The Final Four

After the first nine weeks of the inaugural 49ers Gold Pan Last Man Standing challenge, only four are left, and all four already have one loss.

Starting with 16 competitors, only Andrew, Ross, Mark and Steve are the sole survivors. 

Week 6: 49ers vs. Lions (25-19)

49ers and Buccaneers match up makes history

First time both 49ers and Buccaneers meet with legitimate winning records in regular season.  

When I was 8 years old, I was watching a San Francisco 49ers’ game on TV and they showed an old highlight: a helpless young quarterback scrambling for his life as dozens of defenders smashed him to the ground.

The sight was pathetic, and it shocked me to learn that the quarterback in the ugly orange and red uniform was my favorite player, Steve Young. The broadcast was showing the highlight to contrast Young’s success since being traded to the 49ers from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

That’s how I first learned about the Buccaneers existence, and during my childhood, I associated them as an icon of failure in the NFL.

Week 5: 49ers vs. Buccaneers

The San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers match up in week 5 has both teams atop their respective divisions at 3-1. The Niners with a two game lead, and the Buccaneers tied with the New Orleans Saints.

Last year, the Buccaneers traveled to The Stick and shutout the 49ers 21-0.

Although they've each only lost one game, both teams are still not in the conversation as one of the better teams in the NFL. However, whomever wins today may propel them into the conversation.

49ers shock Eagles 24-23

After the San Francisco 49ers fell to a 3-23 deficit early in the third, Alex smith finished the quarter with a perfect 9-for-9 passing and two TDs to pull within 6 points going into the final quarter of play.

The defense did their part: bending but not breaking after the Philadelphia Eagles missed a short field goal, giving the 49ers the ball back with six minuets on the clock.

One last time, the 49ers put together another scoring drive to take the lead - this time, on the legs of Frank Gore. The defense was able to hold the eagles in the final minuets with a key strip and fumble recovery to end the game.

49ers hold off Bangles on the road, 13-8

The San Francisco 49ers headed to Cincinnati for their first road game of the 2011 season with a 1-1 record. After an excruciatingly slow first haft, which left the 49ers trailing 3-0, the 49ers found some life offensively and were able to put up 10 points in the fourth quarter and took the lead 13-6. 

Punter Andy Lee took matters (from his foot) into his own hands as he scrambled to take the last eight seconds off the clock by running out of the back of the end zone, attempting to run the clock wound down.

49ers vs. Bangles week 3 preview

The San Francisco 49ers first road game of the season will prove to be a major test for both players and coaches coming off a heartbreaking loss to the Dallas Cowboys in week 2.

A pick-um-game against the Cincinnati Bangles will test the 49ers ability to not only overcome a rough loss, but also to overcome an East Coast away game, where the 49ers have struggled in recent years.

The 49ers will be without Braylon Edwards, but will see Michael Crabtree and Shawntae Spencer return to action this week.

49ers fail to hold off Cowboys in Overtime (24-27)

Despite a San Francisco 49ers' 14-0 lead late in the second quarter (and a 24-14 lead early in the forth quarter), the on-the-road Dallas Cowboys were to overcome a two-score deficit and a loss coin toss in overtime to defeat the 49ers 27-24. 

Despite having never trailed in regulation, Head Coach Jim Harbaugh drew heavy criticism for a conservative game plan that many thought looked more like former Head Coach Mike Singletary's offense, than a promised West Coast style.

After two weeks of NFL play, the 49ers (1-1) are ranked 31st in overall offense.   

No more hiding for Harbaugh

This is it Jim. This is the game where you come out of hiding. This is the game where your mysterious “Blue Collar” offense rides the bench.

San Francisco 49ers’ Head Coach Jim Harbaugh is now facing a very real team with a chance to show a very real West Coast Offense to the Dallas Cowboys – and, a very impatient 49ers’ fan base. 

Sure, Harbaugh could play another conservative game, lose and have the rookie head coach reality carry him past the panic button. However, this is a defining moment for the new coach – and an underdog win over the cowboys would be a defining win as he starts his career.

As former 49ers’ NFL Hall of Fame player Ronnie Lott said, “He needs to change the culture,” and a win Sunday night would not only give a small step, but a giant leap for 49ers-kind in that direction.

Do the right thing 49ers, sign Gore now

“Never was so much owed by so many to so few.” – Winston Churchill, 1940

In the last decade, the San Francisco 49ers have endured a pounding on the gridiron. But nobody has endured more or given more than San Francisco 49ers running back Frank Gore.

Frank Gore during 2011 Training Camp
 (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma)

Not only has he fought intrepidly in the face of superior opponents, he’s been a staple of hard work in the off-season, excelled to become an elite athlete in his position, suffered many injuries, and endured physical poundings after physical poundings as offensive coordinator after offensive coordinator kept calling his number. In the age of drama-addicted media, he has somehow found a way to keep clean, focused on the moment, his team, and the ill-fated goals of success during his six-year career.

His poised and successful service deserve more then your typical NFL athlete. He’s not only an icon for the 49ers; he’s a rule model for the way professional athletes should behave. The 49ers owe a swift and complying contract extension with Gore. Not only would they pay for his ability, they would show that athletes with dedication, maturity and proven successes are the ones who deserve what they’re owed.

Smith goes old-school with facemask

Maybe Alex Smith’s problem all along has simply been his facemask. The projected starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers has changed it for the 2011 season, which now reflects the style the 49ers’ hall-of-fame quarterbacks’ wore.

Both Joe Montana and Steve young rocked the single-wire, oral protection only (SW-OPO) facemask throughout their careers. The SW-OPO facemask first showed up in the 1970s and hasn’t changed much since then. It was the “norm” for skill position players in the ’80s and ’90s. Receivers Dwight Clark and Terrell Owens also wore the same facemask during their respective “Catches” one and two. Owens’ slightly modified DW-OPO (double-wire oral protection only) had an additional bar across the middle and is more commonly seen today, however.

San Francisco wins 'Battle of the Bay' on runners' legs

The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Oakland Raiders 17-3 in their second game of the preseason.

The 49ers' offense showed improvement after the blitz crazed New Orleans Saints man handled the offensive line last week. 

The 49ers first-team offense put together three long drives on the ground and through the air. However, only 3 points were achieved after a blotched field goal and an interception. 

Braylon Edwards one-handed catch showed fans that their new high profile wideout could have a big impact on the offense this season. 

Video: post preseason game 1, player's take

The San Francisco 49ers did not fair well during their 3-24 loss to the New Orleans Saints Friday. However, the players are able to look at the bright spots and show no signs of hanging onto an irrelevant preseason loss.

Second team Quarterback Colin Kaepernick seemed happy to get his first NFL experience under his belt, and there is no doubt Place Kicker David Akers has still got it after 12 seasons in the NFL. The kick was Akers' first as a 49er.

Saints' struggles are silver lining

With anxious excitement to finally see NFL games in action, it’s hard to see through all the similarities of a real game and not want to look at it like a crystal ball of the team’s future.

With the first offensive play of the game, we saw a run up the middle for a one-yard gain, then a short pass across the middle for six. On third down, incomplete and the punt team runs on. The next possession… three-n-out, followed by a… three and out.

A slow start for the New Orleans Saints…

49ers' preseason underway, what to expect

Even for hardcore fans, preseason games get tryingly old FAST. But the early preseason games can show some luster – especially if you’ve got a new coaching staff, a new playbook and your roster has undergone major surgery.

The San Francisco 49ers will take the field Friday with more new faces since T.O. ‘n’ company jumped ship as the bottom fell out in 2004. A fan can only hope the other bookend has finally been placed for “The 49er Dark Age”.