The San Francisco 49ers did exactly what they should do to inferior opponents; dominate them. As we expected the 49ers controlled every aspect of the game Sunday versus the Rams, and as we expected they were able to wrap up their first division title in nearly a decade.

3 Things to take away from last week

Now with the division wrapped up and a home playoff game guaranteed for the first time since 2002, we need to start turning our focus to getting players healthy and keeping them that way. RB Frank Gore is still listed on the injury report for his ankle, WR Braylon Edwards has his knee, and more importantly LB Patrick Willis went down this last weekend with a hamstring injury. While the other 2 players should be fine, Willis’ injury worries me. Even if its not that bad the best and only remedy for a hamstring is rest, so barring MRI results I would sit him until week 16 or 17. Hamstrings also have a way of happening in bunches and not always is it the same one being aggravated. If your right hamstring is strained a lot of the time a player can come up limp just weeks after with a left hamstring issue. (more…)

For the first time since 2002 your San Francisco 49ers are NFC West champions and playoff bound.  The sight of Frank Gore waving the 49ers flag after a 26-0 beat down of the Rams to celebrate winning the NFC West with Niner fans in the stadium will never get old.  So many times since 2002 the 49ers walked off the field at Candlestick to boo’s after a loss, hanging their heads in defeat.  Finally, after nine seasons, two head coaches, numerous offensive coordinators and quarterbacks, and season after season of disappointment, the 49ers are NFC West champs. How does it feel 49ers Faithful?  It’s been a long time coming.

Niner fans are probably still getting used to that winning feeling, something we had not felt in a long while.  The 49ers Faithful were spoiled in the 1980s and ‘90s and hardly ever felt the sting of a lousy team and a losing season.  Many of the players on the 49ers have suffered through seasons of failure.  The patriarchs of the 49ers (Alex Smith, Gore, Vernon Davis, Patrick Willis, and Joe Staley) finally get to celebrate their first winning season and NFC West title in Red and Gold.  They will finally know what it is like to play a meaningful game in January.  The patriarchs have led the 49ers for the last six/seven seasons through the darkest days of the franchise enduring multiple coaches and up and down years.   Finally their loyalty to the 49ers franchise and to the fans paid off of.

With four games left in the season the 49ers have ten wins and can now look towards catching up with the Packers and securing a first-round playoff bye.  It is time for Niner fans to go get those playoff tickets.  But first let’s hand out some Game Gold Nuggets.

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This week 49ers WR Braylon Edwards said he has an injured shoulder which is why he has been limited the last three games.  Edwards has been noticeably absent in the passing game since he returned from knee surgery in week eight against the Browns.  In the win Edwards had his most productive game this season with four receptions for 42 yards.  In the four games since then he has only six receptions for 82 yards.

The most likely reason for his lack of production is because the wide receiver injured his shoulder, he is not saying which one, in week nine against the Redskins.  On the play Edwards was tackled by Redskins CB DeAngelo Hall after a 24-yard catch injuring his shoulder as he hit the ground.  Edwards came out of the game after the play and has only four receptions for 52 yards since.  Edwards has been on the field starting for the 49ers but he has not been the productive receiver the team needs as he struggles with his injury.  With 14 receptions, 172 yards and no touchdowns Edwards has proven he cannot play while hurt.  If Edwards is not 100% the 49ers cannot gamble with him on the field.

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