Sunday Football Recap: Week 12 – Afternoon Games

Sunday, November 25

San Francisco 49ers (8-2-1) defeat the New Orleans Saints (5-6), 31-21

Jim Harbaugh gambled on Colin Kaepernick, and for the second week in a row, it seems like it’s the right thing to do. Alex Smith, who was cleared for the game, could only watch with a disappointed look in his eye as Colin Kaepernick posted a 90.6 QB rating against the New Orleans Saints.

Kaepernick looked solid, but it wasn’t enough, as linebacker Ahmad Brooks and defensive back Donte Whitner  contributed to the point total, both returning interceptions for touchdowns on the day. Both touchdowns were a hand in turning a 14-7 deficit to a 28-14 lead.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees finished with 267 yards and three TDs. After rushing for 140 yards or more in each of its previous three games, New Orleans managed only 59 yards against San Francisco. Marques Colston caught his franchise record 56th career touchdown reception in the loss.

Colin Kaepernick finished 16-25 with 231 yards, a touchdown, and an interception. The 49ers are 5-0-1 since losing to the Giants on October 14th.

St. Louis Rams (4-6-1) defeat the Arizona Cardinals (4-7), 31-17

No NFL rookie since 1960 and no Rams rookie ever accomplished what the young St. Louis cornerback did Sunday.

Janoris Jenkins, who slipped to the second round of the draft — the 39th pick overall — because of off-the-field issues during his college career, returned two interceptions for touchdowns and St. Louis dominated the second half to hand the Arizona Cardinals their seventh loss in a row, 31-17.

It was Arizona Cardinals QB Ryan Lindley’s first start, and Jenkins’ two pick sixes only accounted for half of Lindley’s four interceptions on the day. Lindley’s four interceptions fueled St. Louis running back Steven Jackson’s 139 yards on 24-carries. It was also a key component of Arizona trailing 17-0 at half. Larry Fitzgerald was held to three catches on 12 targets.

The last rookie two return two picks for a touchdown was Bobby Franklin of the Cleveland Browns in 1960. Daryl Washington got his ninth sack, one shy of the Cardinals’ record for a linebacker. After getting nine sacks in their first game against the Cardinals, the Rams had just one sack Sunday.

 

Baltimore Ravens (9-2) defeat the San Diego Chargers (4-7), 16-13 (OT)

The biggest play of the game in this one was also the most ridiculous.

The difference in the outcome in this was was a conversion on 4th and 29. Not an ordinary conversion, mind you, such as the Philadelphia Eagles’ famous 4th and 26 play. No, this was a check down to Ray Rice turned into a 29-yard gain.

Joe Flacco took a shotgun snap and threw a short pass to Rice, who weaved through the San Diego defense, found a big hold in the middle of the field and made it to San Diego 33 before he was tackled with 1:37 to play. After a lengthy review, the ball was moved back to the 34 and the refs measured. The new spot still gave the Ravens a first down by the length of the ball. Six plays after the big conversion, Tucker kicked a 38-yard field goal to tie the game as regulation expired.

The Ravens trailed by 10 points with 7:51 to play, and they won the game on a Justin Tucker field goal kick with 1:07 left in overtime.

Baltimore managed to get to Philip Rivers six times on the day. This was his third turnover-free game this season.

Flacco finished the game with 355 yards on 30 completions (51 attempts) and a touchdown. Ray Rice finished with 97 yards on 22 carries but also had 67 yards on 8 receptions. Philip Rivers finished 23-36, 228 yards and a touchdown.

Monday Night Football Recap: Week 11

Monday, November 19

San Francisco 49ers (7-2-1) defeat the Chicago Bears (7-3)

This was supposed to be a game between the NFL’s most vaunted defenses, but second-year quarterback Colin Kaepernick of the San Francisco 49ers didn’t seem to mind much. It was his first career start after Alex Smith was ruled out of the game due to concussion, and whispers of a QB controversy are already swirling about. Kaepernick’s 243 yards passing and two touchdowns against the NFL’s #1 defense seemed to come easy.

“It’s everything I could’ve ever wished for,” Kaepernick said. “It feels great just to be out there.”

To put his game into perspective, his 97.5 QBR is the highest rating in a quarterback’s debut in the past five years.

On the other side of the field, Bears quarterback Jason Campbell was making his first start since October 2011 after Jay Cutler suffered a concussion against the Texans last week. His day didn’t go so well. The first-quarter touchdown he threw seems like a distant memory as the highlights of the night featured Campbell on his back over and over, throwing two picks as well and finishing with only a dismal 107 passing yards on 14 completions. San Francisco’s Aldon Smith recorded a Monday Night Football record 5.5 sacks against the Bears tonight. That number is only half a sack away from the franchise’s single-game record, held by none other than Fred Dean.

The home team has won the last 11 meetings between the Bears and 49ers. Last road team to win was 49ers in 1988 NFC Championship game. Aldon Smith has 28 sacks in his first 26 career games. That’s most ever for any player in first 26 games. His 15 sacks are currently top-ranked in the NFL. He currently holds 8 more sacks than the rest of the 49ers combined.