30 years ago, a great moment in San Francisco 49ers history happened. It was an event unlike any other for against America's Team the Dallas Cowboys. If you ask any 49er fan 35 years and up, they will tell you where they were and try to claim that they were at the game.
No doubt, it was a classic game and this clip down below shows the emotion of a fanbase and a Franchise that would go on to nearly 20 years of greatness:
Fast forward 30 years later, San Francisco was again down in the dumps after a near decade of futility. The Glory days of the 80s and 90s were long gone. It was back to the old days of the pre-Montana/Bill Walsh era. It is a time the fans experienced utter hopelessness and apathy. In addition, the thought of the so-called savior Alex Smith as a bust who was taken over Defending Super Bowl MVP Aaron Rodgers who went 24 spots down in the ill-fated 2005 draft.
Until, a new coach named Jim Harbaugh came to the scene and made the 49ers a playoff team for the first time in nearly nine years. Their reward? They got a bye and would face the high powered New Orleans Saints featuring Drew Brees. The only question was could Alex Smith make the big plays when it mattered? The same Alex Smith who has a sketchy track record and skeptical fan base waiting for another savior to replace him.
Tonight, Alex Smith did answer those critics for one night with a 24 for 42 299 yard pass performance. In the last five minutes, he dueled with Drew Brees on who was the clutch QB in this game. Smith made the big plays such as when he ran for 27 yard touchdown on 3rd and 3 to give the Niners a five point lead. Sure, he looked shaky at times but in those final minutes he showed shades of Steve Young's improbable run down below:
Then, Brees answered with a bomb to Jimmy Graham to give the Saints a three point lead, Smith marched the Niners 85 yards in 1:28 on seven plays. It would culminate with a big throw to his favorite receiver/tight end Vernon Davis on a 3rd and 3 down below:
It gave the 49ers the victory on all of days the 30th Anniversary of "The Catch." This also punched their ticket to the NFC Championship game against the winner of the Packers/Giants game at frigid Lambeau Field. In fact, it was a replay of the Golden years of the 49ers dynasty of the 1980s and 1990s where they were won 5 Super Bowls and a boatload of greats with some eventually becoming Hall of Famers.
As for Alex Smith, he will never be Joe Montana or Steve Young. Heck, Smith may not be a Hall of Famer in an era where QBs can average 30 touchdowns and nearly 4000 yard seasons. He's just Alex Smith the Quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers. It was a memorable performance that gave 49er fans flashbacks of the 49er QB greats before him. The question now is: Can he and the Niners have History repeat itself?
Saturday, January 14, 2012
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