MASOCHIST MASTERPIECE

NINERS BEAT BENGALS 13-8

By Scary Barry Rodriguez       September 27, 2011

( San Francisco ) - I was having a nightmare, which produced a headache and then there was this game ! This last Sunday the San Francisco 49ers and the Cincinnati Bengals engaged in what has to be one of the least entertaining games of all time. In a game where the Niners had 12 penalties for 70 yards and allowed five quarterback sacks the only thing that went right for San Francisco was the final score.

The first half for both teams was a write off. Poor Niner RB Frank Gore was hit in the backfield more than once and it was again hunting season on QB Alex Smith. The Niner offensive line made the Bengals defensive line look like the fabled " Monsters of the Midway ". They seemed camped out in the Niner backfield. The San Francisco defense was stout as always and held Cincinnati to one field goal in the first half. Yes , they have a rookie quarterback but the defense has played good every game !

The second half for the 49ers was a mirror of the first half until the fourth quarter when Vernon Davis stepped up and caught many key passes. He finished with eight passes for 114 yards. In the fourth quarter Alex Smith managed to direct a 10 play 72 yard drive which culminated in           Kendall Hunter rushing into the end zone from seven yards out with 3:59 left on the game clock. This put the score at 10-6. Prior to this the Begals had managed six points on two field goals and David Akers had one field goal for the Niners up to this point. Later Akers booted a 53 yard field goal through the uprights to put the Niners ahead 13-6.

Yet even late in the game there was the possibility that Cincinnati  could tie the game or win it given the low score ! The Niner defense rose to the occasion as Carlos Rodgers and Reggie Smith had fourth quarter interceptions. Reggie Smith snuffed out any Bengal chance by making a beautiful fingertip interception with under two minutes left. Once again a couple of great individual efforts made up for totally ughly football !

Alex Smith didn't commit any turnovers and completed 20 of 30 passes . He didn't get much protection either. If the Bengals proved difficult for the Niner offensive line than what will happen next week against the agressive Philadelphia Eagles front line ? Scoring 13 points isn't going to beat Michael Vick and the Eagles ! Ex Oakland Raider coach John Madden has defended the coaching of Jim Harbaugh but he isn't a 49er season ticket holder. This season is just a countdown to the Niners leaving the bay area.

Note : The Scary one had the occasion to interview David Akers in Honolulu, Hawaii at the last Pro Bowl. He is a great guy and that goes for his entire family too ! His addition to the San Francisco 49ers was a very positive development.
 
Courtesy of Scary Merlin Productions. BarryRodriguez (c) 2011. All Rights Reserved.