The San Francisco won the game yesterday with defense plain and simple.  The Niners forced 6 turnovers in the game as Patrick Willis, Dre Bly and Dashon Goldson picked off passes while Mark Roman, Takeo Spikes and Dre Bly all recovered fumbles yesterday.  Patrick Willis led the way for the Niners on D as usual with 9 tackles, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and a INT.  The Lions finished up with only 289 total yards on offense (114 rushing, 175 passing) yesterday.

Alex Smith did a solid job of managing the game on offense completing 20 of 31 passes for 230 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  Frank Gore had to fight for every yard he got on the ground with 71 yards rushing on 28 carries (2.5 ypc) with a TD grab but he also caught 4 passes for 81 yards (20.3 avg).  Michael Crabtree (4 rec, 68 yards) and Vernon Davis (3 rec, 18 yards, TD) pitched in for the offense.  The 49ers finished up with 310 total yards on offense (84 rushing, 226 passing) in this game.  The 49ers are now 7-8 on the year.

The 49ers have signed 24-year old kicker Ricky Schmitt out of tiny Shepherd College and he might have to start this weekend against the Lions if Joe Nedney is not ready to play due to a groin injury.  Nedney has played in all 14 games for the Niners this season and he has made 17 of 21 field goals (81%) and all 33 of his extra points good for 84 points this season.  It will be interesting to see how Schmitt handles his first NFL game if he has to play because the Niners can’t afford to leave points on the football field.

UPDATE:  Nedney is out for the season so Schmitt will continue to kick.  He was 2 for 3 on field goals in his NFL debut last week and he also made both of his extra points as he finished up with 8 points.

It is going to be cold and nasty in Philly tomorrow as the game has already been moved back to a 4 o’clock start because of the weather.  This game sets up for the team that can run the ball better and that should be the Niners.  The Niners will likely feed the ball to Frank Gore early in the game and see how it goes against a Eagles’ D that is only allowing 101.5 yards rushing per game and 3.8 yards per carry.  The biggest advantage the 49ers will likely have in this game is TE Vernon Davis against the Eagles’ safeties.  Still, the Niners will have to give Alex Smith time to throw the ball against a Eagles’ D that blitzes early and often as they have 36 sacks already this year.  The Eagles allow 218.6 yards passing per game this season but they also have picked off 20 passes so Alex Smith better be careful with the football tomorrow. 

The cold weather could help the Niners short circuit the deep passing game of the Eagles which is their strength on offense.  49ers’ inside linebacker Patrick Willis will likely try to smack Lesean McCoy around as he is probably the hardest hitting LB in the NFL.  McCoy and TE Brent Celek might be the players targeted in the passing game the most by Donovan McNabb with the weather likely to be nasty.  Still, the Niners can’t cheat up too much or McNabb will still take some shots over the top to WR Desean Jackson.

PREDICTION:  EAGLES 24, 49ERS 21

26-year old Frank Gore was supposed to be the focal point of the Niners’ offense this season.  But, when the 49ers switched QBs going with Alex Smith over Shaun Hill they also turned into a pass first offense.  Gore has played in 11 games for the Niners this season and he has carried the ball 162 times for 835 yards (5.2 ypc) with 7 TD runs.  He also has caught 43 passes for 281 yards (6.5 avg) with 3 TD grabs this season.  The Niners should really get back to running the ball more because Frank Gore is one of the best players on the team and he needs the ball in his hands more often.