Football (american football to those across the pond!)

[Ursa major]

Don't remind me, Parson. But I suppose it's a sharp reminder of why people, those who aren't dyed-in-the-wool partisan fans, like sport: the unpredictability and the possibility that the underdog can win through.

But please: not two weeks in a row....

[Grimward]

I think, should the unlikely happen two weeks in a row, that we will have to afford something approaching credibility to Denver and Double T....at the very least, I will feel obliged to do so.

[Parson]

Perhaps you could all come to Iowa and hear a sermon on faith?

[Grimward]

Don't need to. Get one every Sunday while playing guitar at the 11:30 mass.

But....I will say that with all the other *&%$# that clouds good clean football these days, it's a refreshing change of pace to have something more honest and grounded as the motivation, for a change.

[Ursa major]

Originally Posted by Parson

Perhaps you could all come to Iowa and hear a sermon on faith?

My attendance would have to be miraculous: my passport has expired.

[Parson]

Originally Posted by Grimward

Don't need to. Get one every Sunday while playing guitar at the 11:30 mass.

But....I will say that with all the other *&%$# that clouds good clean football these days, it's a refreshing change of pace to have something more honest and grounded as the motivation, for a change.

I agree; and I would love a good guitar player. But as a grandfather I don't quite measure up in the priest category

Originally Posted by Ursa major

My attendance would have to be miraculous: my passport has expired.

Well we are talking about "faith" here.

[J-Sun]

Speaking of faith, I believe in the 49ers D now - they've converted me. A forced fumble, a sack, a pick - almost for 6. I have many years of 49ers antipathy stored up and I picked the Saints but that isn't at all stopping me from rooting for the defense.

[Culhwch]

I have faith Brees and Payton will make adjustments. If Thomas doesn't come back, though, that is a worry. Saints D hold SF to the field goal there - that's a better start to the second quarter. If the Saints can score once or twice before the half I'll feel a whole lot more comfortable.

[J-Sun]

Well, you got one score though I doubt Graham knows who the President is right now (Thomas definitely doesn't). For a minute there, after the fumbled kickoff, I had the feeling this was going to be like the Dallas/Philly game a couple-three years back where Dallas turned it over about 10 times in an unmitigated disaster and lost 44-6. But SF's defense lost focus and NO's offense regained it and it seems back under control now.

-- A +3 turnover ratio (was +4 until the last-minute inconsequential fumble) gets you +3 points. Crazy.

[Culhwch]

Originally Posted by J-Sun

-- A +3 turnover ratio (was +4 until the last-minute inconsequential fumble) gets you +3 points. Crazy.

If you had told me they'd give it away four times for only a three point deficit, I'd have been happy enough. SF offense hasn't looked dangerous without field position, so if the Saints limit turnovers, I like our chances...

[J-Sun]

Especially if SF keeps throwing it incomplete on 1st down, running on 2nd and 10, and doing nothing about the pressure on 3rd and long. They've got to lead with the run, establish control, eat the clock. Yeah, SF's offense looks thoroughly anemic.

[Culhwch]

Seriously, call for the fair catch! No more returns!

[J-Sun]

Moose agreed with me, saying he'd like to see them commit to the run. I don't know what the heck they thought they were doing with that gimmick play but it smelled to me of a team that's losing, whatever the scoreboard says.

I agree they haven't had much luck with the return game but they avoided the turnover problem this time by letting it roll about 30 yards.

[Culhwch]

Not going to win with field goals. Niners defense doing a good job in this second half. Don't like how quiet the Saints offense has been this half...

[J-Sun]

Yep, all comes down to this drive - the 49ers D holds and they win. Saints score a TD and they win.

-- Okay, it all comes down to this drive and vice versa with the Xs and Os.

-- WOW. Sorry Cul (and all of us who picked the Saints) but that was a great game. It's weird to talk about a team giving up 32 points playing a great defensive game but the 32 came from superlative offensive play. I haven't really been able to see the 49ers so was going on the numbers and who they'd played and was wondering but to actually see them and see such sound fundamentals, for the most part, says that they're a really good defense, regardless of who they've played. It's nice to see.

Oh, and who'd'a thunk the 49ers could put up 36? I really thought the Saints would have to be held to 24 or less.