Read Sports Geek’s argument and Loyal Homer’s arguments about the which game this weekend is the one that you CAN’T miss.
The middle weeks of the NFL season can be very trying for many teams in the league. For the most part, the top and bottom of the league’s pecking order has been relatively established, leaving the “middle of the pack” to scratch and claw their way through the remaining games as they jockey for positioning in the standings on their quest for the postseason.
For teams like the New Orleans Saints and the very surprising Denver Broncos, reaching the postseason appears to be a foregone conclusion. On the other hand, teams such as the disappointing Tennessee Titans and St. Louis Rams have already begun scouting the likely top-10 candidates for the 2010 NFL Draft.
It’s do-or-die time for those teams in the middle, though. During these crucial weeks of the season, their margin for error becomes much slimmer. Every win keeps them in the hunt for a potential postseason spot, while every loss closes the window of opportunity a little more. Two such teams on the cusp of contention right now are the San Francisco 49ers and the Houston Texans.
The 49ers started the season off as one of the surprises in the NFL. After officially naming Mike Singletary as head coach, the 49ers were able to defeat division rivals in their first two games, including a win over the reigning NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals. During their matchup against the undefeated Minnesota Vikings the following weekend, however, running back Frank Gore was injured. Without Gore in the backfield, the 49ers would go on to lose two of their next three games, the most recent of which being a 45-10 blowout by the Atlanta Falcons. While the 49ers have stumbled over the past four weeks of the season, the Cardinals appear to be picking up steam once again, and have pulled back into a tie with the 49ers in the NFC West.
The Houston Texans have taken a different route to this point in the season. For the past few years, the Texans have seemed ready to take that final step and reach the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, only to fall short at the season’s end. That final step can be hard to take, though, when you are in the same division as the Indianapolis Colts and the Tennessee Titans. 2009 has been no different, as the Colts have jumped out to a 5-0 record to start the year (again). For the Texans’ part, they have lost two very close games against the Jacksonville Jaguars and the Arizona Cardinals, and last week managed an impressive win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Currently, they sit at 3-3 in the standings, and although they are three games behind the Colts in the AFC South, they are still in the thick of contention for the postseason.
This weekend, the Texans and 49ers will face off in a game that neither can afford to lose. For the 49ers, a loss could cost them the division lead in the NFC West, while the Texans must win in order to keep pace not only with the Colts, but also with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Baltimore Ravens, New York Jets, and Jacksonville Jaguars, the current leaders in the AFC wildcard chase.
San Francisco will once again have Frank Gore on the field (for at least one play before he gets injured again). Gore, who rushed for over 200 yards in his last full game during week two of the season, should find success against the Texans and their 24th-ranked run defense. On the other side of the ball, though, Texans’ quarterback Matt Schaub has been playing like a man possessed and will provide a very difficult test for the 49ers’ secondary. So far this season, Schaub has passed for more touchdowns (14) than any other quarterback in the league (yes, even more than Drew Brees and Tom Brady, who have tossed 13 and 12 TD’s respectively), and his 1,810 passing yards are the second most in the NFL, behind only Ben Roethlisberger of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Of course, it is easy to have passing success when your primary target is Pro Bowl wide receiver Andre Johnson.
This should be a high-scoring game, and may not be decided until the very last possession. Expect a lot of offense at Houston’s Reliant Stadium on Sunday, because every snap of the ball could end up on the highlight reel!
This was a good win for the Texans in the reasons that you highlighted. I didnt get to watch this game but it looks like Alex Smith provided a spark for the Niners. And whoever had Vernon Davis on their fantasy team likely had a good week this week!
But, if Alex Smith is your best option, are you a playoff team?
Point taken. Alex Smith is not the answer. But he’s an upgrade over Shaun Hill.