SB Nation Bay Area - 49ers Fall To Rams 25-17, Eliminated From NFC West Racehttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2010-12-26T14:10:25-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16523262010-12-26T14:10:25-08:002010-12-26T14:10:25-08:0049ers 17, Rams 25: Quarterback Duo Can't Get It Done
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<p>Offensive ineptitude was the name of the game for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> in their 25-17 loss to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">St. Louis Rams</a>. <span>Troy Smith</span> started at quarterback and went 7-for-19 for 153 yards and one touchdown against one interception. Alex Smith came in with ten minutes left in the fourth quarter and completed 10-of-15 for 120 yards with no scores and no interceptions. Most of the yardage was in chunks, and over a 60-minute period, the quarterback position looked even worse than the stats would imply.</p>
<p>Troy had some good passes, but relied far too much on just throwing it in the general direction of the man downfield. He ignored options underneath and hesitated in the pocket. Alex wasn't much better, instead checking down before giving a glance downfield. They're two halves one whole, fantastic quarterback, but it will never work.</p>
<p>Troy Smith fumbled three times but none of them were lost. Alex fumbled once and it was lost, and sealed the game for the 49ers. But that's not where the 49ers lost the will to fight, that occurred much sooner. The Niners were down by one and <span>Jeff Reed</span> lined up to kick a 34-yard field goal and missed it. From then on, the Rams scored, the 49ers scored and then the Rams went ahead and did it again. The 49ers had no answer.</p>
<p>More on the game a bit later.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1897098/49ers-17-rams-25-quarterback-duo-cant-get-it-doneJames Brady2010-12-26T12:54:51-08:002010-12-26T12:54:51-08:0049ers 17, Rams 25: Alex Plays, Teams Exchange Field Goals
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<p>Alex Smith's first pass is complete, a swing pass to Brian Westbrook, who gets five yards, then picks up eight on a run on the left side. The 49ers spread it out on first down and Alex fires a beautiful pass to the left side, right where it needs to be for 34 yards and a first down. Westbrook picks up about a yard on the next play, a toss to the right side. Then Westbrook again, but he gets nothing on the screen pass, and it loses yardage. Alex didn't een look downfield on the play. Jeff Reed is coming out again to try and kick a 47-yarder, after missing a 34-yarder earlier. It's good this time and the 49ers try and close the gap a little and trail 22-17.</p>
<p>One has to wonder why the switch was made to Troy Smith in the first place if you're just going to make the switch on gameday back to Alex. The 49ers kick off, and the Rams get a huge return, only rookie Thaddeus Gibson was able to stop and make the tackle. Amendola takes the kickoff 84 yards and the wind is sucked out of the 49ers. This is a special teams unit that has seen marked improvement the past few weeks, too.</p>
<p>Either way, the Rams work to a third down and then get ready for another field goal. It's good, and they lead by eight once again.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/12/26/1896240/49ers-vs-rams-open-thread-4">Niners Nation has their gameday discussion.</a></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1897076/49ers-17-rams-25-alex-plays-teams-exchange-field-goalsJames Brady2010-12-26T12:41:35-08:002010-12-26T12:41:35-08:0049ers Give Up A Touchdown, Get Reprieve, Give It Up Again
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> start their drive with two runs and end up with a 3rd and 2. Troy gets swarmed, loses the football and the 49ers barely recover. Three and out to start their possession. Once again, Alex Smith is warming up on the sidelines. Looks like he'll be going in.</p>
<p>But first, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> have a possession, and they get a first down after two passes to wide receiver <span>Danario Alexander</span>. Then, it's Danario Alexander with a 49 yard touchdown reception on terrible coverage from Shawntae Spencer. Alexander goes up in the air, catches the ball and lands short of the goal line. Spencer casually attempts to touch him before turning and walking away, Alexander gets up and jogs into the end-zone. Singletary challenged and it appears there might have been some stepping out of bounds. The referees affirm Singletary's thoughts and the ball is spotted at the three-yard line.</p>
<p>Bradford is chased a little on the next play, but ultimately has no trouble throwing the quick three-yard touchdown pass. It looks as though Alex Smith is coming in for San Francisco.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/12/26/1896240/49ers-vs-rams-open-thread-4">Niners Nation has their gameday thread for discussion.</a></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1897052/49ers-give-up-a-touchdown-get-reprieve-give-it-up-againJames Brady2010-12-26T12:27:47-08:002010-12-26T12:27:47-08:00Jeff Reed Misses Field Goal, Rams Hold On To 15-14 Lead In Fourth
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<p>Just when everyone is calling for <span>Troy Smith</span> to be benched, he responds with a 29-yard completion to <span>Vernon Davis</span> followed by a 24-yard strike to <span>Michael Crabtree</span>. It's followed, though, by two incompletions to bring up 3rd-and-10. Te 49ers play it safe to get a field goal and dump it off to Crabtree for six yards. <span>Jeff Reed</span> takes the field for a 34-yard attempt, and misses it wide left and the 49ers do not re-take the lead.</p>
<p>Now it's time for the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a>, and they begin with an 11-yard pass to star the drive and end the third quarter. Bradford goes way deep and the 49ers defensive backs do nothing. Luckily, the pass is off target and it brings up second down. Steven Jackson gets three yards on the next play, and then Amendola gets three yards before <span>Dashon Goldson</span> shoots in and takes him out. The Rams punt, and the 49ers have the ball inside the twenty.</p>
<p>Be sure to head on over to Niners Nation, SB Nation's <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> blog, and participate in the gameday discussion.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1897030/jeff-reed-misses-field-goal-rams-hold-on-to-15-14-lead-in-fourthJames Brady2010-12-26T12:17:15-08:002010-12-26T12:17:15-08:0049ers Still Trailing By One, Rams Lead 15-14
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<p>Troy Smith remains in, probably due to some intangible like Mike SIngletary being fond of his fire or some such after Troy argued with him on the sidelines. The 49ers are faced with an early third down on this drive, and Troy handles it ... not-so-good. He could have taken off and ran it, but he hesitated. The 49ers punt.</p>
<p>Now the Rams are driving down the field, three first downs with the passing game, wide open receivers and the like. Then the Rams were called for offensive pass interference. This is followed by a third down, and then an incompletion again. The Rams are called on a chop block but the 49ers decline and the Rams punt. Their are called on fair catch interference, and a very late flag. The 49ers have the ball and trail by one.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/12/26/1896239/49ers-vs-rams-open-thread-3">Join in on the thread over at Niners Nation.</a></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1897007/49ers-still-trailing-by-one-rams-lead-15-14James Brady2010-12-26T11:58:31-08:002010-12-26T11:58:31-08:00Rams Take 15-14 Lead Following Troy Smith Interception
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<p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> received at the half and <span>Phillip Adams</span> was injured on the kickoff. Ginn got nowhere with the kickoff return, and it looks as though <span>Troy Smith</span> will remain in the game as the starting quarterback for San Francisco. It appears that Phillip Adams could be seriously injured, the trainers are looking at his left leg and they have brought the cart out there. He's taken away on the cart and the crowd claps.</p>
<p>Troy Smith throws an incomplete pass on second down and he had three potential targets. He threw it way too low and then Troy converts the third won with a quarterback draw and the 49ers convert their last three third down opportunities. Then an ineffective run, a missed screen pass and then Troy Smith throws the ball right in the hands of <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> safety O.J. Atogwe, who returns it to the 49ers 41 yards line. The pass was way too high. The Rams have great field position.</p>
<p>Going deep on first down, Bradford's pass is incomplete. Alex Smith is warming up on the sidelines at this point. Bradford converts a third down and then fires a great pass to <span>Danny Amendola</span>. The Rams are driving. <span>Takeo Spikes</span> got his hands on a Bradford pass but couldn't hang on. Third down in the red zone for St. Louis. Incomplete pass, and the Rams will kick a field goal. It's good, and the Rams lead 15-14.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/12/26/1896234/49ers-vs-rams-open-thread-2">Be sure to head over to Niners Nation and participate in their gameday threads.</a></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1896968/rams-take-15-14-lead-following-troy-smith-interceptionJames Brady2010-12-26T11:33:58-08:002010-12-26T11:33:58-08:0049ers Lead Rams 14-12 At The Half
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<p><span>Shawntae Spencer</span> caught a high <span>Sam Bradford</span> pass, but just barely failed to keep his feet in bounds on first down following the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> score. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> would fail to convert their third down courtesy of <span>Patrick Willis</span> having an actual, factual license to kill. <span>Tarell Brown</span> then made a good play on special teams to stop an <span>Andy Lee</span> punt before going into the endzone. The boo birds are out in St. Louis and they disagree heavily with the Rams decision to run it.</p>
<p><span>Troy Smith</span> isn't playing great, but he did have a couple good receptions. Isn't that why Troy is the starter right now in place of Alex Smith, because he can make those big throws in timely situations? Either way, at 4-for-10 going into the third quarter, one has to wonder if Alex might be on alert and Singletary could make a change. It was perceived that Troy would have a very short leash and that performance would seem justifiable for a benching, if you feel like being totally strict.</p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.ninersnation.com/2010/12/26/1896234/49ers-vs-rams-open-thread-2">Be sure to head over to Niners Nation and participate in their gameday threads.</a></p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1896936/49ers-lead-rams-14-12-at-the-halfJames Brady2010-12-26T11:19:10-08:002010-12-26T11:19:10-08:0049ers 14, Rams 7: Field Goal Extends St. Louis Lead, Then Crabtree Surges
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<p>Following Ted Ginn Jr's 78-yard punt return touchdown, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/st-louis-rams">Rams</a> began driving downfield. <span>Sam Bradford</span> was able to pull two first downs off, and in the end it was enough for them to get away with three points when the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">49ers</a> made the stop on third down. The Rams extended their lead with the kick and it's 12 - 7 in the second quarter.</p>
<p>Just getting started on these updates, if you are just tuning in for the game (which by the way, is on), the Rams scored earlier off a Steven Jackson run and they also caught <span>Troy Smith</span> in the endzone for a safety, of all things. Add in the aforementioned field goal, and you have your score.</p>
<p>The 49ers took possession following the field goal and it was almost disastrous. The ball was stripped from Troy Smith on a sack and he lost it, but the 49ers retained possession. This was followed by a decent run and then ... a 49ers timeout. Not looking good for San Francisco in that regard. Of course, it's followed by a 25-yard reception for tight end <span>Vernon Davis</span> to convert the third down. A negative run from Anthony Dixon, then an incomplete pass and the 49ers are facing third down once again. Troy Smith drops back, has pressure and fires over to <span>Michael Crabtree</span> on the right side who takes it sixty yards for a touchdown reception and now the 49ers have the lead with 14.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/26/1896921/49ers-14-rams-7-field-goal-extends-st-louis-lead-then-crabtree-surgesJames Brady