San Francisco Looking for Answers as Season Winds Down

Just a week ago, the remaining schedule for the San Francisco 49ers seemed like a procession into the playoffs.

The team was playing well, the schedule looked promising and all was good in 49er land.

However, following a 21-19 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, a game that made San Francisco look less than super in a lot of ways, many are wondering just how the 49ers (10-3) will go into the playoffs. Riding high or limping in.

Arizona (6-7) won for the fifth time in their last six games with a come-from-behind win.

In the win, they managed to a) shut down the running game, b) keep Alex Smith from finding open receivers and c) stop the 49ers in the red zone forcing four David Akers field goals.

Let’s looks at each in depth.

Frank Gore continued to find running the ball a tough chore, as he ran just 10 times for 72 yards. It’s his fifth straight game under 100 yards rushing (After 5 straight games over 100 yards). When Gore is not running the 49ers must go to the passing game.

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That’s where the second failure comes, in the form of an 18-for-37 passing day by Smith for just 175 yards. That percentage won’t win many football games.

Finally the red zone offense was simply not working. Of Akers’ four field goals, three of them were under 28 yards, forcing the 49ers to come away from touchdown scoring chances with three points. In a two-point loss, that speaks volumes.

Now for that road to the playoffs I spoke of earlier. This Monday, San Francisco hosts Pittsburgh, who will not have James Harrison and may or may not have injured quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. With or without those two, the Steelers will be a tough match up for San Francisco. Then, they travel to Seattle, a team that has won four of their last five and scored 30 points their last two games at home. They end on the road against hapless St. Louis, but by then a few goals may be out the window.

The loss put the 49ers into a tie with New Orleans for home field and a first round bye in the playoffs. Many will make the argument that New Orleans is playing much better football right now and the 49ers would not survive playing the Saints in their home dome.

It may not matter anyway. If the 49ers can’t find away to get more production from their offense, the defense may not be able to save the day much longer.

By Don August
ProFootball-fans.com San Francisco 49ers Correspondent