Golden Nuggets: 49ers 24, Rams 24; Tie feels like loss

What, was there a football game? I didn't even notice. If there was a football game, why wasn't there a winner? Oh, did you mean 'soccer' football? Those 'matches' end in 'draws'. But not here in America! Not since 2008, when Donovan McNabb famously implied that he didn't know games could end in a tie has there been one in the NFL.

I"m just being bitter but it was a bad day all around for the team. I was at work and haven't been able to watch it yet. Not only were we unable to beat the St Louis Rams at home, we lost Alex Smith to a concussion, and with the new NFL protocol for dealing with head injuries, there's no telling when he'll be able to play again. It could be next week it could be next year.

Alex Smith's concussion and subsequent absence wasn't the only issue for us. How about the defense getting shredded for 458 yards and 24 points by one of the worst offenses in the league. How about losing the time of possession battle and the third down efficiency battle to the Rams. How about sloppy play, senseless penalties, and David Akers missing the game-winning kick. And how about the fact that we could have easily lost this game any number of ways, and very easily could have got beaten by 20 points had the Rams not played as sloppy as we did. I said in yesterday's Nuggets that if you can't beat the worst team in your division at home, you probably aren't going to win the Super Bowl. I stand by that. The one qualifier is that we lost our starting QB early on in the game. That's the only saving grace. Colin Kaepernick was slow to warm up, but once he got going, looked like a solid option. If he has to play next Monday against the Bears....

There's a ton of links....so there will be little commentary and a lot of linkage. Most of them will explain themselves.

Week 10: 49ers 24, Rams 24

Bay Area Sports Guy brings up some distressing points. We're supposed to be a Super Bowl contender, and the Rams came out more energized. We got beat on special teams, the defense looked bad, and offensively, well, we did what we were expected to, which wasn't much. | Maybe the 49ers aren't that great. (BASG)

Mike Sando has his rapid reactions following the game. The one positive for the Niners was that the special teams came through once, forcing a key fumble when they needed it. | Rapid reaction: Rams 24, 49ers 24 (OT). (Sando)

Here's another analysis piece. It lists a number of plays that, had they turned out different, would have led to this game not being a tie. A tie is like kissing your sister, remember? | Postgame analysis: 49ers 24, Rams 24. (CBS Sports)

Cam Inman gives us his thoughts on the game. He wonders why Jo-Lonn Dunbar didn't get a taunting penalty for his antics after hitting Alex Smith. Seems pretty similar to one that Dashon Goldson drew a few weeks back. He also notes that a Randy Moss jump ball fade at the end of regulation might have been in order. I agree, or else why did we sign the man. | Lingering thoughts after 49ers' first home tie since 1972. (Inman)

St Louis, San Francisco play to 24-24 tie. (Bay Area SB Nation)

Alex Smith suffers concussion as 49ers, Rams end in tie. (Gin)

Fantastic finish? Rams, 49ers cannot decide. (Sando)

49ers QB Alex Smith 'shaken up' following concussion; Colin Kaepernick solid in relief. (CBS Sports)

49ers and Rams finish in wild tie. (Branch)

Final: 49ers 24, Rams 24. (Inman)

Maiocco's instant replay: 49ers 24, Rams 24. (Maiocco)

49ers, Rams tie; Alex Smith hurt. (Branch)

Tie game leaves Frank Gore feeling sore. (Maiocco)

49ers-Rams finish in 24-24 tie. (49ers.com)

Who tied in here? 49ers locker room somber after 24-24 split. (Barrows)

49ers not sure how to feel after 24-24 tie. (Maiocco)

Rams punter says 49ers were "unsound," takes advantage. (Barrows)

What a kick: Rams fool 49ers twice with fake punts. (Branch)

Notebook: Colin Kaepernick answers call. (49ers.com)

49ers beaten to the punch. (Branch)

Alex Smith Concussion

There's been a lot of speculation about which hit caused Alex Smith's concussion. It appears Matt Maiocco has the answer. | Alex Smith sustained concussion on sneak. (Maiocco)

Alex Smith's concussion hurts 49ers. (SF Gate)

What happens next for Alex Smith. (SF Gate)

Videos

GameDay: St Louis Rams vs San Francisco 49ers highlights. (NFL.com)

Press Pass: Jim Harbaugh. (49ers.com)

Press Pass: Colin Kaepernick. (49ers.com)

Cover 2: 49ers vs Rams. (49ers.com)

49ers play Rams to a draw. (49ers.com)

Being a Sheep

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