Carolina could have won this football game or at least put themselves in better position to win this game. They found themselves on the goal line twice in the first half, and Panthers only came away with three points. In a game where scoring is valued like a Honus Wagner baseball card, not getting a touchdown is crushing to a team's chances. Much of the blame can fall on offensive coordinator Mike Shula. I felt like he became tight around the goal line with the play calling. It seemed like Carolina had no creation as everything was between the tackles rather than trying to spread out San Francisco's defense. It made no sense. I still defend going for it on fourth and goal as they got the ball back and scored a subsequent touchdown, but the creativity was like a gargoyle coached the offense. I do not know if Carolina wins the game with two touchdowns in those situations, but it at least would give them a chance in the second half.
You could make an argument San Francisco getting Anquan Boldin for a sixth-round pick is the best trade in the last five years. Baltimore thought he was washed up after winning the Super Bowl, and dropped him to San Francisco. He is a big game player without question. Boldin lives for the playoffs, and added another feather in his hat with a big 136 yard performance with eight catches and a touchdown averaging 17 yards a catch. This is another notch in the belt for Boldin's impressive season with his first 1,000-plus season since 2009 as well as having seven touchdowns which was the combined total of 2011 and 2012 season. To think, San Francisco basically picked this guy up for a bag of football is stunning. Boldin has been great this season, and will be in for a tough game against the Seattle defense next week. After Eddie Lacy's big performance last week, people started to question if San Francisco's run defense might not be what it was throughout the year. They stepped up in a major way. Cam Newton was the leading rusher with only 10 carries and 54 yards. That worked two-fold as Newton did not really slide leaving his exposed to the hard-hitting Niners defense which I think affected him in the second half, and they also shut him down from being a game-changer with his legs. DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert were quiet as well getting a big day from the likes of Justin Smith and Navarro Bowman. With the trend in the playoffs being running the football, it is important San Francisco's rush defense looks like the best out of the bunch.
Even with how good Colin Kaepernick has been in the last two years, he struggles at Seattle more so than any other stadium. It seems like this is the place that makes him the most normal versus any other place in the NFL. We will talk more about this as the week moves on, but Kaepernick needs to step up in the moment before the narrative gets bigger. It is just one of many storylines with these two rivals in arguably the best NFL rivalry fight for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Charlie.
Even with how good Colin Kaepernick has been in the last two years, he struggles at Seattle more so than any other stadium. It seems like this is the place that makes him the most normal versus any other place in the NFL. We will talk more about this as the week moves on, but Kaepernick needs to step up in the moment before the narrative gets bigger. It is just one of many storylines with these two rivals in arguably the best NFL rivalry fight for the right to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.
Charlie.
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