Who didn't see this coming?

I'll believe it when A) They finish the game well (they won't), and B) they play well for 2 straight games (they won't). Whatever. It's been kind of fun tonight, but whatever.

Rams are winning the divsion

Sam Bradford is effing amazing. Shit. We have to deal with that guy for the next 15 years. We're screwed.

I'm jealous of Vikings fans

I remember how happy I was when Nolan got fired. The difference for them is they have a guy stepping in who, you know, will probably be a real NFL head coach. I really really long for the day when we get the announcement that Singletary is gone.

I have no idea why they would not cut ties right now- sure, the math says they have a chance, but give me a break. They just got shutout at home for the first time in 30 years and the coach COULDN'T REMEMBER THE MOST CRITICAL CALL HE MADE DURING THE ENTIRE GAME. He should have been fired as soon as he left that press room! You have to be kidding me that he didn't remember choosing to punt FROM THE 31 YARD LINE.

Does management enjoy being a laughingstock? Do they not realize that that is exactly what they are? The only way to salvage any kind of credibility is to cut ties with this charade, you have exactly nothing to lose. Maybe the team would at least be semi-watchable.

Niners We Know and Love

Somewhat important game? Check (Update: By this I mean, for the Niners it's do or die, but to fans of other NFL teams, who really gives a shit?)
Somewhat equal to lesser opponent? Check (Update: I realize this isn't accurate; the Bucs have been a far better team in 2010. I guess I was thinking about all the Niners "talent" on "paper").
Singletary coaching? Check
Niners choke job? Check

Color me shocked the special teams unit stopped the fake punt. That's usually a Singletary specialty: Complete and utter surprise the other team doesn't play straight ahead 1940s football.

This team hasn't looked like a functional NFL team since 2002

Even if they win today, it's still more of the same disjointed, unorganized and unprepared football we've seen for 8 straight years. How hard is it with this much talent to JUST LOOK LIKE A FUCKING FOOTBALL TEAM FOR GODS SAKE.

Mike Singletary won that game for the 49ers

Wait wait! Before you scoff, allow me to take you back. Specifically, to the season-opening game in Arizona last year. Remember? The one where, at halftime, a crazed Mike Singletary (hard to imagine, I know) pulled aside and berated rookie head referee Don Carey, brother of the much more famous Mike Carey.

As you may have read in that article, this season 'ol Don was re-assigned to Ed Hochuli's crew. The crew that worked Sunday's game. And who was it that made the game-deciding pass interference call in overtime?

Don. Carey.

BOOOOOOOOOOM ROASTED! Obviously, Don looked over at Mike's intimidating scowl, remembered that encounter, and got a little jumpy with the flag.

So clearly, Mike Singletary won this game for the 49ers. Take a long suck on THAT, haters.

Mike Singletary is allergic to straight answers

There's no other way to explain his almost pathological refusal to give a definite answer on anything ever since he took over as coach.

The most recent example, obviously, is his refusal to just tell everyone that Troy Smith is going to be the quarterback this Sunday. What is the harm in just being honest with your fans and with the players themselves? Per Maiocco, even the Smiths haven't been told who's starting this Sunday (which is funny to me, because all I ever heard about to start this year is how "honest" singletary is. Balmer, Lewis, and now both Smiths might have something to say about that), so it's not like Singletary is obfuscating in order to keep the Rams in the dark. I think it's obvious to all of us that this organization isn't nearly smart enough to pull that off anyways.

Don't get me wrong, there are times when he makes a definitive statement. Like, for instance, the time after the Chiefs game when he declared Jimmy Raye's job safe for the season, before firing him less than 24 hours later.

Mike Singletary: bad coach. I know I'm not breaking any new ground there, but I just wonder where exactly this STRICT REFUSAL to just come out and say things that are obvious to everyone else comes from. Maybe it's a football coach thing, and maybe if I followed any other NFL team as closely as I follow the niners I'd notice them doing it too. The problem is when most of them do it, they're successful.

It's really a shame that this team is saddled with such awful management. Why can't we be the chiefs? Or the Browns? Those are teams with a fraction of the talent the 49ers have, yet they are able to compete with (and beat) teams that are infinitely more talented. Why?

Because their coaches don't go out there, line up, and play a conventional, conservative game against teams that are better than them. They make those teams play on their terms. They don't do what 95% of the stadium is expecting them to do. They mix it up. The 49ers don't have that, and haven't for 8 years. If they played football like that, and maybe used the talent they have to the fullest, they would not be sitting at 2-6 and staring yet another non-winning season in the face.

There's no doubt in my mind that the talent on this team is good enough to win 6 out of the next 8 games. If you don't think they are, you need to watch the other nfc west teams play. Their teams are awful. If the 49ers had a coach who wasn't so stupid that he doesn't realize that a quarterback 2 weeks removed from a shoulder separation and who's sporting a 1-6 record isn't obviously going to be on the sidelines Sunday, then maybe they'd have a chance over these next 8 games.

It's really too bad. What a hopeless feeling to have half a season left, and know that you won't have the chance to watch a relevant football team until next September. And we'll be lucky if it's that soon.

Crazier things have happened

Just sayin'. This division is awful. Cardinals choke away a sure win, Seahawks are getting KILT at home. Niners will be 2 back next week with 5 of 8 remaining games IN the division, and with every other team falling apart on all sides of the ball.

Realistically, it's looking like the Rams' division. But, would it REALLY be that crazy if the 49ers made a "stunning" comeback behind a new starting quarterback? They still have more talent at most positions than any other team in the division. IF they beat the rams next week, they are the favorites to win it when you look at their talent and schedule. They'd be 1 game back with 7 remaining.

After that game their only difficult game is @ Green Bay. You pencil that in as a loss, and the Chargers game as a loss, and you have an 8-8 record. That would win the division.

But we know the more likely outcome is that they lose next week, and the Rams go on to win it. The Rams have a good QB, and in this division that's all you need. BUT, that also means that if T. Smith can be good, the niners have a very good chance.

Just sayin, crazier things have happened.

Singletary: not a smart coach

Mike Singletary told a 2-6 team to "get away from football" during its bye week. You know, the week that's supposed to be an advantage for a football team. Instead, they're going to be spending it doing anything other than preparing for their next opponent.

Maybe this is why the 49ers have been HISTORICALLY (and hysterically) awful after their bye weeks in recent years. Seriously, go look it up. It's amazing how terrible they've been.

Honestly, is it too much to ask to just get a freaking guy to run this team who knows what he's doing? Really? It must be, because we haven't had one for 7 years now.

But sports ARE kinda funny sometimes. I said these same things about the Giants and about Brian Sabean. Everyone agrees that Sabean is one of the worst GMs in baseball. But he just won a world series. Sports are weird.

Either way, telling your 2-6 team to "get away from football" during their bye week instead of taking that time to prepare for your next opponent? I'm sorry, but that's just stupid. The rams are going to kill us in 2 weeks.

I don't even care

Go 2-14 for all I care niners. Go 0-16 for the next 20 years if you want. The Giants just won a goddamn world series and I'm so numb to any possible future sports failure that I couldn't care less. Maybe that's what you need to start playing well- for me to not care.

WELL I DON'T CARE BABY!!! THE GIANTS ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Read that last sentence over and over. It's true. It's not a dream. The Giants are world champions.

I can watch Troy Smith talk at a press conference and not want to punch him in the face

that alone is reason to let him keep starting. Honestly, have you ever watched Alex Smith get interviewed and not been annoyed as crap? He is such an awful interview.

I know it's a stupid, meaningless thing, but it's nice to see the leader of your team actually, you know, semi-composed when he's speaking in public.