Ladies and gentlemen, we give you a nominee for the 2008 ‘game of the year.’ The 49ers and Cardinals ended up giving most viewers way more than they bargained for. It wasn’t even because the game came down to the wire with one final play, but mainly because the game was close at all.

The Niners came in as nine point ‘dogs in the desert, but in the end barely lost to Arizona 29-24. Although the entertainment value was high, the game lacked discipline from both sides as the teams racked up a combined 20 penalties for 164 total yards. Read more »

This could’ve been the year for so many teams out in the west.

It was one more chance for Seahawks coach Mike Holmgren to gracefully ride off into the sunset after a playoff appearance. It was a fresh start for Raiders coach Lane Kiffin who acquired college sensation Darren McFadden in the draft. It was Mike Nolan’s time to finally get his 49ers over .500 and back to glory.

This list goes on and on for almost all eight of our teams in this focus (Arizona, Denver, Kansas City, Oakland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle and St. Louis). Yet the sad reality is that, although the talent level may not have dropped, the efficiency in winning games has fallen substantially. Read more »

Panic is setting isn’t quite setting into the New York Jets locker room, but it’s not far off. It was about 15 yards away - as in the winning TD toss to Laveranues Coles with a minute to play - on Sunday when New York went down to the wire against a hapless Chiefs team.

The Jets were able to overcome three Brett Favre interceptions and escape with a 28-24 home win.

With the win, New York improved to 4-3, but the moderate success has been more a product of the team’s schedule than its performance. The cushy schedule, which has included three wins over last-place teams Miami, Cincinnati and Kansas City, gives way to road contests against Buffalo, New England and Tennessee in the next four weeks. Read more »

The scene in San Francisco may appear utterly hopeless. Any chances of turning around this 2008 NFL regular season seemed to go out the window for a 49ers team which, after losing their fourth straight, seems to be headed deep into yet another meaningless, empty year.

Head coach Mike Nolan frequently spoke of change and restoring the glory days in the Bay Area and for three and a half seasons roamed the 49ers sideline while the team fell apart on the field. Despite his best efforts, including bending the NFL’s dress policy so that he could wear a custom suit during home games, Nolan never translated his convictions into the team’s weekly performance.

And so the criticisms continued; not just towards Nolan, but for seemingly questionable ownership of the team under John York, who didn’t earn the job but rather was given it when Eddie DeBartolo bolted. The change in team management has clearly been evident: from 1992 to 2002, the 49ers missed the playoffs only twice; since 2003, the team has not even once tasted the postseason. Read more »

The home team normally has an advantage, but this week is ridiculous. Of the 16 games on display, 15 of them feature home favorites. Ironically, the only home team considered an underdog, the 2-0 Green Bay Packers, play in one of the most venerable, intimidating home stadiums in the NFL.

A road dog is a dangerous temptress, but we’re going with a few in unbeatens Arizona, Carolina and Pittsburgh; winless St. Louis; and the Brett Favre-led New York Jets. After an 8-6-1 week, resident gamer Raisin’ Brant Nelson improved to 19-11-1 in his quest for a .700 season winning percentage. Read more »