[OutsiderFan]

Got to give it up for that Niners DEFENSE!

I was doubting them this week, and especially concerned about Red Zone efficiency, but they held Dallas - who started the playoffs. 5-5 in the Red Zone - to 1 for 3. Niners made it tougher on themselves by going 1 for 3 too, but really, they just needed that push to win. That was the difference in the game. If Dallas had gone 3 for 3 they would have won, and they might have won going 2 for 3. Looking back on it, the biggest play of the game was the Jimmy Ward/Fred Warner pick in Red Zone before half that took points from Dallas and ultimately gave them to Niners. 

It seems the Niners were able to take advantage of a Dallas team playing its 3rd straight road game in the second half. They didn't exactly dominate the second half, but they certainly gained control of the game in the second half, as the best teams tend to do.

On a related note, props to the odds makers. Most people thought the 46 O/U was nuts with two explosive offenses going at it. I really want to understand how they - and apparently Kyle Shanahan based on his comments - felt it would be a low scoring affair.

[OutsiderFan]

Got to give it up for that Niners DEFENSE!

I was doubting them this week, and especially concerned about Red Zone efficiency, but they held Dallas - who started the playoffs. 5-5 in the Red Zone - to 1 for 3. Niners made it tougher on themselves by going 1 for 3 too, but really, they just needed that push to win. That was the difference in the game. If Dallas had gone 3 for 3 they would have won, and they might have won going 2 for 3. Looking back on it, the biggest play of the game was the Jimmy Ward/Fred Warner pick in Red Zone before half that took points from Dallas and ultimately gave them to Niners. 

It seems the Niners were able to take advantage of a Dallas team playing its 3rd straight road game in the second half. They didn't exactly dominate the second half, but they certainly gained control of the game in the second half, as the best teams tend to do.

On a related note, props to the odds makers. Most people thought the 46 O/U was nuts with two explosive offenses going at it. I really want to understand how they - and apparently Kyle Shanahan based on his comments - felt it would be a low scoring affair.