The 49ers had to be feeling pretty good about things late in the first half of Sunday's game against the Bears.
San Francisco was a two-touchdown underdog at first-place Chicago. But the winds of the Windy City provided the equalizer, gusting upward of 50 miles per hour. Mother Nature crippled the Bears' passing game, and at the same time may have actually helped 49ers third-string rookie Cody Pickett, whose passes often haven't appeared to be headed where they were supposed to be on calmer days.
It was even worse for the kickers. The Bears' Robbie Gould executed a terrific punt late in the first quarter, sending the ball out of bounds just before it crossed the goal line. Too bad he was attempting a field goal at the time.
When the 49ers' Joe Nedney somehow successfully navigated a 30-yard field goal early in the second quarter, San Francisco had to be thinking about a possible upset, especially a few minutes later when Chicago fumbled the snap on another field goal. Points were certainly going to be at a premium for both teams, and with less than three minutes remaining in the half, the 49ers recovered a fumble on a punt return and made a bid to increase their lead before intermission.
San Francisco reached the Bears' 40-yard line in the final minute, but Pickett fumbled on second down. The 49ers recovered, however, and Kevan Barlow gained six yards on third down. With the ball resting at the 34-yard line and three seconds remaining, the 49ers had a decision to make: Try a long field goal into the teeth of a fierce and unpredictable wind, or entrust Pickett to try to heave one into the end zone and see what happens. I know he's a rookie, but I have a hard time putting faith in a quarterback whose last name starts with "Pick."
Apparently the 49ers do, too, opting for the long kick attempt. Nedney's kick got caught up in the wind and sailed wide and short of the goal posts. So short, in fact, that the ball came down in the end zone.
Two yards from the back of the end zone in fact, where Chicago's Norman Vasher was stationed, just in case the opportunity for a return presented itself. A return of a missed field goal is a rarity in the NFL, largely because most kicks, even the ones that are off-target, are usually long enough to escape the field of play.
It's an even bigger rarity when the return yields a touchdown—and in this case, it did, in the form of an 108-yard return—the longest play in the 86-year history of the National Football League.
Maybe letting Pickett try a desperation pass wouldn't have been such a bad idea. Ignited by Vasher's heroics, the Bears breezed to a 17-9 win to keep control of the NFC North, while the Niners continue to get blown away in the West.
My picks: After a rare 2-1 week, I'll try to keep the momentum with the Raiders-Redskins over 42, the Buccaneers plus 6 at the Falcons and the Cardinals plus 9 12 at the Rams.
Lance Burton (14-16)
Colts -5 1/2 at Bengals
Chiefs -6 1/2 at Texans
Packers -3 1/2 vs. Vikings
Danny Gans (14-16)
Saints +10 at Patriots
Rams -9 vs. Cardinals
49ers +12 1/2 vs. Seahawks
Oscar Goodman (13-17)
Panthers -3 at Bears
Jaguars -4 at Titans
Dolphins +2 1/2 at Browns
Clint Holmes (13-16-1)
Redskins -6 vs. Buccaneers
Bills +10 at Chargers
Chiefs -6 1/2 at Texans
Kevin Janison (17-13)
Buccaneers +6 at Falcons
Bills +10 at Chargers
Lions +8 at Cowboys
Mark & Mercedes (13-15-2)
Bengals +5 1/2 at Colts
Jets +13 at Broncos
49ers +12 1/2 at Seahawks
Wayne Newton (21-9)
Bengals +5 1/2 vs. Colts
Rams-Cardinals over 48
Dolphins +2 1/2 at Browns
Penn & Teller (12-18)
Raiders +6 at Redskins
Steelers -4 at Ravens
Chiefs -6 1/2 at Texans
Rita Rudner (15-12-3)
Panthers -3 at Bears
Falcons -6 vs. Buccaneers
Seahawks -12 1/2 at 49ers
Sal DeFilippo can run the 40 in 240.4 seconds.