Over the past 7 years, around this time in December, the vibe has been, "Well if we can finish strong, we look good for next year!" Well I got tired of it this year. I know it might be a outside shot of making the playoffs(this isn't a post on how we can make it because there is already a great post about that topic) but there's a different feeling for 49er fans all across the Bay and the rest of the world. I haven't been this excited about 49er football in a while, because the chance to go to the playoffs is just what is keeping me up as I take these last finals toward winter break. I can feel as if we'll beat the Eagles(will be hard) and that the Saints keep being perfect. Imagine that heading into Christmas, knowing the 49ers are only 1 game back of the wildcard. My christmas wishlist would then be 1. 49ers don't blow the last 2 easy games. 2) Cowboys (or Giants) lose at least once. 3) And for everyone to have a safe and merry christmas and happy new year. Hopefully we enter the new year, better yet Decade, on the verge of making the playoffs.

That Vikings game was 100% ours. If those 12 seconds had turn out differently, we'd be 6-5 right now. How much would that have helped us right now? It just says how much Brett Favre always ruins us. I'm not saying we won't make the playoffs, but that win would have helped us more than anything. The Colts and Titans game was not in our hands till the final seconds, but the Vikings game....man that was ours. I'm rooting hard for the Vikings next sunday night, and I hope Favre actually helps us out this time. If we just denied Favre on that play, the play that could ruin our season if we don't make it by one game or the vikings are first in the NFC by one game. 12 seconds...it may come back to haunt us when the season ends.

NFC Standings                                                                                                AFC Standings

1. New Orleans 14-2                                                                                       1. Indianapolis 15-1

2. Minnesota 13-3                                                                                            2. New England 11-5

3. Philadelphia 11-5                                                                                        3. San Diego 11-5

4. San Francisco 9-7                                                                                       4. Cincinnati 10-6

5. Green Bay 10-6                                                                                            5. Pittsburgh 10-6

6. Arizona 9-7                                                                                                    6. Jacksonville 10-6

Wildcard: Arizona @ Philadelphia 17-34

Green Bay @ San Francisco(my preseason predictions) 20-27

Jacksonville @ San Diego 28-24

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati 18-23

Divisional: Philadelphia @ Minnesota 33-23

San Francisco @ New Orleans 27-35

Jacksonville @ Indianapolis 20-41

Cincinnati @ New England 27-24

Championship Games:

Philadelphia @ New Orleans 38-37

Cincinnati @ Indianapolis 23-20

Super Bowl: Philadelphia vs Cincinnati 24-30

There you have it Cincinnati Bengals are my Super Bowl winners, even if they lost to the Raiders, I think they can win tough games at New England and Indianapolis(who tend to lose when they are the first seed) call me crazy but hey at least the Niners make it to the second round. Super Bowl MVP: Carson Palmer

Regular Season MVP: Drew Brees

Defensive Player of the Year: Jared Allen

Offensive Player of the Year: Drew Brees

Offensive Rookie of the Year: Percy Harvin

Defensive Rookie of the Year: Brian Cushing

Worst Team in the League: Cleveland Browns at 2-14

Not since the first road game against Arizona have I had this feeling in me that we were going to pull an upset. I didn't feel it in Minnesota and Indy when we had leads, because I knew somehow we'd lose. No I'm not making this up, but it's just a gut feeling that we're going to pull this one out. Does anyone feel the same way I do? I mean HUGE game, a road game, and at Green Bay where we have a lot of history. I hate Green Bay, well the team and city(not woodson, rodgers, or jennings). I just got this feeling Gore is going to score a couple TD's, our D is going to knock around Rodgers, and Smith is going to lead a drive to either get the lead back, or put the game away. This will be Smith's breakout game, and Crabtree is going to get his first TD as a Niner. Just a feeling guys, we got this in Lambeau. Anyone with me? 23-17 Niners, Alex...time to shine man

Thursday night Football. Primetime. The only NFL game on. Chicago Bears at San Francisco 49ers. 4-4 at 3-5. This might be our last opportunity to make the playoffs and stay within the division. Seattle plays at Arizona, and if we lose, it's all bad for whoever wins that game between those two. Without a doubt, we HAVE to, no wait NEED to win this game at home in primetime. This is where Singletary will be tested, just like Coughlin is being tested after 4 straight losses. Gather the troops, make them work hard, play hard, and prepare like you never have before. 4-5 is what I need to see to start off my weekend Friday morning. 3-6 and say hello to another January(after the 3rd) Niner-less. Chicago won't be easy, as they'll be hungry after being thwarted by the Cardinals. Niners, time to shine and get our season back on track. Let's do this

Some people on both sides have been not so lenient on the talks. But hey, that's part of being fans of football. We played a good first half, excellent on defense, decent on offense. Our defense still played pretty well in the second half, and I felt as if our offense was driving, but those penalties were killer on the drives and you guys capitlized by sacking us twice. I honestly thought it would be 24-14 with you guys winning, some score around there. But hey, us Niners are not going to back down from anyone, arguably, the best team in the league. Our 3-4 record doesn't reflect how tough a team we are, just ask Minnesota and Houston. So, in a good manner, great game today. Colts are a great team that should make a deep run in the playoffs, and hopefully we Niners can get to that level in a couple years. Again, good game

This guy, this coach, he's unbelievable. Yeah, we lost a close, clooose game today. But he keeps his head up, positive. I loved that little piece in his press conference where he said(now correct me if i'm wrong), "We're gonna look at the film. We're going to come in on wednesday and work hard. We are going to get enough wins to make the playoffs, it's that simple." Confidence? Man this dude is off the chain, i simply laughed at that, and it made me feel good inside that we have a coach that can flat out say that. If we could, Fooch, can we change the quote against the Vikings to this quote, because I believe it's a little stronger, and he flat out said it, with no hesitation. Singletary, you are a bad....yeah

Wussup Dream Shake, are you guys ready for opening night on wednesday against us, the Dubs? I think it will be a great game, as Ariza is actually going to be a focal point for your guys' offense. I want to see him without Kobe, Pau, and the rest of the lakers. I'm extremely excited as a Warrior fan to start the season, as we have had some drama and turmoil, but I really would like to skip that and be happy with the talent we have. We probably will not be very good, but who knows it is a talented roster that can make plays. As for you guys, a perennial playoff contender, it won't be easy because of no Yao and no Tmac, and the loss of Artest. But Aaron Brooks, Scola, and Ariza are a decent young core. So both of these teams have young talent, and it should make up for a good game Wednesday night in Oakland. My prediction is 117-113 Warriors on top, but hey that's just my warrior in me. Thoughts?Predictions?  And Good Luck for your 09-10 season!

I'm not already writing off a loss to Indy next week...but Peyton Manning just looks like he cannot be stopped. We will not get blown out next week, but I'm almost 90% sure we lose, and our record drops to 3-4. Then the Cardinals(who probably lose to the Giants tonight), play the Panthers next week, at home. So I think we had to split between the Texans and the Colts, and I was hoping it would be the Texans. After the Colts, its the Titans and Bears at home, which I think should be 2-0 against them, but the Titans scare me more than the Bears, because they will be hungry to get rolling. So, if those predictions come true, we're 5-4 going into Green Bay. I think these next 3 games will decide our season, as we have to go 3-0 or 2-1 to still have a chance of making the playoffs. 1-2, will lead to a 4-6 record, while 0-3 will be 3-7 record, so I'm kind of nervous at this point. We might have needed this win in the long run. Next week his huge.

I'm just trying to forget about what happened yesterday and enjoy the rest of Columbus Day. I thought of maybe posting a question up 'Nation. A lot of people are jumping on the Broncos, Jets, Colts, Ravens, Patriots, Steelers, Bengals(although i like them) bandwagons. Hey how about the Texans? Yeah they are 2-3,(soon to be 3-4 when we play them). Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson are a pair that are dominating this year. Andre Johnson, in my opinion, is the best damn reciever in Football. The Texans might be a sneaky wild card team, as they almost came back down 21-0 on the road in Arizona. If I had to pick a AFC team, the Texans are it. If not them, bring up the Bengals.

P.S. I had to make the choices on the poll multiple for one because it wouldn't allow more than 4