Tampa Bay Buccaneers Meet an Insanely Great San Francisco 49er Team

Watch the Sunday game tapes, Mogadishu.  This is how America treats pirates.

In a slide show a couple of days ago I compared the statistics of San Francisco 49ers with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the season through the fourth game.  In some areas the advantage went to the Buccaneers and in others to the 49ers.  I wimped out by not calling the game.

My old man used to bore me with the statement that it does not take a big man to admit he was wrong.  It was, he said, to be expected of anyone.

I was wrong.  I was too cautious and careful. 

In the Sunday game just finished the 49ers overwhelmed the Buccaneers in every area of football.

The first three touchdowns were a pass, an interception and a rushing play.  Except for special teams play or a fumble recovery for a touchdown those are three of five ways to make touchdowns.

I could insert a bunch of statistics here, but I am confident other writers in this space and elsewhere will provide enough statistics to cheer even the most reclusive of geeks. 

Oh well, maybe just one for practice: The 49ers were 34-3 when the third quarter ended and 41-3 just 8 game seconds later.  The 49ers won 48-3. 

Superlatives will descend from this space like snowflakes at Christmas in Greenland, so I won’t give into the temptation to use them.  I worried about how I would explain the 49ers game.

I was washing my hands Sunday night when I noticed my fingernails were looking disgustingly healthy. They were not chewed to the quick anymore, like they have been for the past decade of 49ers seasons.  However I am hoarse from shouting for the 49ers as they dissected the opposition in every possible way.

Next week they’ll be playing the Detroit Lions, one of the best teams in the league.  Things will not go as easily then.

But in the meantime the gold digging 49ers are back.  The days of disorganized and depressing football are gone from Candlestick Park.  Sunday they played with spirit, coordination, precision and a sense of pleasure.

Football in San Francisco is fun again.