Niners Send Candlestick Out in Style

Cary Edmondson-US PRESSWIRE

What a game to be the last one ever in Candlestick Park, at least in the regular season. It looked for all the world that the San Francisco 49ers had botched a chance to clinch a playoff spot agaisnt the Atlanta Falcons late in the fourth quarter. They saw the lead cut to 27-24 on futire Hall of Famer Tony Gonzalez late touchdown catch, perhaps the last one of his illustrious career, and then saw the Falcons get a 15 yard head start vecause of a personal foul on the play.

The Falcons then executed a perfect onside kick and recovered at the Niners 30 with still 2:00 left on the clock. Matt Ryan then moved the Falcons inside the red zone. At worst they would be able to kick a field goal to send it to overtime. They might even win the game with another touchdown. But then it happened…

On a blitz that forced Ryan to get rid of the ball a little before he wanted, he tried to hit Harry Douglas on a slant. But the ball was knocked free as he fought the cornerback for the ball and it popped up in the air for middle linebacker NaVaro Bowman to grab and run 89 yards for the game clinching touchdown!

Not only did it clinch the game but alos a playoff spot for the 49ers. The NFC playoff race is so cloudy after that game and also the other results this weekend that it is possible the Arizona Cardinals could wind up 11-5 with a win in Week 17…and miss the playoffs. How unfair is that?

Nobody wants to win the NFC North as the three contenders, the Green Bay Packers, Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, all lost this week. This result emiminated the Lions and perhaps sealed the fate of head coach Jim Schwartz.  But one of them will have to go, and will also host a game while the Cards may sit at home.

Also, the Philadelphia Eagles may win the NFC East by default as the Dallas Cowboys will have to go with back-up quarterback Kyle Orton in Sunday’s winner-takes-the-division and loser-goes-home game.

But we do know now that the Seattle Seahawks, Carolina Panthers and the Niners are in no matter what. The Niners still have a shot at winning the NFC West if they win over the Cards and the Seahawks lose to the St. Louis Rams.

The Eagles-Cowboys winner is in. The Bears-Packers winner is in. After that, the final spot is between the Cardinals and Saints. If the Saints win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, then they are in and the Cardinals are out, even if they beat the 49ers and finish 11-5. The Saints would win the South Division with a win and a Panthers loss at the Falcons.

So it would appear, that there is not much chance of the Cardinals making the playoffs now after the Niners dramatic win. That is too bad because they are playing perhaps the best of any team in the NFC after ending the Seahawks 14 game home win streak this week.