Playoff Blues

Everyone knows I'm a diehard 49er fan but we didn't make the playoffs and I'm good with that. The team is retructuring and now with Garappolo we have our missing piece and will be a force to be reckoned with next season.

My team has been to the playoffs on numerous occasions and I've sat through nail-biting games against the Giants, Cowboys and Packers. I've cringed and shut my eyes because the suspense was too much. I get that sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. My motto is if we aren't good enough to win the game than we don't need the playoffs or a bowl.

This playoff season I watched and cringed as Jacksonville made the grueling battle through the playoffs. I live in Jacksonville and am surrounded by fans, some true and some like me rooting for the home team because their team didn't make the playoffs. Jax is filled with transients and most of us want the Jags to win even if we have another favorite team.

Moments ago the Jags played the best game I've ever seen them play. They were rock solid and awesome! I give them that and will wear the gold and blue on my nails this week in honor of the amazing game they played. They lost but were the better team by far.

I sat in a smoky bar filled with Jags fans who got on my nerves! Yes, I really can't stand Jags fans because they're all "yeah Jags" when things are going their way and "Jags suck" when they lose. In my opinion you stand by your team win or lose and the Jags were the better team.

It was three flags in the second half that gave the Pats their first touchdown that cost the game. The calls were bogus. I'm not a Jags fan and I'm callng bogus. I'm a 49er fan and when you go to that many championship, playoff and superbowl games it happens. Sometimes games are rigged or people payed off. I hate it but know it happens and the NFL will never admit or even elude to it.

The Patriots are a sorry excuse of a team and I have 0 respect for them and will never look at them as a great team because they aren't. Any game I watch with them play is filled with cheating and bogus calls. But Jaguar fans piss me off more at the moment.

The Jags were the better team without a doubt. They didn't have to pay anyone off or cheat to get 20 points on the board. They stopped Brady in his tracks over and over but the Jags can get better.

The Jags defense may be number one but their offense sucks eggs. Its not the end. Next year is a whole new year and replace Bortles and build that offensive line which is 100% better than last year and they'll make the championship again.

So buck up Jag fans! They made the AFC Championship game! Next year they will kick ass and heck my team who the Jags quiver in the boots over whether the 49ers are having a good year or bad may just give the 49ers a run for their money!

For the first time in twenty years I'm proud to say I live in Jacksonville Florida.

Divisional Playoffs, Elle's predictions

For the past three decades I have been an avid NFL San Francisco Forty Niner fan, growing up in the Bay area during the eighties was a magical time. It was the pure exhilaration I felt watching Montana throw a perfect spiral to Dwight Clark and later Jerry Rice but who can forget Ronnie Lott with his heart thumping blocks, head on, and tackles. Today it's Kaepernick to the likes of amazing receivers such as Bolden or Davis or taking the ball himself and running for 50 yards to get the first down plus yards although I can't leave Gore out of this equation, before this teams amazing receivers when all we had was defense, Gore was there to run the ball for the first down. He is in my opinion the backbone of what this team has become. This great offense has an equally scary defense with players such as Smith, Bowman, Brooks, and Willis who can sack, intercept or bring their opponents to a three and out. Of course this team's success is not due strictly to the handful of players I have mentioned here there are so many more. After nearly two decades of sparse playoff games and losing years  they found their rhythm and are an unstoppable force.

As I sat with a few good friends last Sunday in 70 degree Florida weather we watched San Fran's first round wildcard game against Green Bay, a long time play off rivalry. In frigid near ice bowl conditions these teams battled until the end with the Niners making a field goal to win the game 23-20. Whenever these two teams meet the outcome is the same a nail biter of a game where I sit on the edge of my seat and the winning score coming down to the final seconds of the game. I believe it's one of the most exciting rivalries in the NFL but I don't tell my Green Bay friend that. I just rub it a little when the Niners win. I'm sure he would do the same as he is always decked out head to foot in Green Bay attire. 

The game at Lambeau wasn't the only nail biter last week as Indy came from a huge score deficit to beat Kansas City, and New Orleans and Philly put up a game riddled in tension as New Orleans squeaked out the win by two points. I haven't mentioned yet the Bengals/ Chargers game, sorry Bengals but I think you forgot to show up.

This week in the NFL playoffs we start the festivities with New Orleans and Seattle in Seattle. Most people I know think Seattle's gonna take this game but I'm rooting for New Orleans not only because Seattle is a frighting divisional rivalry with San Fran (San Fran has a better divisional record than Seattle and they beat them only a few shorts weeks ago ) but Seattle chokes in the playoffs. My vote is for New Orleans. Next up is the Indie/ New England game. I have to go with Indie. I like their new QB he's smart and all about the team. New England seems to be a team where each and every member is only for themselves (I've never liked their arrogance). Go Indie! Tomorrow's line up begins with San Fran and Panthers. I keep reading that Panthers got this in the bag. Don't be too cocky Niners are a rugged fighting team that play as one and one for all. They beat Green Bay on their frozen turf! They are a force to be reckoned with and will prevail. Last up on Sunday afternoon is San Diego vs. Denver. I keep hearing Peyton Manning, Peyton Manning. Ok I'll give it to him he's a great pocket QB who came off a near career dropping injury a couple years ago. Does he still have it, sure so long as he doesn't get sacked the wrong way. I'm going with the underdog San Diego.

Whether my picks win or lose I'm hoping for suspense filled games that come down to the wire. Great football that's what it's about. Good luck to everyone out there and may the Niners take the Panthers on their home turf. Go NINERS!