Week 12 - O-U-C-H!!!

The 49ers came out and played the first quarter as if they truly believed they had a chance to whip up on the hated Cowboys. Oh sure, they squandered two great first-and-goal scoring opportunities and had to settle for field goals. But the way they were moving the ball you HAD to believe that they could do it all day long.

Then the second quarter -- and reality -- set in. The Cowboys turned on the afterburners, scored 32 unanswered points, and it was pretty much 'game over'. The Niners managed to score a couple of garbage-time touchdowns, so the final score (35-22) doesn't nearly represent the ass-whipping the Niners endured.

This is really a team in need of playmakers. The offense has Shawn Hill, a journeyman; Frank Gore, certainly Pro Bowl material, but a literal walking target for defenses; and 100-year-old Isaac Bruce. I guess you can add Vernon Davis to the list, since he's playing much better of late. That's it. With the exception of Gore, none of those guys is going to scare anyone.

The defense has All-World Patrick Willis and a whole lotta nothing. Manny Lawson shows up once in a while, as do Parys Haralson and Takeo Spikes. The defensive line appears to be over matched every game. The safeties play well at times, but their inconsistency is maddening. The corners are AWFUL. They paid HOW MUCH?!?!??! for awful Nate Clemons. Terrell Owens made NC his bitch on Sunday.

We'll be lucky to win 4 games this year...and next year doesn't look too promising. It could be a very l-0-o-o-o-o-n-g time in the losers bracket for the 49ers if they don't have a good free agent/draft year.

One last note. Why does "America's Team" get ALL of the calls by officials? On the second drive of the first quarter, Hill threw a pass to a receiver who was CLEARLY getting molested by the cornerback covering him. No flag. No effing flag! Man, I HATE the Cowboys!