My impressions of Saturday's games:
I felt that the jock sniffers (and certainly his own coach) unfairly focused on Vernon Davis, instead of Alex Smith, after that dramatic last second TD. Why was so much attention paid to a catch that every NFL receiver should make, every time? I can't imagine Drew Brees or Aaron Rodgers being practically ignored in such a situation.
Combined with his clutch, athletic TD run a bit earlier, the story should have been Alex Smith's incredibly clutch play down the stretch. Instead, drama queen Davis was embraced and kissed by Jim "Psycho" Harbaugh, as the cameras lovingly zoomed in, while the true hero-Alex Smith-remained lost in the background, presumably with the white special teams' demons. Why wasn't Harbaugh hugging the real hero; his much maligned QB?
Anyway, I was glad to see the 49ers win, primarily because of Alex Smith. I've had more than enough of the "win it for Katrina" nonsense, and as I've noted before, no QB in the league gets the kind of consistent protection, on nearly every play (not to mention the stat-inflating playbook, featuring lots of short TD passes that should be running plays) that Brees does. He's undeniably good, but I'd like to see what he'd do behind even an average line.
The Patriots were awesome, and it was great to see Gronk shine like that. Like others, I can't help being baffled by Danny Woodhead's continuing lack of use. It is indeed a waste of time to hand off to Green-Ellis, when you have a dynamic back like Woodhead, who does everything much better.
Tebow had no chance yesterday. Moronic coach Fox continued his ridiculous tactic of running the ball on every first down, even when they were down by 35 points. He never went into a hurry up mode, and it was hilarious to watch the team up by 35 points still going no huddle and empty backfield, while Fox's "creative" offense continued to run, run and then try a desperation third down pass on every possession.
I've never seen such horrific "protection" from an offensive line- how could that awful defense get through them on every pass play? Many times, Tebow didn't even have 2 seconds to set and throw. No QB can perform under those conditions. But, as always, the "journalists" and DWFs will give all the blame to the QB, much as the Brees and Rodgers of the world get all the credit, while having 7-8 seconds to find an open receiver on most pass plays.
My guess is that Denver will draft an "athletic" WR fairly high, to "help" Tebow. We can all guess who that afflete will replace. Decker will be lucky to still get to play the racially acceptable position of slot (or 3rd) WR. Regardless of whose fault it is, the treatment of Decker over the last half of this season was a disgrace and unprecedented. When is the last time an NFL WR had 9 total TDs during the first half of a season, and zero during the last half, while still starting and playing every game?
If Houston can beat the dreaded Ravens today, then the last truly odious team will be eliminated from the playoffs. A Patriots-Texans championship game would probably be the most truly diverse such contest in the past thirty years. Now that would constitute some progress.