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Here's our second game thread.  Depending on how busy this thread gets we might have a third thread, but either way, ninjames will be here with the recap shortly after the game.

GO NINERS!

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Date: January 3, 2009
Time: 10:00am PST
Location: Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, MO
Records: 49ers (7-8) Rams (1-14)
Bodoglife.com Spread: 49ers -7; Over/Under 40.5; Money Line: 49ers -320, Rams +260 - Seeing as I can finally put some money down, I'm taking the 49ers to cover.  I'm actually tempted by the under.  What I expected against the Lions (something along the lines of 27-6), I could see happening this weekend in St. Louis.
Weather: Room temperature in the dome with a hint of AC
TV Broadcast: FOX - Matt Vasgersian, Ross Tucker
Radio: 107.7 The Bone, 680/1050 KNBR - Ted Robinson, Gary Plummer, Rod Brooks
Spanish Radio: KIQI 1010-AM, KATD 990-AM - Mathias Godinez, Melvin Moran, Marcos Gutierrez
Rams Coverage: Turf Show Times

Week 17 Prediction Contest: If you miss the early games, you can still pick the late games.

Sports Bar Thread

Injuries
49ers: Out - CB Nate Clements (shoulder), K Joe Nedney (left hamstring); Questionable - WR Isaac Bruce (ankle), T Joe Staley (knee), K Ricky Schmitt (left groin); Probable - QB Shaun Hill (back), G Chilo Rachal (knee), RB Glen Coffee (thigh)

Rams: Out - CB Quincy Butler (knee), G Mark Setterstrom (tricep); Doubtful - OT Jason Smith (concussion); Questionable - RB Steven Jackson (back), LB Paris Lenon (toe), DE Leonard Little (knee); Probable - WR Donnie Avery (thigh), LB James Laurinaitis (knee)

And so we wrap up the final game of the 2009 season, here on the third day of 2010.  Jed was right...the season did NOT end in December.  But seriously, I'd really like to wipe the floor with the Rams to end this season on a positive note.  The team has taken steps forward in many areas, but also taken steps back in some areas.  However, as a whole, I do think they've moved forward.  There are holes to be filled in the offseason, but for now, let's enjoy one last 49ers game.  Hopefully next August will be here before we know it.

I'll be away from my computer but will be adding game threads through my phone.  I'm not sure when yet, but it'll likely be around 11:30 or noon, depending on how many comments we have in this first thread.

GO NINERS!

Congratulations are in order for running back Frank Gore as he surpassed 1,000 yards for the fourth straight season.  He is the only running back in 49ers history to do that.  The run came in the third quarter with 1:47 to go.  The 49ers had 2nd and goal from just inside the Lions 6.  The run was a basic dive play up the middle out of the I-formation.  Gore got down to about the 1 inch line as his knee made contact with the ground just before he passed the goal line.

Gore continues his march through the 49ers record books.  There is still a quarter to play and Frank Gore stands 92 yards behind Garrison Hearst for 4th all-time among 49ers running backs.  The 49ers lead 20-3 and will be looking to burn time off the clock, meaning Gore should get some more carries before this thing is through.

Congratulations to Frank Gore on another big achievement.

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Well this game has certainly been a stinker.  The 49ers seemed to be getting something going at the end of the half, but naturally it ended with a blocked field goal.  Offensively, the only upside to the first half was that the team didn't turn the ball over, and Ricky Schmitt wasn't completely awful.  While he did have the field goal blocked, he's at least hit two other field goals to give the 49ers the first half lead.  All in all, it's not exactly the kind of offensive showing any of us wanted to see in this kind of game.  Defensively, the 49ers have certainly come to play.  They've managed a pair of sacks, two fumbles and an interception.  Calvin Johnson has basically been a one-man show on offense for the Lions, setting up their only points with a catch and two rushes on reverses.

It will be interesting to see how this second half plays out.  Will the offense show up?  Will the defense tire out and start giving up some big plays to Megatron?  I know some folks are fine with a loss for draft pick purposes, but I view a loss to the Lions as an embarrassment.  Let's try and avoid that.

GO NINERS!

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Date: December 27, 2009
Time: 1:05pm PST
Location: Bill Walsh Field @ Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA
Records: 49ers (6-8) Lions (2-12)
Bodoglife.com Spread: 49ers -14; Over/Under 41; Money Line: 49ers -800, Lions +600 - If the 49ers cover the spread I'd imagine the game would go over as well.  I'll take the 49ers in what hopefully will be a blowout.
Weather: 53°F, 3mph NE Wind
TV Broadcast: FOX - Dick Stockton, Charles Davis
Radio: 107.7 The Bone, 680/1050 KNBR - Ted Robinson, Gary Plummer, Rod Brooks
Spanish Radio: KIQI 1010-AM, KATD 990-AM - Mathias Godinez, Melvin Moran, Marcos Gutierrez
Lions Coverage: Pride of Detroit

Week 16 Prediction Contest: Remember that if you didn't get in your 49ers prediction you can use the wildcard game on Sunday.

Sports Bar Thread

Injuries
49ers: Out - CB Nate Clements (shoulder), K Joe Nedney (left hamstring); Doubtful - WR Isaac Bruce (ankle), Glen Coffee (hamstring); Probable - CB Marcus Hudson (back), RB Moran Norris (toe), RB Michael Robinson (shoulder), CB Shawntae Spencer (ankle), LB Takeo Spikes (hamstring), T Joe Staley (knee, elbow)

Lions: Out - CB Phillip Buchanon (shoulder), QB Matthew Stafford (left shoulder); Questionable - LB Vinnie Ciurcio (ankle), DT Joe Cohen (knee), LB Larry Foote (foot), S Louis Delmas (ankle), WR Dennis Northcutt (groin); Probable - DT Grady Jackson (knee), C Dominic Raiola (knee), WR Calvin Johnson (knee), LS Don Muhlbach (concussion), DE Dewayne White (toe)

The "second season" if you will, begins today.  The 49ers have been eliminated from playoff contention so now it's all about pride and building towards next year.  The 49ers are two touchdown favorites today, and it'd be nice to see them bury the Lions early.  We want to see the defense shut down the Lions.  We want to see Alex Smith pick apart the Lions secondary.  We want to see Frank Gore run wild.  There is plenty to enjoy in the game, even if it means nothing for playoff purposes.

GO NINERS!

The 49ers kick off at 1:05pm pacific time and we'll have our game thread up at 12:45.  In the meantime, the Carolina Panthers kick off at 10am at the Meadowlands against the New York Giants.  The Panthers annoyed us all with their rather impressive upset of the Minnesota Vikings.  With their sixth win last week, the Panthers can now get no better than 6th draft pick.  Still some great draft options so a couple more losses would certainly be welcome.

The morning provides us with several other intriguing games worth keeping an eye on for entertainment value and for 49ers value.  The 5-9 Bills travel to the 7-7 Falcons, which means a Bills win pushes them closer to a better record than Carolina.  The 5-9 Raiders travel to the 3-11 Browns, so a win by the Raiders would be nice.  Of course, even though the Raiders beat teams like Pittsburgh, Philly and Denver, I would not be remotely shocked by a Browns upset.

Elsewhere, the Texans face the Dolphins in a playoff elimination battle between 7-7 squads, and the 7-7 Steelers host the Ravens in a must-win for Pittsburgh.  So must win games across the board.  If you haven't checked out Josh Branco's national preview, make sure you do that.  Enjoy, and if you're in and out, we'll see you back here at 1 for the 49ers game.

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Date: January 10, 1982
Time: 1:05pm PST (estimated time)
Location: Candlestick Park, San Francisco, CA
Records: 49ers (13-3) Cowboys (12-4)
Spread: Cowboys -3: Thanks to Jimmy Shapiro at Bodog for finding this for me.  The 49ers rolled Dallas 45-14 earlier in the season at home, but as arnec's preview shows, the Cowboys were confident that game was a fluke.  As a 49ers fan I would definitely take the 49ers to cover.
Weather: 52°F, 15mph NNW Wind
TV Broadcast: CBS - Vin Scully, Hank Stram, Irv Cross
Radio: CBS Radio - Pat Summerall, Jack Buck
Cowboys Coverage: Blogging the Boys (obviously not a 1981 website, but an old version of Blogging the Boys to keep with the retro nature of this game)

So here we are.  The 49ers and Cowboys squaring off for a chance to reach the Super Bowl.  Our 49ers are a franchise on the rise, finishing the regular season with their best record since joining the NFL.  For those who questioned Bill Walsh's new offensive system, this "West Coast" offense, led by young Joe Montana could very well be the wave of the future.  The 49ers are young but extremely talented.  It's obviously waaaaay too early to start talking about a dynasty, but with incredible young talent in place on both sides of the ball, the 49ers appear to be a franchise on the verge of greatness.

The 49ers face a veteran Cowboys franchise looking to maintain their spot at the top of the mountain.  The Cowboys went to four Super Bowls in the 70s and look to continue their run of excellence.  The Cowboys are in their 15th playoff appearance in 16 seasons.  Three of those appearances in the early 70s involved eliminating the 49ers, twice in conference championship games.  Today, the 49ers can avenge that and potentially begin turning the tide in NFC dominance.

This should be a tough battle and I really don't expect a blowout like we saw back in week 6.  This Cowboys team will come ready to play and I would imagine this will come down pretty close to the wire.  We're one win away from the first Super Bowl in franchise history.  Time to step up and take care of business!

Fooch's Note: Don't forget to check out our game thread/scouting report for the Hawaii Bowl.

GO NINERS!

Projected starting lineups after the jump...

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I have to say that it's rather amusing how frequently the Carolina Panthers have gotten on national television in spite of being a fairly awful team.  The Panthers were at Dallas week 3 on Monday Night, home against Miami week 11 on Thursday night, and now find themselves hosting the Minnesota Vikings on NBC's Sunday Night Football.  Speaking of which, if you don't have access to a tv this evening, you can watch Sunday Night Football online at MSNBC.com.

In spite of their awful nature, this excess of tv coverage has provided 49ers fans a chance to watch their second first round draft pick continue it's assent up the draft board.  The Panthers are 0-2 on national television, and we're hoping they'll luck out and drop to 0-3.  The draft board remains rather interesting in terms of the the top 11 picks.  All of the 5-8 teams lost today, while the Raiders won to improve to 5-9.  If the Panthers win tonight they move into a tie with our beloved 49ers.  The 49ers have the tiebreaker due to strength of schedule, but if they're tied it doesn't really matter for our purposes.  If the Panthers were to lose tonight, that Raiders win makes things all the more interesting as we'd have five teams tied at 5-9, with the potential of a 6th team if the Redskins can upset the Giants at home tomorrow night.

It absolutely kills me to have to root for the QB who shall not be named, but we need a Vikings win tonight.  A loss by the Vikings and our rooting would be for naught.  The Vikings need a win to climb to only 1 game back of the Saints in the race for home field throughout the playoffs.  So the Vikings have a whole ton to play for.  The Panthers sit as a 9 point underdog, so let's hope they don't decide to shock folks tonight.