Golden Nuggets: Trying (and failing) to make sense of Sunday Night

Good morning everyone. It's now Thursday, and I still can't explain what exactly happened Sunday Night. I'm sure going into hibernation for two days and ignoring everything sports related didn't help, but hey, I'm human. Chris Collinsworth probably wants all of us to believe that Quinton Dial's hit to the sternum of Jay Cutler was some form of voodoo that woke up the sleeping giants that are the Bears. While that might be what passes for color commentary these days, somehow I don't think that was the case. Was it some combination of turnovers, abandoning the run, general stupidity, and terrible terrible officiating? I don't want to think about it...

Through two weeks, this season really isn't all that much fun to watch. Nonstop complaining about officiating seems like such a Raider fan thing to do, but that is exactly how I find myself spending my Sundays lately. I get that the officials didn't turn the ball over four times. But I can only witness a third and long defensive stop mutilated by flags so many times before I finally lose my mind and punch a hole through my TV. Some of the penalties can probably be attributed to young players learning the game, but we will have to see if this improves as the weeks pass. I really don't want my blood pressure to go any higher in my early 20s. To the links!

49ers and Miscellaneous:

(Transcript) Harbaugh: "Feel like we dodged a bullet with Vernon." (Cohn)

Harbaugh hopeful Davis, McDonald will play vs. Cardinals (Maiocco)

(Transcript) Kaepernick says the NFL fined him more than $11,000 for the inappropriate language penalty (Cohn)

49ers notes: Kaepernick plans to appeal $11,000 fine for ‘inappropriate language’ (Barrows)

Kaepernick: 'Execution' reason third-and-six run play failed (Maiocco)

49ers practice report: Staley limited with knee injury (Maiocco)

Injury reports: Joe Staley limited with knee injury; Cardinals deactivate Dwyer (Barrows)

A seamless transition for Bethea (Scout)

Alex Boone tells NFL to let players play: "We’re not going to be able to walk 15 years down the road. But it’s fine." (BASG)

BASGcast (Ep. 109): Jeff Deeney from Pro Football Focus talks 49ers, advanced stats (BASG)

Chris Culliver fires back at Jimmy Fallon with really long hashtags (BASG)

Ellingtons will make it a family affair this Sunday when 49ers visit Arizona Cardinals (Barrows)

Cardinals:

Arians expects a full effort from the 49ers on Sunday (Gin)

Arians believes Ward was a victim of great offense (Gin)

Radar on rookie: Cards could size up 49ers’ Ward on Sunday (Branch)

Cardinals coach can't fathom 49ers blowing a lead (Maiocco)

Drew Stanton on track to start for Cardinals vs. 49ers (NFL)

Cardinals top backup RB Jonathan Dwyer arrested for domestic assault; Stanford’s Taylor next on depth chart (Inman)

Andre Ellington: Foot Injury is 'Day-to-Day' (49ers)

Ray McDonald:

49ers’ Ray McDonald not poised to join Vikings’ Adrian Peterson on exempt list (Inman)

Nancy Pelosi: Ray McDonald Should Not Be Allowed to Play (NBC)

Now that Adrian Peterson has been taken off the field by the NFL and Vikings, will it change the way the Panthers and 49ers are handling controversy? (Kawakami)