49ers vs Ravens Recap; THE Game of the Week

When they announced this game at the beginning of the year on the schedule no one thought much of it. It was just another rematch of the 2012 Superbowl teams. As the season went on it became more and more intriguing; by the week of this game came it was undoubtedly “Game of the week” material. You have two teams with a combined record of 19-3. It was a battle of best offense versus best defense, something we love to watch and see which is stronger. When they collided on Sunday afternoon in a wet and cold game of Goliaths, the game didn’t disappoint.

The game started off strong with the 49ers establishing the running game and then going for it on fourth down and two. Then they surprised the Ravens with a pass to Deebo Samuel who made a great play on the ball with Marcus Peters in coverage for a 33-yard strike to start off the game. The 49ers then held the Ravens to a punt on the first possession, something they hadn’t done in over 15 possessions. Afterwards, the Ravens defense showed how they have improved over the year and got a critical turnover when the 49ers were trying to go down the field and make it a two-score game early. The safety Chuck Clark came in for the strip-sack and Brandon Williams recovered. That play led to the Ravens scoring in two plays on a Lamar Jackson strike to his favorite target Mark Andrews for a 20-yard score to tie up the game. 

After all that we pretty much had back to back drives that resulted in touchdowns for each team. The main difference was the time of possession in which the Ravens were winning. They produced ten points on two drives that lasted roughly 15 minutes. The half ended with a blocked field goal by none other than expected Pro Bowl corner Marlon Humphrey. 

Now, the first half may have been a bit of a scoring fest, but with the weather conditions worsening it became more of a defensive battle. The Ravens were marching on their first drive after the half. It, unfortunately, had an uncharacteristic turnover in the form of a Jackson fumble. It was an amazing play by backup safety Marcell Harris to strip and recover the ball all in one motion. Yet the Ravens defense held and only allowed a field goal on the ensuing drive. After that, it was an exchange of punts and two defenses having great stops on fourth down tries to lead to the final possession held by the Ravens. In a game of this magnitude, the Ravens knew they needed to bleed the clock and that is just what they did. The had two critical conversions on a fourth down and third down in which they stuck to themselves and ran with Lamar Jackson. This drive led to a comfortable situation with the Ravens, they put it on the golden leg of the most accurate kicker in NFL history, Justin Tucker. He then proceeded to do what he has done all his career and made the game-winning field. 

The battle of Goliath showed two things. The first being that the 49ers are serious playoff and Superbowl contenders this year with a defense that can slow down two MVP candidates, while also having an offense that is well balanced. The second is that the odds-on favorites for the Superbowl should be the Ravens. This 2019 Ravens team is great in every category and can show it against the best of the best while prevailing victorious.

-By: Darren Braxton

Writer/ Podcaster

Seahawks come out on top in overtime thriller over 49ers 

Going into Monday night, many described this division matchup as a dogfight. This game turned out to be just that, as Seattle scratched out a big division victory over first-place 49ers by a score of 27-24. A lot went into this game, let’s look at the key points to this game.

Battle of the Defense

The 49ers have been regarded as a top defense this year and that is rightfully deserved and showed it on Monday night. Seattle, on the other hand, has had a defense that flew under the radar up until Monday. Good defenses cause turnovers, and there was a surplus of them in this game. There was a total of five fumbles lost and two interceptions that were thrown. Two of the fumbles were returned for touchdowns, one by each team. Possibly the biggest play of the game if the 49ers were to come out on top was the forced fumble by Jaquiski Tartt. Seahawk receiver DK Metcalf was pushing into the endzone after catching a screen pass when Tartt ripped the ball loose and fell in the endzone for a touchback with only a minute left in the first half. In the biggest game, the stars showed out. Seattle linebacker and leader Bobby Wagner had 11 total tackles (5 solo) and now has 97 total tackles on the season which is third in the NFL. As for the Niners, K’Waun Williams filled up the stat sheet totaling 9 tackles (6 solo), 0.5 sack, and 2 forced fumbles. 

Quarterback Play

With the great defensive play, offense was hard to come by. Both quarterbacks struggled in this one. MVP candidate Russell Wilson went 24/34 for 232 yards and a touchdown and an interception (2nd on the season). Throw in a fumble lost and this was not a great performance by Russell Wilson, but like always the future Hall of Famer found a way to win. As for the well-paid Jimmy G, nothing really got going in this game. His final stat line was 24/46 for 248 yards and a touchdown, interception, and two fumbles lost. If the Niners want to prove they’re legit, Garoppolo needs to play better to take the pressure off the defense and the running game.

Running and Gunning

The running games for both teams were solid. The lead back in this game was Chris Carson for the Seattle Seahawks. Carson ran for 89 yards on 25 carries and found the endzone once. Carson had a very methodical game with 9 yards being his longest run. With Wilson adding a few more yards, Seattle rushed for 147 yards. As for San Francisco, it was not terrible, but the yards were hard-fought. Tevin Coleman led the committee in this game with 40 yards on 9 carries. Matt Breida struggled to find any room, totaling only 18 yards on 10 carries. Raheem Mostert changed the pace well, carrying the ball 6 times for 28 yards. As for the receiving game, rookie Deebo Samuel had the best game of his career so far, reeling in eight catches for 112 yards, leading all receivers. Kendrick Bourne added a touchdown, but nobody else did much to contribute to the passing attack, especially with Emmanuel Sanders leaving the game with a rib injury. For Seattle, DK Metcalf and Jacob Hollister led the passing attack, combining for 14 catches, 132 yards and a touchdown (Hollister). Look for Hollister as a sleeper waiver wire pickup in fantasy leagues. Wilson’s favorite target Tyler Lockett was quiet in this one with only 26 yards on the day. Lockett was later reported to have spent the night in the hospital with swelling in his leg but is reported to be OK.

NO GOOD!

With all the defensive highlights and standout performers, this game came down to a field goal. Chase McLaughlin, who was signed this week by the Niners to fill in for injured Robbie Gould, was a perfect 3-for-3 on the day. Then overtime came. The Niners offense did a good job of gaining good field position, driving from the Seattle 49 to their 29. This would give McLaughlin a chance at a 47-yard field goal. Only for the first three to mean nothing. The kick went up… and it was shanked, giving the ball back to Seattle. The kick would have ended the game and the Niners would still be perfect, but after a three and out by both teams, Russell Wilson led Seattle down the field for Jason Myers to knock a 42-yard field goal right through the uprights as time expired in overtime for a 27-24 victory.

The Fight for the Division

Even with the loss, San Francisco (8-1) still controls their destiny to a division title and home-field throughout the playoffs. With that being said, Seattle (8-2) is breathing down their necks and will play San Francisco in a much-anticipated matchup in Week 17. Down the stretch will be tough for both teams. The 49ers have a divisional matchup against Kyler Murray and the Arizona Cardinals next week. After that, their schedule gets extremely tough. The stretch of games before the Week 17 matchup will feature road games against Baltimore and New Orleans, and games hosting Green Bay and the LA Rams. As for Seattle, they will be on a bye next week, but five of their last six games are against teams over .500 (Eagles, Vikings, Rams, Panthers, 49ers). The big question is, who wins the division? My pick is Seattle. Their defense proved that they are at the same tier of the Niners Monday night, and Russell Wilson proved yet again that he will find a way to win in big games.

My Prediction:

Seattle 13-3

San Francisco 12-4

What’s your prediction? Comment below!

-By: Richie Dordas

Writer/Interviewer

The List: Veteran’s Day festivities, a Monday night classic and Rogers’ death

The NFL has had its share of issues this season, from officiating and replays to injuries to the Antonio Brown saga. However, the one thing they seem to get right every year is honoring the military, especially on Veteran’s Day. Here is the best of Week 10 in the NFL, both on and off the field. 

WINNERS

Honoring military on a special day - A total of 26 teams were in action in Week 10 of the NFL season, and all of them put veterans at the forefront. Each team sent out a special message on Twitter, and the 13 host stadiums had members of the military sing the National Anthem, to go along with aircraft flyovers and patriotic displays (some including field-size flags). In addition, the league offered a special commercial featuring stars such as Patrick Mahomes, Matt Ryan, Drew Brees and Von Miller writing letters to servicemen and women. There was also a segment that aired on Sunday featuring Jimmy Graham and his restored UH-1 Iroquois helicopter (originally used during the Vietnam war), which the Packers tight end will use to fly veterans, underprivileged kids, and Eagle scouts around to show off the piece of history. 

Monday night thriller - In a Game of the Year candidate, the Seahawks won, 27-24 in overtime, to knock off the unbeaten 49ers on Monday night. San Francisco started with a 13-play drive that resulted in a field goal by rookie Chase McLaughlin, who was replacing Robbie Gould (out with a quad injury). The 49ers went up 10-0 on a Jimmy Garoppolo pass to Kendrick Bourne. Seattle cut into the lead before halftime when Garoppolo fumbled and Jadeveon Clowney rumbled 10 yards into the end zone.

Seattle scored 14 points late in the third quarter. Russell Wilson found Jacob Hollister on a touchdown pass, then after another Garoppolo fumble, Chris Carson found the end zone four plays later for a 21-10 Seahawks lead. Early in the fourth, it was Wilson’s turn to fumble. Germain Ifedi picked up the ball for Seattle, but then he fumbled and DeForest Buckner returned the mistake 12 yards to the end zone. Garoppolo and Bourne hooked up again for the two-point pass and a 21-18 deficit. 

After a 3-and-out, San Francisco tied the game on a McLaughlin field goal with 6:17 left. Wilson then led Seattle on an 11-play drive, including a key third-down completion to new receiver Josh Gordon, to set up a Jason Myers 46-yard field goal and a 24-21 Seahawks lead with 1:45 remaining. Not to be outdone, Garoppolo took San Francisco on a 10-play drive that set up McClughlin’s tying 47-yarder with one second left. 

The Seahawks won the overtime coin toss and Wilson led his team on another long drive that ended with a Dre Greenlaw interception. The 49ers couldn’t capitalize, with McLaughlin pushing a 47-yard field goal well to the left. After the teams traded punts, Wilson took over one final time with 1:25 left in the extra session. His 18-yard run helped set up a Myers 42-yard kick with four seconds left, giving Seattle the victory and preventing the first tie on Monday Night Football since the Giants and St. Louis Cardinals played to a 20-20 draw on October 24, 1983. 

Upsets rule the weekend - Coming into Monday night’s game, eight teams who had the better record coming into their game failed to win in Week 10. While some games involved teams with similar records (Jets-Giants, Bears-Lions, Buccaneers-Cardinals, Rams-Steelers), there were some big upsets worth noting. Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb helped the Browns hold off the Bills. Matt Ryan had a solid performance and the Falcons defense held the Saints in check. Ryan Fitzpatrick and the Dolphins made it two wins in a row with a 16-12 decision over the Colts minus Jacoby Brissett. Finally, Patrick Mahomes returned after missing two games with a dislocated kneecap, but it was Derrick Henry who starred in a Titans upset of the Chiefs. Buffalo and Kansas City both had chances to tie in the closing seconds, but Stephen Hauschka missed a 53-yard field goal and Harrison Butker had his attempt from 52 yards blocked by Joshua Kalu. 

Top performances - Mahomes had the best passing game of the week, throwing for 446 yards and three touchdowns in the loss to Tennessee. Dak Prescott had 397 yards and three touchdowns, but Dallas fell to Minnesota on Sunday night, putting the Cowboys into a first-place tie with idle Philadelphia. Lamar Jackson threw three touchdowns and ran for another score in Baltimore’s romp over the winless Bengals, then broke out a pair of slick shades on the sidelines. Jameis Winston (358 yards) and top pick Kyler Murray (324 yards and three touchdowns) matched up well on Sunday, but it was Peyton Barber who put Tampa Bay ahead, 30-27, with a one-yard run with 1:43 left. Daniel Jones threw for 308 yards and four scores, but the Giants fell to the Jets, 34-27, in the battle for New Jersey. Finally, Kyle Allen had 307 yards in Carolina’s 24-16 loss in Green Bay. 

The aforementioned Derrick Henry led all rushers with 188 yards and two touchdowns in Tennessee’s 35-32 win over Kansas City. Chubb ran for 116 yards and Cleveland’s victory over Buffalo. Joe Mixon had 114 yards, but it was not enough to get Cincinnati its first win. Christian McCaffrey ran for 108 yards in the Panthers’ loss to the Packers. Finally, Melvin Gordon had 108 yards and a touchdown, but it was his counterpart, Oakland rookie Josh Jacobs, who ran for the game-winning score with 1:02 left in a 26-24 Raiders win over the Chargers. 

Tyreek Hill led all receivers with 157 yards to go along with a touchdown from Mahomes in the Chiefs’ loss. Michael Thomas had 13 catches for 152 yards, but was held out of the end zone as the Falcons beat the Saints. Amari Cooper totaled 147 yards and a score in a losing effort for Dallas. The Cardinals fell to the Buccaneers, but the loss was not on Christian Kirk, who had 138 yards and caught all three of Kyler Murray’s scoring passes. Finally, Darius Slayton (10 catches, 121 yards) and Golden Tate (four receptions, 95 yards) each caught two touchdowns from Daniel Jones, but the Giants fell to the Jets. 

Redskins tab rookie signal-caller - Washington interim coach Bill Callahan has named Dwayne Haskins Jr. the starter at quarterback for the rest of the season. Haskins, who was taken with the 15th pick out of Ohio State, first saw action in relief of Case Keenum in a Week 4 loss to the Giants and also came off the bench during a Week 8 loss in Minnesota. He made his first start the following week, throwing for 144 yards in a loss to the Bills. 

Eagles give Brooks an extension - Philadelphia has made Brandon Brooks the highest-paid guard in the NFL, signing him to a four-year deal worth $54.2 million that will keep him in the City of Brotherly Love through the 2024 season. Brooks signed with the Eagles before the 2016 season. He has made the past two Pro Bowls and is consistently among the best in the game in both run and pass blocking. 

LOSERS

Former Michigan State star, Lions high pick Rogers dies - Charles Rogers, a player who was a collegiate All-American and a Biletnikoff Award winner, died early Monday from liver failure at age 38. Rogers was selected by the Lions second overall in the 2003 Draft (the Bengals took Carson Palmer first), but the receiver played just 15 games in the NFL. He amassed 36 catches, 440 yards, and four touchdowns before two broken clavicles and three substance abuse suspensions led to Detroit releasing him in 2006. 

Rogers faced drug and alcohol issues before and after his NFL career as well. He tested positive for marijuana twice while at Michigan State and admitted in later interviews that he smoked the drug every day during college and his professional career. Rogers also was arrested for driving under the influence, as well as assault and battery against a girlfriend in 2008 (although those charges were dropped). He also became addicted to Vicodin, a painkiller the Lions gave him to help work through the broken clavicles. 

Giants fail to best Jets, despite Jones - The final score: Jets 34, Giants 27. Those totals belied the offensive shortcomings of a game that involved a 2-7 team facing a 1-7 team. The Giants started out with two total yards in the first quarter as they fell behind, 14-0. The Jets totaled only four yards in the second and the Giants closed to within 14-13 (thanks to a terrible call to try a two-point conversion on a fake extra point). The Jets extended the lead when Jamal Adams sacked Daniel Jones, ripped the ball out of his hand and returned the fumble 25 yards for a touchdown. Jones came back with two more scoring passes and a two-point conversion to Bennie Fowler for a 27-21 lead, but the Jets scored the game’s final 13 points. The losing has to be frustrating for fans of both teams, but especially those who root for the Giants. Your quarterback throws four touchdown passes and you still cannot beat a team that lost last week to a team that was actively trying to go 0-16 (the Dolphins). Your superstar running back, Saquan Barkley, was just held to 13 carries and ONE YARD on Sunday. Plus, the defense gives up yards in chunks to even the worst offensive units in football. After a bye week, the Giants have three more losable games before hosting Miami in Week 15. 

Stafford injured, NFL looking into reporting - For the first time since 2010, Matthew Stafford failed to start a game for the Detroit Lions, thanks to several fractured bones in his back. While former Bengal Jeff Driskel filled in admirably, the Lions fell to the Bears, 20-13. Adding to the injury, the league is looking into how the team handled the reporting of his injury. Stafford was limited in practice for most of the week, but things seemed to get worse on the weekend, with head coach Matt Patricia naming Driskel the starter on Saturday, but also saying they would wait until closer to game time to see if Stafford improved. A fine or penalty would not be out of the realm of possibility, considering last week, the NFL fined the Steelers and Mike Tomlin a total of $100,000 for their handling of Ben Roethlisberger on the injury report in Week 2. 

Other injuries - On Thursday night, Karl Joseph’s interception sealed a Raiders victory over the Chargers. On Saturday, Oakland placed him on injured reserve after he suffered a foot injury on that play. His season most likely is over. 

Falcons backup running back Ito Smith, who suffered a concussion in a Week 7 loss to the Rams and hasn’t played since, was placed on season-ending IR. Smith has 106 yards and a touchdown in 2019. Things got worse for Atlanta on Sunday when starting back Devonta Freeman left Sunday’s win over the Saints with a foot sprain. He could miss two more weeks. Also, an MRI revealed tight end Austin Hooper has a sprained MCL and could miss several games, although he is seeking a second opinion. 

The Jets-Giants game featured some injuries as well, with Giants left tackle Nate Solder sustaining a concussion in the second quarter and the Jets potentially losing tight end Chris Herndon (fractured rib) and right guard Brian Winters (dislocated shoulder) for the rest of the season. 

Finally, Rams starting center Brian Allen was carted off the field during Sunday’s loss to the Steelers. He suffered an MCL injury and will miss the rest of the season. Austin Blythe will slide over from left guard with Austin Corbett moving into the starting lineup. Wide receiver Brandin Cooks will not play this week due to a concussion and right tackle Rob Havenstein could miss multiple weeks with a knee injury.

-By: Kevin Rakas

Blog Writer