The Day That Lasts Forever

On Friday I was at complete ease with my feelings on the 49ers. Saturday came and I was a complete wreck. Nervous sweats, pacing in my living room, staring at the clock, wondering how much longer I had to wait for the 49ers. I was a nervous wreck. Completely the opposite of what I felt on Friday.

I knew one way I could take the edge off was by going to the Mos Eisley Cantina and have a burger and beer. Lucky for me the Boz was throwing a viewing party for all the games barbecuing burgers and trip tips. So instead of a burger I had a tri tip sandwich along with a Coors light while I waited for the game to start.

Thankfully I wasn't the only one who was nervous. Both the Colonel and Bandit were swaying in their seats at the bar counter nervously awaiting the game to start.

"Thank God Frank Caliendo is relieving my stress with his hilarious comedy," says a very sarcastic Colonel.

"He sure is a hoot," says the equally sarcastic Bandit.

Tension has filled the bar counter between the three of us. Our favorite team is back in the playoffs and they're playing against a team that has an offense that is the polar opposite of the 49ers offense. Questions are running through our minds like: will the 49ers score enough today? Can the 49ers afford even one missed Akers field goal? Can the defense force a couple of turnovers? Can the offense take advantage of those turnovers and score more than a field goal? Will our secondary get burned? Can the defense muster a pass rush? Will the usually stout run defense show up today? Just endless questions filling the three minds of nervous 49ers fans.



The game starts out as well as any 49ers fan could ever imagine. Saints turnovers, 49ers touchdowns, Alex Smith looking comfortable, Drew Brees looking mistake-prone. It's what every single 49ers fan was praying for.

"I can't believe this is happening," says an elated Colonel. "This could not be more perfect. The defense is forcing turnovers and the offense is making the Saints pay."

By the time the 2nd quarter had started it was 14-0 49ers and they were driving again to score after another Saints turnover. Of course the Niners offense stalled and they had to kick a field goal. 17-0 49ers.

I'm loving life. There's beer, there's tri tip sandwiches, I'm watching the 49ers beat the Saints. Live couldn't be nicer. Of course though the 49ers and their offense can't make life easy on their fans.

The Saints score twice in the 2nd quarter to make the score 17-14 Niners. The 49ers offense once again went stagnant and had to punt which thankfully isn't always a bad thing considering they have Andy Lee punting. Nevertheless though the 49ers play on offense in the 2nd quarter was a little concerning. The Saints were going to keep the pressure on the 49ers defense.

"I'm going to need something stronger than beer," says the Colonel.

The Bandit and I agreed with the Colonel so we started ordering Wild Turkey mixed with Pepsi. Bourbon cures all nerves by sedating them. At least that's what we think because we're drinking that mix like water and it isn't working for none of us.

"We might need something stronger than this," says the Bandit. "Can we start chugging bleach?"

Thankfully the Saints didn't do much on offense in third quarter. The 49ers made Brees uncomfortable the entire quarter. The pass rush was hurrying Brees into making bad throws and the Saints weren't getting anything on the ground. Only one problem though, the Saints defense was equally as good in the third quarter keeping this game close.

The 4th quarter started out with field goals by both teams as both defenses were holding their ground. I thought to myself the 49ers defense will win this game. Brees isn't getting anything done against them. Boy was I wrong. The next four minutes of that playoff game would put me on an emotional roller-coaster that I haven't been on since Game 4 of the 2010 NLCS.

"You just know the Saints are due for a long touchdown pass," says Nostradamus Colonel.

I mean he barely said that and Brees hit Sproles for a 44 yard touchdown to give the Saints their first lead of the game. All thanks to the Colonel jinxing the 49ers.

"Whoops," says the Colonel. "The Saints made a mistake though. They left too much time on the clock for the 49ers."

What the Colonel didn't mention was 4 minutes would be enough time for three more touchdowns. The 49ers would retake the lead on a Alex Smith touchdown run. The 49ers though left too much time on the clock.

"Finally they use Smith's legs," says the Bandit. "People forget that Smith ran Urban Meyer's offense before Tebow and was also very successful. People also forget that Smith was a pretty damn good runner in college."

We barely had a chance to celebrate the 49ers taking the lead until the Saints scored again. Unbelievable. Jimmy Graham beat Patrick Willis and then scored a 60-yard touchdown. Saints lead and we're devastated. The 49ers are down with 1:37 left in the game. Even the biggest Alex Smith fan was doubting he could take the 49ers down the field to even have a chance to kick the game-tying field goal.

"Well it was a good season," says a defeated Colonel.

What we didn't count on was that the Saints were playing prevent field goal defense instead of prevent touchdown defense. Alex Smith connected with Vernon Davis twice in the last minute, the last pass can only be described as "The Catch: Part 3".



I still don't believe everything I saw in the final four minutes of that game. I mean did all of that happen? Did the 49ers stout defense break? Did Alex Smith twice lead the 49ers down the field for go-ahead touchdowns? Did Vernon Davis outshine Jimmy Graham?

I ended the game with more questions that I had at the beginning of the game. This is what I do know. The 49ers are one game away from the Super Bowl. Alex Smith is one game away from the Super Bowl. It's been too long 49ers but I'm glad you're back in my life.

"I'M GETTING DRUNK!" screams the Colonel.

He won't be the only one getting drunk on this night. This next shot of whiskey goes out to Vernon Davis and Alex Smith.