The San Francisco 49ers didn't win pretty on Sunday, but they won. They defeated the Arizona Cardinals 23-20, and secured a first round matchup with the Green Bay Packers. Down below I've posted some notable performances from the day.
The 49ers have a long road ahead of them as they prepare for the Packers. They will require at least two road wins if they want to get back to the Super Bowl. They came up a few yards short last season, but they're back in the tournament with another huge opportunity. They still have some question marks to figure out, but the team is coming together when they need it.
After the game, I found myself thinking about a great Jim Harbaugh quote from the preseason. He was asked about the 49ers keeping five pass rushers when they broke camp, and he responded with "Heck yeah, we're the San Francisco 49ers, we can do whatever we want."
That's exactly the kind of attitude this team carries from game to game. They're the San Francisco 49ers, and they can do whatever they want. There is a lot of football to be played, but this team has the talent to beat anybody in January and February. They actually have to go out and do it, but this team has what it takes to do it. It should make for a fun postseason.
Can the 49ers win in Green Bay? Per Jim Harbaugh Aug 29: "Heck yeah, we're the San Francisco 49ers, we can do whatever we want."
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) December 30, 2013
Can the 49ers win playoff game in Seattle? Per Jim Harbaugh Aug 29: "Heck yeah, we're the San Francisco 49ers, we can do whatever we want."
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) December 30, 2013
Can the 49ers win Super Bowl XLVIII? Per Jim Harbaugh Aug 29: "Heck yeah, we're the San Francisco 49ers, we can do whatever we want."
— Niners Nation (@NinersNation) December 30, 2013
With The Win...
- The 49ers improved to 17-7 on the road since head coach Jim Harbaugh took over in 2011. The 49ers .708 win percentage is t-1st in the NFL during that span.
Best Road Win % In The NFL Since 2011 | |||
Rank | Team | Record | Win % |
1t. | San Francisco 49ers | 17-7 | .708 |
17-7 | .708 | ||
3. | 16-8 | .667 | |
4. | Green Bay Packers | 15-9 | .625 |
5. | 14-10 | .583 | |
- The 49ers improved their all-time record against Arz. to 28-17, and 12-9 against the Cardinals on the road.
- The 49ers improved their record to 18-6 in the final four games of the regular season since 2008, which is the t-3rd best win percentage (.750) in the NFL during that span.
| Best Win % In The Final Four Games Of The Regular Season Since 2008 | |||
Rank | Team | Record | Win % |
1t. | New England Patriots | 21-3 | .870 |
21-3 | .870 | ||
3t. | San Francisco 49ers | 18-6 | .750 |
18-6 | .750 | ||
5. | 16-8 | .667 | |
- It marks the 49ers 4th straight win against the Cardinals, including 9 out of the last 10 matchups.
- San Francisco swept the season series against Arz. for the 4th time in the last 5 seasons.
- Harbaugh improved his record as a head coach to 13-4-1 against NFC West opponents since 2011, and 5-1 this season.
- Harbaugh improved his record as a head coach against the Cardinals to 5-1.
- Harbaugh improved his record as a head coach to 11-3 in the month of December.
Turning Takeaways Into Points
- According to the Elias Sports Bureau, the 49ers scored 129 points off of turnovers this season, the third-most by the team since 1986 (150 in 1986; 139 in 1997).
Putting Points Up Early
- The 49ers scored 17 points in the 1st qtr., marking the most points scored by the team in the 1st qtr. since 10/27/02 (17 points vs. Arz.).
Welcome Back Anquan
- WR Anquan Boldin registered 9 recepts. for 149 yds. and 1 TD. Boldin now has 7 rec. TDs on the season and 65 career rec. TDs. This marks the 35th career 100-yd. rec. game for Boldin, which is the 6th most among all active players.
| Most Career 100-yd. Receiving Games Among Active Players | ||
Rank | Name | Games |
1. | Andre Johnson, Hou. | 50 |
2. | Steve Smith, Car. | 43 |
3. | Reggie Wayne, Ind. | 42 |
4. | Calvin Johnson, Det. | 39 |
5. | Larry Fitzgerald, Arz. | 36 |
6. | Anquan Boldin, SF | 35 |
- Boldin registered 6 recepts. for 106 yds. and 1 TD in the 1st qtr., marking just the third time in his career he notched 100 yds. or more in a qtr. [134 at Det. (9/7/03 - 3rd qtr.); 117 vs. Arz. (10/30/11 - 3rd qtr.)].
- Boldin's 6 recepts. in the 1st qtr. tied his career high for most recepts. in any quarter [6 recepts. at NYJ (9/28/08 - 4th qtr.); 6 recepts. vs. StL (12/27/09 - 2nd qtr.); 6 recepts. vs. Cle. (9/27/12 - 3rd qtr.)].
- Boldin's 63-yd. recept. was his longest since 9/14/08 (79t vs. Mia.)
- With 857 career recepts., Boldin now ranks 20th in NFL history for the most career recepts.
Most Receptions In NFL History | ||
Rank | Player | Recepts. |
18. | Jimmy Smith | 862 |
19. | Muhsin Muhammad | 860 |
20. | Anquan Boldin | 857 |
21. | Irving Fryar | 851 |
22. | Rod Smith | 849 |
Davis Sets Franchise Record
- With 45 rec. yds. against the Cardinals, TE Vernon Davis (5,201) passed TE Brent Jones (5,195) for the most career rec. yds. by a TE in franchise history. He also moved into 7th place on the 49ers all-time rec. yds. list.
- Davis notched his 13th TD of the season on a 3-yd. TD pass from QB Colin Kaepernick, tying his career-high (13 TDs in 2009).
- With 53 career TD recepts., Davis is now t-6th in NFL history for the most TDs by a tight end (Dallas Clark - 53).
| Most Career Rec. TDs Among TEs In NFL History | ||
Rank | Player | TDs |
1. | Tony Gonzalez | 111 |
2. | Antonio Gates | 87 |
3. | Shannon Sharpe | 62 |
4. | Jerry Smith | 60 |
5. | Wesley Walls | 54 |
6t. | Vernon Davis | 53 |
Dallas Clark | 53 | |
8t. | Dave Casper | 52 |
Jason Witten | 52 | |
Ben Coates | 50 | |
Defensive Player Of The Year?
- LB NaVorro Bowman picked off Cardinals QB Carson Palmer, marking his 2nd INT of the season and 3rd of his career. The INT led to a 4-yd. TD pass from QB Colin Kaepernick to WR Anquan Boldin.
- Bowman notched his 4th FF of the season, 5th of his career, striping the ball from Cardinals RB Rashard Mendenhall. He also recovered the loose ball, marking his 2nd FR of the season, 5th of his career.
- Bowman is just the 2nd player in the NFL this season and the first 49er since 2009 to register 1 INT, 1 FF and 1 FR in the same game [Ind. LB Jerrell Freeman vs. KC (12/22/13); CB Dre Bly vs. Det. (12/27/09)].
- Bowman notched his 5th sack of the season, 9th of his career, as he brought down Palmer in the 4th qtr.
Oh Kaptain, Our Kaptain
- QBColin Kaepernicknotched his second-career 300+ yd. passing performance as he went 21 of 34 for 310 yds., 2 TDs and a quarterback rating of 111.2. The 49ers improved to 15-0 when he starts and has a QB rating of 90.0 or higher.
• With 24 yds. rushing on 4 atts., Kaepernick finished with 524 yds. on the ground during the season which is the 2nd most by a quarterback in franchise history.
| Most Rushing Yds. By A QB In A Single-Season In 49ers Franchise History | ||
Rank | Player | Yds. |
1. | Steve Young, 1992 | 537 |
2. | Colin Kaepernick, 2013 | 524 |
3. | Billy Kilmer, 1961 | 509 |
4. | Billy Kilmer, 1962 | 478 |
5. | Steve Young, 1998 | 454 |
• Kaepernick became the first 49ers QB to throw 20 TD passes in a season since 2002 (QB Jeff Garcia - 21).
• In the first quarter, Kaepernick found WR Anquan Boldin for a 63-yd. gain, which is the 2nd longest pass play for him.
The Game Winner
- K Phil Dawson nailed 2 FGs (56, 40) in the final two minutes of the game to give the 49ers the 23-20 win. He connected on 3 of 4 FGs and both PATs on the day.
- Dawson made 27 consecutive FGs, the longest streak of consecutive FGs made in 49ers franchise history.
| Player (Timeframe) | FGs |
1. | Phil Dawson (10/6/13 - 12/29/13) | 27 |
2. | Joe Nedney (11/26/06 - 9/30/07) | 18 |
3. | Mike Cofer (12/4/88 - 10/1/89) | 17 |
4t. | Wade Richey (12/27/98 - 11/7/99) | 16 |
Gary Anderson (9/14/97 - 11/10/97) | 16 |
- With 3 FGs made against the Cardinals, Dawson finished the regular season with the 2nd most made FGs in franchise history.
Most FGs Made In A Single Season | |||
Rank | Player | Year | FGs |
1. | David Akers | 2011 | 44 |
2t. | Phil Dawson | 2013 | 32 |
Jeff Wilkins | 1996 | 30 | |
4t. | David Akers | 2012 | 29 |
Joe Nedney | 2008 | 29 | |
Joe Nedney | 2006 | 29 | |
Gary Anderson | 1997 | 29 | |
Mike Cofer | 1989 | 29 | |
- With 140 points scored this season, Dawson finished the 2013 regular season with the 2nd most points scored in 49ers franchise history.
Most Points In A Single Season | |||
Rank | Player | Year | Points |
1. | David Akers | 2011 | 166 |
2. | Phil Dawson | 2013 | 140 |
3. | Jerry Rice | 1987 | 138 |
4. | Mike Cofer | 1989 | 136 |
5t. | David Akers | 2012 | 131 |
Ray Wersching | 1984 | 131 | |
Tackle Eligible
• T Joe Staley hauled in his second career reception on a 14-yd. pass from QB Colin Kaepernick. His first career recept. was on 10/30/11 vs. Cle. (17 yds).