Good day faithful readers and fellow dwellers in the excruciating hollowness that is the NFL off-season. Before the season began, (May 1st to be exact) I wrote and posted an article on the 49ers, outlining what I thought would be their most important ten games of the season. I called it “The 2002 49ers Schedule: Top Ten”.

In that article I boldly went where no 49ers sportswriter had gone before, and I predicted the outcomes and significance of those ten games. At the end of the article, I promised that I would post an article entitled, “Was I right? Or was I right?” backing up my bold prognostications.

Well, I am a man of my word, so lets just see how I fared… I will list the game and what I had to say about it as well as my prediction and then evaluate my accuracy, or lack thereof.

Number 10

December 15 – vs. Green Bay

Payback time. This game gets on the list because our team will be looking to kick a little Green and Yellow ass after they sent us packing in the playoffs this past season. Add into the mix the fact that we have a long heated rivalry with the Packers, and how the Packers have improved their defense this offseason, and this one looks like it will be a dandy.

Niners 24 – Pack 21

Analysis - Ok, so it looks like I am not off to a good start here, as this game was not a pretty one for the Niners. The Packers won this game 20-14, and the Niners really did not look good in this one, falling victim to Brett Fav-ruh heroics yet again.

0 for 1, yikes. Let’s just move on, shall we?

Number 9

October 20 – at New Orleans

The only time we get to beat up on ‘dem Saints this season, due to the shifting of the divisions. The Saints will be better than they were last year, so this game will not be a cake-walk, by any means, but I think that the Niners will defeat the Saints again, providing us with a final parting blow as we see this old NFC West rivalry die off.

Niners 31 – Saints – 14

Analysis – Heh heh… Umm, I am not off to a good start here at all. This game was won by the Saints 35-27, but it was one where the Niners jumped out to an early lead but weren’t able to hold off a 4th quarter charge by their opponent (that became a bit of a theme this year, didn’t it? An adage if you will). The Niners defense let them down in this game, allowing the Saints to convert on roughly 99.63% of their 3rd down attempts.

(Stats courtesy of NFL.com)

No, I’m not bitter about that… not at all.

0 for 2. Yikes, time to step up here.

Number 8

December 8 – at Dallas

Our only meeting with Dallas this season and I anticipate a great game on this date. Dallas will be MUCH improved this season, and their defense will be as stringent as it was last season (if not more). Although the Cowboys defense will again be strong, I doubt their offense will bring anything major to the table, furthering their problems from last year (barring a Quincy Carter breakout season). It will be a great test for the Niners’ offense as they wind the season down, as the three games that remain after this one are as crucial as it gets.

Niners 13 – Dallas 10

Analysis – Ok, chalk one up in the correct column for old Zimmy. Now, although I figured this one would be a defensive struggle, I still predicted that the Niners would win. They did, to the tune of 35-27 on some late game heroics by one Jeff Garcia.

1 for 3, ok, a step in the right direction.

Number 7

November 25 – vs. Philadelphia

This game will be a tough one for the Niners, trust me on that. Last year’s 13-3 walk in the park will not re-occur; I can guarantee that. Money McNabb will give the Niners D fits, but I anticipate our secondary shutting down the Eagles’ receivers, I look for a run dominated game here, with both teams being unable to score on each other’s defense.

Niners 13 – Eagles 16

Analysis – This is a game that everyone in the world thought the Niners would win. McNabb had fallen the previous week with a busted ankle, and the Eagles were trotting a Detmer out at QB. As my Magic 8-Ball would say, “Outlook not so good”, but little did we realize that it was the Niners he was referring to. The Eagles played inspired football, especially after Koy Detmer went down with that weird elbow injury, and they destroyed the Niners 38-17 in a game that wasn’t even that close.

2 for 4, but it pains me to be right about that game.

Number 6

November 3 – at Oakland

A trip across the bay is always tough for the Niners. Just going into that lunacy driven hellhole that is the Coliseum is chore enough, let alone having to play the always tough Raiders there. The Raiders will have a different look this season, with the departure of Gruden (this will be a bigger factor than people realize, trust me). I foresee the veteran players like Rice, Brown, Gannon and Romanowski not playing as well as they did (or would, in Romo’s case) under Jon Gruden, in fact, this Raiders team could be in disarray at this point of the season, possibly mired in a coaching change of some sort. Even with all my lofty predictions, the Raiders will still play the Niners tough, and this game will be closer than the score will indicate.

Niners 38 – Raiders 21

Analysis – Ok, I was a bit off when referring to the Raiders I guess. But hey, I did say that the departure of Gruden would have a bigger impact than people would realize, and I don’t think I could be more right on that point. This win over the Raiders was a great game, with the Niners prevailing in OT 23-20, even though “No way” Jose Cortez did his best to lost this one for the Niners.

3 for 5, on a bit of a roll here.

Number 5

October 27 – vs. Arizona

“The dawning of a new rivalry”. The inaugural meeting of the Niners and Cards as NFCW residents will be a very exciting game. I have said that the Cards are a dangerous team for the past two season, with my predictions coming close to fruition last season with David Boston ripping the league up and Snake Plummer somewhat regaining his old form. If Arizona can get a ground game going by this point in the season, they will be a very, very tough team to defend. Their O-line is mammoth. So is their leading receiver, who will provide a HUGE challenge to our still young secondary. Look for the Cards to catch the Niners sleeping in this game, but the Niners will take it out on the Cards in their latter meeting in the season (Dec 21).

Niners 20 – Cards 28

Analysis – Ok, what the hell was I thinking here? I honestly did think that the Cards would be better than they were this year, but I really have no explanation for my prediction here. The Niners won this game handily 38-28 and T.O. ripped the Cards to shreds with 8 catches for 132 yards and 2 scores. Oh well, everyone is allowed a mulligan here and there.

3 for 6, and its my own fault for that. I should have never picked the Cards over the Niners. Cripes.

Number 4

December 30 – at St. Louis

The last game of the season will be a true “slobber-knocker”. The Niners and Rams look poised to be both battling for that NFCW crown at this point in the season, and I look for this game to be one that sets the tone for a second round playoff game. Much has been made of the Rams and their offseason, but I still think that the Niners’ moves have improved this team dramatically. The games between these two teams will be much closer and this season and I look for the Rams and their swagger to take a bit of a hit during them.

Niners 41 – Rams 31

Analysis – Ok, not quite a “slobber-knocker”. This game was relatively meaningless for the Niners (and Rams) at this point because the Rams were out of the playoffs, Kurt Warner was on IR and the Niners were resting their stars for the first round of the playoffs. The Rams did win this game 31-20, but we were all a little disappointed that it didn’t have the same importance that we were looking for.

3 for 7, I jinxed myself by saying I was on a streak.

Number 3

October 14 – at Seattle

Another inaugural game of the new NFC West dwellers, one where the Niners will finally extract some measure of revenge on Mike Holmgren. This Seahawks team will be very different from last season, and I look for them to struggle in the NFCW. The steady QB play of Trent Dilfer will keep them in a lot of games this year, but the inconsistent play of their defense will turn a lot of those games into losses.

(I just have a feeling here, don’t ask why.)

Look for this game to be a blowout, and for Dilfer to get yanked in favor of Hasselback. Why a blowout, you ask? Well, this game is scheduled the week after the Niners’ first meeting with the Rams and the Niners will be more than a little pissed at this point (more on that in #1).

Niners 35 – Seahawks 6

Analysis – “The Sharpie Incident”, this was a great game for T.O. and for the Niners, where they prevailed by a score of 28-21. This was one of the most entertaining games of the season to watch, and not just because of Owens’ antics.

4 for 8, back at 50%.

Number 2

September 5 – at New York Giants

This game gets this slot because it is not only the 2002 season opener, but it is also on Thursday night in PRIMETIME! Every football starved fan will be tuning into this game to get their first annual fix, and it what better stage for the Niners to get things off to a flying start than a primetime game in Gotham?

The Giants are a team in disarray right now and with all their player squabbling that is going on, I look for them to be behind where they should be for the first game of the season. This will be in stark contrast to the Niners who will be in fine form and will have their proverbial “ducks in a row” for their first game of the 2002 campaign. Look for a blowout, and for Strahan to get 0 sacks on his way to a lowly 4.5 sack season.

Niners 37 – Giants 10

Analysis – This was another game that failed to live up to the hype, but the Niners did prevail by a score of 16-13. It was a poorly played game, but it was close, and somewhat entertaining. I guess it served as a precursor to the thrilling playoff game these two played later in the season.

5 for 9, not bad, not bad.

Number 1

October 6 – vs. St. Louis

This game is by far the most important game of the season for the Niners. This game against the Rams will be their chance to stand up to the arrogant bully that is the Rams and show them that they are not going to stroll to another NFCW division crown. Add into this that the Niners will be coming off a bye week, and it makes everything that much more interesting. Rest will do the Niners good here, as the Rams track team will be 3-1 or 4-0 at this point in the season. The Stick will be a rockin’ for this game, and I look for a back and forth affair with more than its share of big plays. For some reason, controversy avoided the Niners last year (save the Owens ongoing saga), and I look for this game to come down to a blown call by the zebras (again, don’t ask why, I just have a feeling).

Niners 34 – Rams 37

Analysis – Shoot! I got my games mixed up here with regard to the Rams. The Niners thumped the Rams in this game 37-13, and it served notice to those Rams that the Niners wouldn’t be pushed around by the Rams any longer. Granted, the Rams were not at full strength for this contest, but that doesn’t make the win any less sweet.

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Final Analysis

Ok, 5 out of 10 isn’t too bad, I guess. Considering the fact that I wrote that article in May, I had been drinking heavily, and… oh yeah! I’m a complete idiot, I am impressed with my results.

While my predictions were not “Steve Young” accurate, they weren’t “Ryan Leaf Inaccurate” either. So, I guess I got that going for me.

Hey, there is always next year to redeem myself…

And the year after that…

And the year after that…

Until Next Time…