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49ers

Injuries catching up to 49ers as playoffs approach

By: Mychael Urban 01/03/13 7:52 PM
Nobody can dispute the incredible fortune that came the 49ers’ way last Sunday. Not only did they take care of business against the lowly Cardinals in a game that was all but won before kickoff, they saw various other cards fall in the most beneficial of ways. The Vikes over the Pack? Yeah, you had that in your knockout pool, right? No, you didn’t. As phenomenal as the Adrian Peterson story in Minnesota has been, Green Bay’s midseason resurrection was every bit as impressive. Read More

49ers hope extra week allows Justin Smith to return

By: The Associated Press 01/03/13 7:44 PM
The 49ers’ defense is that much more stingy with Justin Smith on the field. Anyone in his own locker room or elsewhere will emphatically say as much. So, perhaps the most important part of San Francisco securing a first-round playoff bye is the chance to get the defensive menace back for its playoff opener. Read More

49ers kicker Billy Cundiff signed to compete with David Akers

By: The Associated Press 01/01/13 8:59 PM
The 49ers signed kicker Billy Cundiff on Tuesday to compete with struggling veteran David Akers. “He’s thrilled with the opportunity to be in a position to help the team in any way he can this postseason,” said Cundiff’s agent, Paul Sheehy. “It’s a great opportunity, with a great organization.” Coach Jim Harbaugh said Monday that the NFC West champion Niners (11-4-1), off this week as the NFC’s No. 2 seed, planned to try out kickers because of Akers’ prolonged funk. Read More

Winning not enough for 49ers to erase concerns

By: Paul Gackle 12/31/12 5:00 AM
The Beatles say, “you get by with a little help from your friends,” and the motto was certainly true for the 49ers on Sunday. The 49ers (11-4-1) limped into the 2012 playoffs with an underwhelming 27-13 win over the Arizona Cardinals at Candlestick Park in Week 17. Still, the team is entering the second season in the same position it held one year ago — as the NFC’s No. 2 seed with a first-round bye — because the Minnesota Vikings knocked off the Green Bay Packers with a last-second field goal at Mall of America Field in Minneapolis. Read More

Michael Crabtree eclipses elusive 1,000-yard mark

By: Ben Martin 12/31/12 5:00 AM
The 49ers were happy to cap their season off with a win that gave them the NFC West Division title, but the game featured a number of other highlights for the Red and Gold as well. Michael Crabtree set a career high with 172 yards on eight catches, including a pair of touchdowns. He became the first 49ers receiver to pass the 1,000-yard milestone in a season since Terrell Owens did it in 2003. Crabtree finished with 1,105 for the year. Read More

49ers defend their division title and lock up first-round bye

By: The Associated Press 12/31/12 5:00 AM
The 49ers got everything they needed in the regular-season finale Sunday, overcoming a slow start to beat the Arizona Cardinals 27-13 to claim the NFC West Division crown, then earned a first-round bye in the playoffs after the Minnesota Vikings knocked off the Green Bay Packers. The win by San Francisco made Seattle’s win over the St. Louis Rams moot, as the Niners claimed back-to-back division titles for the first time since they won four straight from 1992-95. Read More

49ers need victory to secure NFC West, have chance at playoff bye

By: The Associated Press 12/29/12 7:31 PM
Just two months ago, the  49ers grabbed control of the NFC West from the Arizona Cardinals behind Alex Smith’s near perfect performance on a Monday night in the desert. Oh, how much has changed since. The slow and steady Smith has been replaced by Colin Kaepernick, a high-risk, high-reward quarterback whom coach Jim Harbaugh is counting on to lead the suddenly fragile 49ers (10-4-1) deep into the playoffs. The Cardinals (5-10) are on their fourth starting quarterback in Brian Hoyer and have lost 10 of 11 games to put coach Ken Whisenhunt’s job in jeopardy. Read More

49ers defenders look to make up for absence of injured lineman Justin Smith

By: The Associated Press 12/28/12 12:43 AM
Patrick Willis believes the 49ers can still be a great defense even without All-Pro tackle Justin Smith.The 49ers might have to spend the rest of this season finding out whether or not Willis, their All-Pro linebacker and defensive leader, is correct.Smith is unlikely to play Sunday in the regular-season finale against Arizona because of a partially torn left triceps. The injury could force Smith to miss some or all of the postseason. Read More

With Mario Manningham out, 49ers WRs need to step up

By: The Associated Press 12/26/12 8:49 PM
Mario Manningham limped through the locker room on crutches, holding a towel around his waist while trying to keep his head high and sport a smile. That’s not easy to do for the 49ers right now. Manningham is out for the season with a left knee injury after getting tackled low by Leroy Hill and fumbling in the third quarter of San Francisco’s 42-13 loss at Seattle. The injury to Manningham, one of San Francisco’s signature additions in the offseason, is yet another blow to an increasingly thinning wide receiver corps. Read More

49ers land nine players in Pro Bowl

By: Wire Report 12/26/12 8:19 PM
The defense of the 49ers has been the backbone of the team’s success for the past two seasons, and Wednesday, it was handsomely rewarded. San Francisco led all NFL teams with nine players selected to the Pro Bowl team, including six from the league’s second-ranked defense. Outside linebacker Aldon Smith, defensive end Justin Smith, middle linebacker Patrick Willis, free safety Dashon Goldson and strong safety Donte Whitner were all selected as starters, and middle linebacker NaVorro Bowman was chosen as a backup to Willis. Read More
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