bad drives by the Lions and a FG by David Akers afterword gives the 49ers the win, 25-19.

The 49ers go into loud Detroit and escape with a victory. Smith wasn't great all day but that throw to Walker was perfect and Walker's effort was just what we needed. A little tense at the end with handshakes between coaches, I'll admit, but you'd feel amped up too if your team just took down an undefeated 5-0 Lions. A great game for the 49ers as their 5-1 start is the best since 1998. While Smith and Walker get the glory at the end, it was the running game that got them inside the ten yard line and carried them all day previously. 203 total team rushing yards with Frank Gore getting 141 of those yards on 15 carries. As for the Lions, they played admirably but I honestly expected more out of them in those two drives at the end of the game. Not a horrible game by them just a great game by the 49ers defense.

49ers go into the bye week riding a 4 game winning streak in which 3 of those were on the road going back East. Impressive, Jim Harbaugh. After the bye, 49ers face the Browns at Candlestick. A winnable game indeed. Keep it up, 49ers.

P.S. I better start finding some crow.