Lions vs. 49ers: Harbaugh, Gore & Co. Strike Gold in Detroit

There’s gold in that field, Ford Field that is, and the San Francisco 49ers got it.

Sunday afternoon the prospectors from the Bay Area continued their assault on the media darlings of the NFL by beating the Detroit Lions 25-19 and handing the jungle kings their first loss of the 2011 campaign.

The 49ers previously went on the road to Philadelphia and beat the “Dream Team” Eagles 24-23 in Week 4 and after the Lions crushed Cutler and the Bears just six days ago on Monday Night, the Jim Harbaugh-led Niners put the ’72 Dolphins one loss away from popping the bubbly again this season as the Green Bay Packers remain the only undefeated team.

I took the family Sunday morning to a mass given by Detroit Lions chaplain Dave Wilson. His sermon was focused on keeping the Sabbath Day (Sunday) holy. The message was to work hard for six days, but use Sunday to rest, play and recharge. I wasn’t scanning the parishioners for Lions players but apparently many of them attended the early service because the Lions took the message to heart.

The Lions converted on only 2-of-14 third down attempts and nine offensive drives were four plays or less. Nine drives? Insert Ferris Bueller joke here. 

The tailor can take his time with Matthew Stafford’s Canton blazer as the Lions' signal caller showed his inexperience throwing a coin-flip 28-of-50 for 294 yards and two touchdowns. Stafford was off early and often throwing balls behind and over receivers with one attempt landing inches from his own cleats. His biggest error was taking a safety midway through the second quarter.

With Stafford’s injuries from last year, he has been quick to toss the ball away early to avoid contact, but in this game he was unable to get outside the pocket and get the ball across the line of scrimmage, taking multiple sacks and an intentional grounding penalty.

The Lions had a full-blown case of Monday night hangover as the team appeared lackluster through much of the afternoon and looked to be waiting for the Frisco kids to lie down at some point. The first play from scrimmage for the Lions defense was the highlight as Kyle Vanden Bosch ripped around the left end and stripped the football from Alex Smith for the game’s first turnover. 

Moments later, Vanden Bosch showed the world he had received the State Farm Discount Double Check as he ripped Aaron Rodgers' touchdown celebration. His move was a bit premature as the Lions gave up 203 yards on the ground.

Two-time All-Pro Frank Gore accounted for 141 of those yards slashing the Lions defense for 55 and 47-yard runs. Both gallops were set  up by TE Delanie Walker. Delanie trap blocked DT Ndamukong Suh on both plays to spring Gore for the big gainers, but his fantasy highlight was yet to come.

Trailing 15-19 with minutes left in the game; Alex Smith, who was pedestrian at best all afternoon completing 17-of-32 for 125 yards, connected with Walker on a six-yard slant for his only TD toss to put the 49ers up for good 22-19.

Walker, who was lined up as a WR and supposed to “pick” the slot defender so Michael Crabtree could release to the outside, used his 242-pound frame to shield Louis Delmas and will his way in for the score  and complete his personal trifecta of game-changing plays for San Francisco.

Harbaugh enjoyed his homecoming to Michigan, as the former Wolverine got the best of Jim Schwartz both during and after the game.

As the coaches moved to the center of the field for their customary handshake, Harbaugh thrust his right hand out to accept the congratulations of Schwartz, but at the same time slapped the head coach of the Lions in the back with his left, which did not sit well with the coach who had his nine-game winning streak broken.

"I went to congratulate coach Harbaugh and got shoved out of the way," Schwartz said. "I didn't expect an obscenity at that point. Obviously, when you win a game like that, you are excited, but there is a protocol that goes with this league." (NFL.com)

Jim Harbaugh gave a back-handed explanation of the meeting.

"That's totally on me," Harbaugh said. "I shook his hand too hard." (NFL.com)

Harbaugh showed his Raider bloodlines at the podium as he served as an assistant for Oakland from 2002-2003.  The late, great Mr. Al Davis I’m sure, took great pride (from above or below, depending on your perspective) in Harbaugh’s “Just Win Baby” attitude.

Unlike Yukon Cornelius who seemed to always fall short in his quest for silver, the San Francisco 49ers struck it rich on Sunday.