Overtime goes in Favor to Cowboys 27-24

"I know everybody wants to solve the debt today, but that is something that is a process."—Head Coach Harbaugh

By Larry Garcia 9/18/2011 Lgarcia@bayareasportsdrive.com
Bay Area Sports Drive

Last week the 49ers defeated the Seahawks 33-17 and pretty much had their way with a combo of passing and running attack with the addition of David Akers who had four field goals of 27, 24, 31 and 18. Alex Smith had a day passing 15 of 20 for 124 yards and one rushing TD. That was the Seahawks, but a better team would challenge the 49ers this weekend at Candlestick sporting the blue Texas star.

Although the 49ers lost in overtime, they played a good game losing to the Cowboys 27-24. In the first half, the 49ers held the Cowboys to just 7 yards rushing in nine attempts. It was the 49ers first loss of the season. This Sunday it was the foot of FG Kicker Baily giving the cowboys the victory with a 48-yard field goal after missing an early 21-yrd attempt.

Alex Smith was 16/24, 179 yards, two Td’s with one interception vs. Tony Romo’s day of 20/33, 345 yards and two Td’s. Tony Romo played with a fractured rib but still had the tenacity to strike a 77-yard Td to Jesse Holley to rally back.

When Head Coach Jim Harbaugh was asked if he felt he should have won this game, he said, "I'm proud of our guys. I thought they played their hearts out. I thought they played well enough to win, but we didn't win. It's the National Football League, it's hard. It's hard to get those wins. Take my hat off to the Cowboys, they dug themselves out of a hole and came back and won it."

Harbaugh wants his team to have identity. What kind of distinctiveness is he refereeing too? "No, I think it's developing what you're good at”, said Harbaugh, “and what you believe you can be good at and repping those as much as you possibly can. Then, areas where you need improvement, strive for that. There may be some of those that are eliminated. That's the general nature of that plan."

Head coach knows most do not have patience when it comes to losing, however as today’s economy, this is what Harbaugh said to the media. "Specifically, with all areas, that's correct. We are in a process, I know everybody wants to solve the debt today, but that is something that is a process."

Game Notes: Did you know?

With a 75% completion percentage in Week 1 vs. Sea. (9/11/11) and a 66.7 % total in Week 2 vs. Dal. (9/18/11), it marks the 1st time since 11/12/06 at Det. (70.0%) and 11/19/06 vs. Sea. (76.0%) that Alex Smith has posted consecutive weeks with completion percentages of 66.7%-or-higher.

The 49ers run defense has not allowed a 100-yd. rusher in the last 24 games, which marks the longest active streak in the NFL. The next closest team to not allow a 100-yd. rusher is the Chicago Bears. Through two games, the 49ers defense ranks 1st in the NFL, allowing just 54.5 yds. per game on the ground.

Photo AP