Less Than Zero

OK, have you ever had a more unpleasant descent? I mean it was bumpier than flying into Denver in one of those turbo-prop commuter planes. Your stomach gets queasy and every few moments the plane kicks you in the rear as if you were landing hard, but wait -- you haven’t hit bottom yet.

Is that what happens when the best NFC team of 2004 plays the worst team of 2004? Yes, but I don’t accept that. The Niners are better. Special teams are definitely improved. It probably was an optical illusion, but it looked like the D was even improving -- if you only looked at alternate plays.

Exactly how did Rattay earn a 21.3 QB rating? I would have thought that the QB rating would have been in negative numbers. Apparently having a heartbeat earns points. Was it a lack of snaps with the first team in preseason? Not sure, but it doesn’t matter. Everyone has a bad day at the office. Just not on national television.

The real test is of Nolan’s leadership. He can be thankful that the test came early because the team has time to respond. True despair, like real success, takes time.  Time might be on Nolan’s side, except for the years of despair sowed by York.