San Francisco 49ers escape against St. Louis Rams with 31-17 win on Monday Night Football thanks to a stacked offense full of weapons like 'Mr. Dependable' Anquan Boldin

In a division billed as the toughest and best this year for the NFL, the San Francisco 49ers managed another victory on MNF to vie for NFC West superiority. The team the 49ers need to beat, the Arizona Cardinals, is still 4-1. As the 49ers picked up their fourth win of the season, the NFC West division is up for grabs and Colin Kaepernick and company are looking forward to the battle for divisional superiority that looms overhead of their season.

The 49ers showing on Monday Night Football was another offensive clinic for San Francsico's QB Colin Kaepernick. ESPN's San Francisco 49ers reporter Pault Gutierrez remarks on the numerous weapons available to Coach Jim Harbaugh on offense. The argument can be made that Kaepernick's favorite receiver is Michael Crabtree or Vernon Davis as his security Tight End or Brandon Lloyd for an explosive sideline burning of the secondary. The one receiver who has been overlooked is that of Anquan Boldin who had a monster game on Monday Night Football. Boldin would come up huge when needed, especially on a busted play-action from Kaepernick running for his life to a nice impromptu throw to Boldin for the nails in the coffin touchdown to stifle the St. Louis Rams. As Gutierrez explains, Anquan Boldin has been the most dependable back that Kaepernick has at his disposal. Boldin has statistically and repitetively been there to make huge plays when San Fran absolutely needed them most. The same was true last night as Boldin put up nearly 100 yards catching with one touchdown. In fact, the same seems to be true every time Boldin suits up against the Rams, who has a respectable 12-4 win ratio, over 1400+ yards and 6 100+ yard games (receiving) versus the Rams.

Indeed, Kaepernick himself would have a record setting game via his legs. The Kaepernick-Boldin improvised touchdown would be recorded as Colin Kaepernick's sixth NFL touchdown this season while being flushed out of the pocket, those 6 mobile touchdowns are now the NFL record this season, as Kaepernick just surpassed Andrew Luck for the bragging rights. Anquan Boldin had more to say about how well Kaepernick's elusiveness and reads have gotten as he watches this NFL superstar QB further improve and progress:

"It was a broken play...Kap made a play with his legs...Because with a mobile quarterback...things like that are going to happen. … I've seen him do it over and over...His decision-making has improved a lot...He's always been a good leader. He's always been able to make plays with his legs. But his decision-making has really grown in the last two years, the two years I've been here"

Kaepernick had equally high praise of Anquan Boldin who has been dubbed as 'Mr. Dependable' in San Francisco after Monday Night Football play. Kaepernick while regarding his broken play touchdown to Boldin gave credit where credit was due, "He came back and made a great play...He was supposed to be running the other way, saw me scramble. … I'll give Anquan a shot any day of the week." As San Francisco finds more and more playmakers on both sides of the field this season stepping up with huge plays, they will need that deadly 49er offense with 'Mr. Dependable' at the helm for San Francisco' s big challenge next week against the equally dominant Denver Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

References:

http://espn.go.com/blog/san-francisco-49ers/post/_/id/9998/colin-kaepernick-has-his-personal-mr-dependable-in-anquan-boldin

http://espn.go.com/blog/statsinfo/post/_/id/97082/top-stats-to-know-49ers-31-rams-17

Photography / Image Courtesy:

San Francisco 49ers: Michael Wifall

San Diego Chargers staying classy, but have found greatness in 'winning ugly' on top of AFC West with a 31-28 victory over Oakland Raiders

As ESPN's San Diego Chargers reporter Eric D. Williams explains after analysis of  San Diego play, the Chargers have found a way to win close games, consistently. The Chargers 'ugly wins' have San Diego sitting pretty on top of their division, the AFC West, at 5-1. Despite odds placed against San Diego this season, whom will have to oust Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos to maintain their domain of the AFC West, the Chargers are playing very good ball on both sides of the field. The five game winning streak is due to an ugly win against a win-less Oakland Raiders, whom are under new management with Tony Sparano as Head Coach, the win was an underwhelming performance. Nevertheless, Sand Diego Chargers' playmakers found another dogfight on the gridiron, yet again the Chargers came out on top.

Eric D. Williams accounts for the new found Chargers' success thanks to Phillip Rivers. The San Diego Chargers' QB has had the best numbers for QBR (QB Rating) for several weeks and is simply outplaying all other QBs this season in the NFL. Phillip Rivers current QBR is 87.1, two points higher than division rival Peyton Manning (2nd in QBR). For those who have watched Rivers throw throughout the years, despite his lack luster mechanics while throwing, Rivers can flat out play. Phillip has always boasted a dangerous arm on long balls and has a gunslinger's attitude which usually results in big gains through the air. The one aspect which usually hinders Rivers' effectiveness is himself. Rivers has what some would call Brett Favre syndrome, in that he will rifle a shot against multiple defenders or shutdown corners to make a big play happen, this often times creates a fair amount of interceptions accrued alongside touchdowns in a season for Rivers. Now that may sound harsh until you put the numbers on it, Rivers' career total TDs amount to 236 compared to 106 recorded interceptions, statistically that's a 1 of 2 disparity (thereabouts) which leads to problems for Chargers against higher caliber opponents and playoff aspirations.

Eric D. Williams has noted the heightened level of play from Rivers this season, and why that should worry AFC contenders. During Sunday's game, Rivers would throw for 22 of 34 completions accruing 313 yards with 3 TDs, sacked just once and boasted a very respectable 123.8 passer rating. This excellent performance resulting in victory would see another milestone in that it was also Rivers fifth straight game of a recorded 120+ passer rating, who just passed himself, Johnny Unitas and Kurt Warner for a new NFL record which was previously at just four consecutive games (of 120+ passer rating per game). As for interceptions, Rivers can also boast a 15 TDs to 2 interceptions ratio, much more in form with how well Rivers is playing this season. ESPN has projected only three more interceptions for Rivers this season which (if true) should help the Chargers scrap out more close-shave victories, as is their season's theme.

In the grind out victory in O.Co coliseum, the Chargers were happy to see two of their rookies have monster showings as well. Rookie RB Branden Oliver would put up 100+ yards on 26 carries. The strong game from Oliver would be his second straight game of over 100 yards rushing. Rookie Cornerback, Jason Verret, would come up with the game-sealing interception against a desperate David Carr and the Raiders, still starving for their first win of the season. Many Chargers have noticed a new and deadly Chargers team this season, capable on both sides of play. Eric Weddle, San Diego Chargers Free Safety, simple stated "Last year we would have lost this game." Various Chargers feel that this is a different season with a highly focused team, as Weddle additionally pointed out that despite an ugly win, the team will learn from the mistakes and also learned how resilient of a pro football team San Diego has become. Just ask San Diego Head Coach Mike McCoy, who isn't concerned about how pretty the execution is in realtime as he is with stringing together wins no matter how ugly they are, "The great thing is we found a way to win at the end...That's the only thing that matters in this business, is finding a way every Sunday -- or whatever day we're playing -- to win. It's not always going to be perfect." While the San Diego Chargers are indeed not perfect, the team has consistently outplayed their opponents and have positioned themselves nicely into the ensuing playoff picture for the 2014-2015 season.

References:

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/oct/12/chargers-raiders-move-on-acee/

http://espn.go.com/blog/san-diego-chargers/post/_/id/7550/weddle-takes-blame-for-fake-punt-call

http://espn.go.com/blog/san-diego-chargers/post/_/id/7570/chargers-seek-greatness-learn-how-to-win-ugly

http://espn.go.com/blog/san-diego-chargers/post/_/id/7587/morning-links-reaction-to-bolts-31-28

http://espn.go.com/nfl/recap?gameId=400554302


Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Phillip Rivers: Kieth Allison

Power Rankings Contend Oakland Raiders Are The Best Of The Worst This Season

A couple of lighter stories this week in the NFL made headlines for certain teams. A nice piece done by Jeff Legwold, Denver Broncos Reporter and member of Pro Football Hall of Fame Board of Selectors, entailed in a comedic tone of how Broncos Head Coach John Fox will be taking the bye week in stride and with no golfing. While during last year's bye week, Fox needed an aortic valve replaced when he fell ill while golfing in Charlotte, NC. An incident which left the Broncos without their mastermind for four weeks last season. Though, the best of the worst stories this week would have to be the Oakland Raiders and their silver lining through an already cloudy season. Just ask Bill Williamson, ESPN reporter for the Raiders.

After a hard fought loss to New England, power rankings via ESPN have Oakland as the best of the only three remaining win-less teams. Even better, in the hearts of hopeful Raiders fans, is that Oakland will be facing off against Miami Dolphins (1-2) whom are also off to a shaky start, going in the wrong direction after consecutive losses.

Raiders and Dolphins are set to do battle across the pond in London, UK at Wembley Stadium this Sunday. The match-up could make for a interesting and close scrap, as both teams are fighting to stay relevant in this season's playoff picture.

Photography/ Image Courtesy:

Raider Nation: Nathan Jongewaard

Dolphins Vs. Raiders: June Rivera

Wembley Stadium (Daytime): Daniel

Wembley Stadium (Nighttime): Vtravelled.com