Jim Harbaugh’s biggest challenge this week may be simply keeping his 49ers focused.
Who could blame them if they’re not as locked in on Sunday’s home game against the Buffalo Bills as they should be.
Jim Harbaugh’s 49ers are 3-1 heading into Sunday’s Week 5 game against the Buffalo Bills.
Consider, San Francisco is coming off as a 34-0 total annihilation of the New York Jets that more or less led to the total implosion of the lime green circus. Sorry, folks. Rex’s Big Top is closed until further notice.
Meanwhile, Buffalo, playing AFC East rival New England at home, had a 21-7 lead midway through the third quarter and lost, 52-28. And now the Bills face a 2,300-mile flight across the country to face a defense that did to the Jets what is rarely seen on the NFL level.
Some would argue the Jets mostly did it to themselves. In this case, we’re not “some.”
NFL teams normally average about 10 possessions per game. Against the Niners, the Jets had 12. Let’s review:
- Punt
- Punt
- Fumble
- Punt
- Fumble
- Interception
- Punt
- Punt
- Fumble
- Punt
- Blocked punt
- Punt
LOL!!
That’s seven punts, one blocked punt and four turnovers.
Ouch!
The Niners defense, in holding the Jets to nine first downs, 145 total yards, a 2.9 yards-per-play average, and that now infamous “15 percent” on third downs, swarmed to the ball in stunning fashion. Rarely do assisted tackles outnumber solo tackles. But that was the case for the 49ers, with 24 assists and 21 solos, according to the official NFL Game Book.
Coaches will look at video from the game and those numbers will almost certainly change. Regardless, what it indicates is a swarming defense overwhelming a weak offense. Come to think of it, it’s that type of defensive dominance that one Mr. Ryan used to employ.
“That was a gem that our defense turned in, both players and coaches,” Harbaugh said Monday. “Every guy playing within the framework of the defense. Really playing their ace that they had individually as players. Hustle all-out play. Hard, rough tackling.”
Unlike the Jets, the Bills offense is not weak. Especially, if running backs Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller are healthy. It’s a good bet neither were against the Patriots and at least Spiller doesn’t figure to be 100 percent this week.
What the New England did so surprisingly against the Bills is another reason for the Niners to feel like they can spend another week of Holiday Inn R&R in lovely Youngstown, Ohio and just show up on Sunday: The Patriots ran the football.
Yes, the Tom Brady-led Patriots rushed 40 times for 247 yards on the certainly dumbfounded and clearly defenseless Bills.
How perfect is that? Running the football is what Harbaugh and the 49ers love to do.
Frank Gore, one of a dozen players to carry the ball against NY, had 62 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries. Backup quarterback Colin Kaepernick carried 5 times for 50 yards and a touchdown. The 49ers’ offensive line of Joe Staley, Mike Iupati, Jonathan Goodwin, Alex Boone and Anthony Davis led the way to a 245-yard rushing day at 5.6 yards per pop against a Jets defense Ryan clearly no longer recognizes.
“It was a job well done,” Harbaugh said. “I think that’s one of the highest compliments that you would want as an offensive lineman. Did your job, did it very well. It was a fine day’s work. They earned their pay.”
San Francisco hardly needed quarterback Alex Smith in New York. He passed only 21 times, completing 12 for 143 yards while leading an offense to 379 yards, 26 first downs in 36 minutes, 56 seconds of ball-control domination. And, the quickly-criticized Smith actually threw the ball downfield seven times with two completions, according to Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee.
The only flaw on the 49ers otherwise perfect performance was two hooked field goals from David Akers, who has now missed three of his last seven attempts.
In these moments of potential complacency, Harbaugh and the 49ers have a mantra: “Go forward with humble hearts.”
“Well, the message is, ‘we’ve attained humility.’ I couldn’t really say when that is for each person,” Harbaugh explained. “Personally, it was a long time ago. But, that carries with it no loss of true pride. And the idea of nobody’s walking around here like we’re the greatest thing since sliced bread. And you’ve got to get better, you’ve got to improve. The single most important thing is winning the game. Fundamentally, the single most important thing. But, also you want the feeling of improvement, otherwise it’s short lived.”
When the 49ers returned Sunday night after a week away, they found construction on a new weight facility had been completed.
“It’s a great gift for our players,” Harbaugh said. “There’s a reward there. That building, think it’ll make us better, make us stronger. It’s a good symbol of that.”
And it’s a message: Get back to work.
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