2007 San Francisco 49ers season

 

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2007 San Francisco 49ers season
Head Coach	Mike Nolan
Home Field	Monster Park
Results
Record	2-3
Place	3rd
Playoff Finish	TBD
Timeline
Previous Season	Next Season
2006	2008

The 2007 San Francisco 49ers season will be the 61st season for the team in the National Football League. They will try to improve upon their 7-9 record in 2006 and attempt to reach the playoffs for the first time since the 2002-03 season.

Coaching staff

Head coach Mike Nolan will be entering his third year with the 49ers. He will be joined with offensive coordinator Jim Hostler, defensive coordinator Greg Manusky, and special teams coordinator Al Everest.

Offseason

Free Agency

The 49ers addressed their problems in the secondary with the signing of veteran cornerback Nate Clements from the Buffalo Bills. The contract was worth $80 million for 8 years, the largest contract given to a defensive player in NFL history. They also signed strong safety Michael Lewis from Philadelphia on the same day. Other key defensive pickups included linebackers Colby Bockwoldt and Tully Banta-Cain and nosetackle Aubrayo Franklin. The team also addressed its wide-receiver needs by signing former Denver Bronco and Atlanta Falcon, Ashley Lelie and Seattle Seahawk, Darrell Jackson. San Francisco also used the free agency period to extend Gore's contract to 4 years worth $28 million, $14 million of which is guaranteed.

Draft

In the 2007 NFL draft, they addressed their need for an inside linebacker by picking Patrick Willis in the first round and also gave up their 2008 first round pick to the New England Patriots and selected 28 overall Offensive Tackle Joe Staley. In the 2nd round the 49ers traded their 2nd round pick in the 2007 NFL Draft for the Colts' number one pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. On the second day of the NFL Draft, the San Francisco 49ers traded a 4th round pick for Seattle Seahawks leading receiver, Darrell Jackson.

Regular Season Games

Week 1 vs. Arizona Cardinals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Cardinals	0	10	0	7	17
49ers	7	3	3	7	20

at Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park, San Francisco, California

• Game time: 10:25 PM EDT/7:25 PM PDT
• Game weather: 64°F (Windy)
• Game attendance: 68,111
• Referee: Walt Coleman
• TV announcers: (ESPN): Mike Greenberg, Mike Golic, Mike Ditka, & Bonnie Bernstein

Dressed up in their throwback uniforms, the 49ers began their 2007 campaign against their NFC West rival, the Arizona Cardinals in the second game of the Monday Night Football doubleheader. In the first quarter, the Niners drew first blood as RB Frank Gore got a 6-yard TD run for the score of the period. However, in the second quarter, the Cardinals took the lead with kicker with Neil Rackers getting a 35-yard field goal and RB Edgerrin James getting a 7-yard TD run. San Francisco would end the half with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 33-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the 49ers retook the lead with Nedney kicking a 30-yard field goal for the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, Arizona jumped ahead with QB Matt Leinart completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Anquan Boldin With time running out late in the game, QB Alex Smith led the Niners on a last-minute drive that included a 20 yard run by Alex Smith and ended with WR Arnaz Battle getting a 1-yard TD run. The Cardinals had just enough time to try a late-game comeback, but, San Francisco clinched the game with CB Shawntae Spencer getting an interception for the win. It must be noted that Matt Leinart's first and last passes in the game were both interceptions.

With the win, not only did the 49ers begin their year at 1-0, but Mike Nolan finally got his first win against Arizona as a head coach.

Scoring summary

Q1 - SF - 11:24 - Frank Gore 6 yard TD run (Joe Nedney kick) (SF 7-0)

Q2 - ARI - 12:55 - Neil Rackers 35 yard FG (SF 7-3)

Q2 - ARI - 9:15 - Edgerrin James 7 yard TD run (Rackers kick) (ARI 10-7)

Q2 - SF - 3:40 - Joe Nedney 33 yard FG (10-10)

Q3 - SF - 11:20 - Joe Nedney 30 yard FG (SF 13-10)

Q4 - ARI - 6:46 - 5 yard TD pass from Matt Leinart to Anquan Boldin (Rackers kick) (ARI 17-13)

Q4 - SF - 0:26 - Arnaz Battle 1 yard TD run (Nedney kick) (SF 20-17)

Week 2 at St. Louis Rams

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	7	7	3	17
Rams	7	6	0	3	16

at Edward Jones Dome, St. Louis, Missouri

• Game time: 1:00 PM EDT/10 AM PDT
• Game weather: 78°F (Sunny) (Game was played indoors)
• Game attendance: 65,295
• Referee: Jeff Triplette

Coming off their divisional home win over the Cardinals, the 49ers flew to the Edward Jones Dome for a Week 2 divisional duel against their NFC West rival, the St. Louis Rams. In the first quarter, the Niners trailed early as Rams QB Marc Bulger completed a 12-yard TD pass to WR Torry Holt for the only score of the period. In the second quarter, San Francisco would tie the game up with RB Frank Gore getting a 1-yard TD run. St. Louis would take the halftime lead with kicker Jeff Wilkins getting a 29-yard field goal

In the third quarter, the 49ers took the lead with Gore breaking through a gang of tacklers for a 43-yard TD run, along with the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Rams retook the lead with Wiklins getting a 53-yard field goal. Fortuanately, thanks to a St. Louis goof-up on special teams, the Niners took the lead with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 40-yard field goal. Near the end the game, the Rams had one last chance to win the game. Fortunately for San Francisco, Wilkins' 56-yard field goal attempt fell about a yard short of the crossbar.

With the win, the 49ers improved to 2-0 for the first time since 1998.

Scoring summary

Q1 - STL - 6:04 - 12 yard TD pass from Marc Bulger to Torry Holt (Wilkins kick) (STL 7-0)

Q2 - SF - 14:57 - Frank Gore 1 yard TD run (Nedney kick) (7-7)

Q2 - STL - 9:04 - Jeff Wilkins 27 yard FG (STL 10-7)

Q2 - STL - 1:51 - Jeff Wilkins 29 yard FG (STL 13-7)

Q3 - SF - 2:43 - Frank Gore 43 yard TD run (Nedney kick) (SF 14-13)

Q4 - STL - 10:04 - Jeff Wilkins 53 yard FG (STL 16-14)

Q4 - SF - 3:23 - Joe Nedney 40 yard FG (SF 17-16)

Week 3: at Pittsburgh Steelers

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	6	0	3	7	16
Steelers	7	7	3	20	37

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

• Game weather: 72°F (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 64,313
• Referee: Gerry Austin

Game summary

Coming off of a fierce divisional road win over the Rams, the 49ers flew to Heinz Field for an interconference duel with the Pittsburgh Steelers. In the first quarter, the Niners struck first with kicker Joe Nedney getting a 32-yard field goal. The Steelers would immediately respond with CB/PR Allen Rossum returing a punt 98 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco would wrap up the period with Nedney kicking a 22-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Pittsburgh increased its lead with QB Ben Roethlisberger completing a 9-yard TD pass to TE Jerame Tuman for the only score of the period.

In the third quarter, the Steelers increased its lead with kicker Jeff Reed nailing a 36-yard field goal. The Niners would reply with Nedney kicking a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Pittsburgh took control with Reed getting a 49-yard and a 35-yard field goal, while CB Bryant McFadden returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown. San Francisco would get a touchdown as QB Alex Smith completed a 21-yard pass to WR Taylor Jacobs. Afterwards, the Steelers ended the game with RB Najeh Davenport getting a 39-yard TD run.

With the loss, the 49ers fell to 2-1.

Scoring summary

Q1 - SF - 9:24 - Joe Nedney 32 yard FG (SF 3-0)

Q1 - PIT - 9:12 - Allen Rossum 98 yard kickoff return (PIT 7-3)

Q1 - SF - 3:01 - Joe Nedney 22 yard FG (PIT 7-6)

Q2 - PIT - 0:37 - Jarame Tuman 9 yard pass from Ben Roethlisberger (Jeff Reed kick) (PIT 14-6)

Q3 - PIT - 9:41 - Jeff Reed 36 yard FG (PIT 17-6)

Q3 - SF - 4:46 - Joe Nedney 49 yard FG (PIT 17-9)

Q4 - PIT - 14:55 - Jeff Reed 49 yard FG (PIT 20-9)

Q4 - PIT - 4:59 - Jeff Reed 35 yard FG (PIT 23-9)

Q4 - PIT - 4:01 - Bryant Mcfadden 50 yard interception return (Reed kick) (PIT 30-9)

Q4 - SF - 2:22 - Taylor Jacobs 21 yard pass from Alex Smith (Nedney kick) (PIT 30-16)

Q4 - PIT - 1:51 - Najeh Davenport 39 yard run (Nedney kick) (PIT 37-16)

Week 4: vs. Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	Total
Seahawks	0	13	7	3	23
49ers	0	0	3	0	3

at Bill Walsh Field at Monster Park, San Francisco, California

• Game time: 1:05 PM PDT
• Game weather:
• Television commentators (FOX): Kenny Albert, Daryl Johnston, and Tony Siragusa
• Referee: Mike Carey
• Game attendance: 67,651

Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Steelers, the 49ers went home and played an NFC West duel with the Seattle Seahawks. In the first quarter, even thoug their were no points at all, the Niners lost QB Alex Smith with a separated shoulder during a sack. Back-up QB Trent Dilfer would take the position for the rest of the game. In the second quarter, San Francisco's recent woes continued with Seahawks kicker Josh Brown getting a 23-yard field goal. Afterwards, Seattle began to pound away with QB Matt Hasselbeck completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR Bobby Engram, along with Brown kicking a 31-yard field goal.

In the third quarter, the Seahawks continued their domination as Hasselbeck completed a 14-yard TD pass to TE Marcus Pollard. The Niners would get their only score of the game as kicker Joe Nedney got a 43-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Seattle sealed San Francisco's doom with Brown nailing a 25-yard field goal.

With their second-straight loss, the 49ers fell to 2-2.

Week 5: vs. Baltimore Ravens

	1	2	3	4	Total
Ravens	0	6	3	0	9
49ers	0	7	0	0	7

• Game weather: 63°F (Sunny)
• Game attendance: 67,885
• Referee: Bill Leavy

Trying to snap a two-game skid, the 49ers stayed at home for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Baltimore Ravens. With QB Alex Smith out with a shoulder injury, back-up Trent Dilfer was given the start against the team that he helped deliver a Super Bowl title to.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Ravens got the lead with kicker Matt Stover getting a 26-yard and a 32-yard field goal. In the third quarter, Baltimore increased its lead with Stover nailing a 49-yard field goal. The Niners came close to taking the lead with Dilfer complting a 49-yard TD pass to WR Arnaz Battle. With two minutes left in the fourth quarter, the 49ers had a chance to take the lead, but kicker Joe Nedney missed a 52-yard field goal and the Ravens ran out the clock.

With their third straight loss, the 49ers entered their bye week at 2-3.

Week 7 at New York Giants

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Giants	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 8 vs. New Orleans Saints

	1	2	3	4	Total
Saints	0	0	0	0	0
49ers	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 9 at Atlanta Falcons

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Falcons	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 10 at Seattle Seahawks

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Seahawks	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 11 vs. St. Louis Rams

	1	2	3	4	Total
Rams	0	0	0	0	0
49ers	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 12 at Arizona Cardinals

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Cardinals	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 13 at Carolina Panthers

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Panthers	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 14 vs. Minnesota Vikings

	1	2	3	4	Total
Vikings	0	0	0	0	0
49ers	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 15 vs. Cincinnati Bengals

	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	0	0	0	0
49ers	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 16 vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

	1	2	3	4	Total
Buccaneers	0	0	0	0	0
49ers	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Week 17 at Cleveland Browns

	1	2	3	4	Total
49ers	0	0	0	0	0
Browns	0	0	0	0	0

• Game weather: TBD
• Game attendance: TBD
• Referee: TBD
• TV announcers: TBD

Schedule

All times Western

Preseason

Week	Date	Time	Opponent	Result	Record
1	Mon 8/13	5:00 p.m.	Denver	L 13-17	0-1
2	Sat 8/18	7:00 p.m.	Oakland	W 26-21	1-1
3	Sat 8/25	5:00 p.m.	@ Chicago	L 28-31	1-2
4	Thu 8/30	7:00 p.m.	@ San Diego	L 13-16	1-3

Regular Season

Week	Date	Time	Opponent	Result	Record
1	Mon 9/10	7:15 p.m.	Arizona	W 20-17	1-0
2	Sun 9/16	10:00 A.M	@ St. Louis	W 17-16	2-0
3	Sun 9/23	10:00 A.M	@ Pittsburgh	L 37-16	2-1
4	Sun 9/30	1:05 p.m.	Seattle	L 23-3	2-2
5	Sun 10/7	1:05 p.m.	Baltimore	L 9-7	2-3
6	bye week
7	Sun 10/21	10:00 A.M	@ New York (Giants)
8	Sun 10/28	1:15 p.m.	New Orleans
9	Sun 11/4	10:00 A.M	@ Atlanta
10	Mon 11/12	5:30 p.m.	@ Seattle
11	Sun 11/18	1:15 p.m.	St. Louis
12	Sun 11/25	1:05 p.m.	@ Arizona
13	Sun 12/2	10:00 A.M	@ Carolina
14	Sun 12/9	1:05 p.m.	Minnesota
15	Sat 12/15	5:15 p.m.	Cincinnati
16	Sun 12/23	5:15 p.m.	Tampa Bay
17	Sun 12/30	10:00 A.M	@ Cleveland

Division Standings

NFC West
	W	L	T	PCT	PF	PA	STK
Seattle Seahawks	3	3	0	.500	104	102	L-2
Arizona Cardinals	3	3	0	.500	128	136	L-1
San Francisco 49ers	2	3	0	.400	63	102	L-3
St. Louis Rams	0	6	0	.000	73	159	L-6

2007 NFL season
AFC	East	North	South	West	NFC	East	North	South	West
	Buffalo	Baltimore	Houston	Denver		Dallas	Chicago	Atlanta	Arizona
	Miami	Cincinnati	Indianapolis	Kansas City		NY Giants	Detroit	Carolina	St. Louis
	New England	Cleveland	Jacksonville	Oakland		Philadelphia	Green Bay	New Orleans	San Francisco
	NY Jets	Pittsburgh	Tennessee	San Diego		Washington	Minnesota	Tampa Bay	Seattle
2007 NFL Draft • NFL Playoffs • Pro Bowl • Super Bowl XLII

References

01 Aug 2007 <http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/teams/sfo>.

External links

• 49ers Archive from Football for Breakfast

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