The number 104, statistically, can mean a lot of good things in the NFL.
Any rusher or receiver who totals 104 yards would certainly call it a productive performance. A quarterback with a passer rating of 104 has done a nice job of tossing the pigskin.
But when 104 represents the number of points you’ve scored after nine games, things aren’t so good. Such is the case with the
The Niners should be called the Eleveners – as in their league-worst 11.6 points-per-game average. No other team in the league has scored fewer than 135 points. Not surprisingly,
Just how bad is this team when they have the ball? The New England Patriots had scored 30 or more points in every game this season until the Colts held them to 24 a couple of weeks ago. The 49ers haven’t scored more than 20 points in any game in 2007. In their seven-game losing streak, they are averaging in single digits.
Quarterback Alex Smith and his 57.2 passer rating – worst in the league among quarterbacks who qualify for that statistic -- acknowledged this week that he has been playing with a serious arm injury, and the starting job has been handed over, for now, to 14-year veteran Trent Dilfer – whose passer rating is actually worse than Smith’s at 55.0, but he hasn’t played enough to make the league stat sheet in that category. This does give him something to shoot for, however.
The good news is that San Francisco’s opponent this week is actually behind them in the division – the 1-8 St. Louis Rams, who the Niners beat 17-16 back in Week 2, the team’s last victory. The bad news is that the Rams are fresh off the “1” in that 1-8 mark, and have starting QB Marc Bulger and RB Steven Jackson back on the field.
Perhaps the Barry Bonds distraction will keep the city preoccupied until this season is over and
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The celebrity picks:
Lance Burton, Monte Carlo headliner
(16-12-2)
Packers –9 1/2 vs. Panthers
Texans –1 vs. Saints
Broncos –2 vs. Titans
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Anthony Crivello, star of "Phantom - The
(15-12-3)
Packers –9 1/2 vs. Panthers
Rams –2 1/2 at 49ers
Bengals –3 vs. Cardinals
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Danny Gans, Mirage headliner
(14-14-2)
Cowboys –10 1/2 vs. Redskins
Raiders +5 at Vikings
Steelers –9 1/2 at Jets
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Oscar Goodman, mayor of
(18-11-1)
Steelers –9 1/2 at Jets
Patriots –16 at Bills
Packers –9 1/2 vs. Panthers
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Hans Klok, Planet Hollywood headliner
(16-13-1)
Steelers –9 1/2 vs. Browns
Browns -3 at Ravens
Colts –14 1/2 vs. Chiefs
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Wayne Newton, "Mr.
(10-16-4)
Rams –2 1/2 at 49ers
Patriots –16 at Bills
Raiders +5 at Vikings
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Penn & Teller,
(19-11)
Giants –2 1/2 at Lions
Eagles –10 vs. Dolphins
Patriots –16 at Bills
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Rita Rudner, Harrah's headliner
(16-10-1)
Jaguars –3 vs. Chargers
Cowboys –10 1/2 vs. Redskins
Steelers –9 1/2 at Jets