Throughout the coarse of the game, you got a feeling that something "magical" was going to happen. The momentum never swung one way or the other for any extended period of time. Coach Harbaugh out coached Sean Payton. Harbaugh made some great play calls like the QB keeper with 2 minutes to go in the 4th where Alex Smith ran for the go-ahead touchdown. The blocking down field was perfect and Smith ran in untouched for the 28 yard score. Maybe the 49ers were celebrating a little too much when the Saints got the ball. Brees made a perfect pass to Graham for a 66-yard touchdown pass. It was Brees' 62 pass attempt (a playoff record) and it put the Saints up by 3. But there was still time on the clock for the 49ers to, at least, tie the game. With 40 seconds to play, on 2nd and 10, Alex Smith found Vernon Davis over the middle and Davis took the ball inside the 20. The 49ers were in business. Never mind a tying field goal, the 49ers were thinking touchdown and punch their ticket to the NFC championship game. Now, 14 seconds to play. The ball is on the Saints 19 yard line and its 3rd and 3. Once again, Smith found Vernon Davis at the goal line. Touchdown 49ers! With 9 seconds to play and a 4 point lead, the 49ers took care of business and now wait for the winner of the Giants/Packers game. For those who questioned if the 49ers were for real now realize that they are. The 49ers are now one game away from returning to the Super Bowl for the first time since 1994.
What was supposed to be the game of the day turned out to be just what most people, not living in Denver, thought it would be. The Patriots were the Patriots and the Broncos were the Broncos. I've always said that if teams don't let the game come down to the end of the game, the Tebow can't beat you. For the second time this season, the Patriots did exactly that. The only difference between this playoff game and the regular season game is that Brady led the Patriots to score after score and had the Broncos on their heels from the very beginning. The Patriots game plan was simple: make Tebow match Brady, pass for pass. The Patriots put the Broncos in a position where they had to throw the ball, which is not a strength of the Broncos. What was most impressive was the Patriot offensive and defensive lines controlled the field the entire game. Something the Patriots hadn't done all year. It was almost like the Patriots "flipped a switch" and looked like the Super Bowl winning Patriots. A very scary sight for any team. I'm sure some "Tebow apologists" will say that the Bronco defense caused the loss but the offense could only manage 10 points on the 32nd ranked defense in the league. Forget all the nonsense and just except the truth, the Broncos and Tebow aren't as good as some thought they were. The Broncos didn't make the playoffs because of what they did. They made the playoffs because of what the Raiders didn't do. I have no sympathy for the Broncos or Tebow. I will give Tebow another chance though. He will now have a full training camp and pre-season to get better at the QB position. We will see. For the Patriots, they now wait to see if they will host the Texans or the Ravens.
Can't Wait!!
D!
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