Dig, if you will, a picture: You and I engaged in a fantasy football contest. Down by two with Frank Gore going against Arizona’s defense — it increased the heat between me and my opponent.

/When Doves Cry

Down by two but one of my best players is still in the game going against the defense my fantasy opponent is starting. Those bad interceptions gave said opponent a two-point lead, but you can’t give up hope as long as Frank Gore is still in play, right? And so, I didn’t. Now the game gets is getting tight: San Fran is driving and manages to get the ball down to the goal line — about a yard or so short — and immediately, I’m thinking Gore’s going to punch it in and I am going to snatch fantasy victory from the jaws of defeat.

Until, that is, Frank Gore decides to fall when he could have done the “to the left” portion of the Electric Slide into the end zone. Had he not been simply touched by a defensive lineman while he passed the line of scrimmage, his falling down a hair’s breath from the end zone would not have mattered because his momentum carried the ball over the goal line — AFTER his knee touched the ground. His knee touching and the defensive player’s graze as he passed by saved the game for Cardinals, even though the 49ers had one more chance to score.

The final attempt from San Fran was, well, bad.

Instead of ramming their best running back at the Cardinals defense, for some reason, the 49ers staff decided to use Gore’s back-up, even though the play before, Gore showed he could get to the end zone. The back-up was completely and utterly stopped by the Cardinals — these things happen when you run right into the defensive line — and because of that, the 49ers lost.

As did my fantasy team. By two whopping points. I am now haunted by Gore’s attempt, because if he maintains momentum for one split second longer, he would have fallen into the end zone. Touchdown. Six points. Fantasy victory secured.

But no. Not for me, it wasn’t.

Fantasy blues aside, why in the hell did the 49ers try to use Gore as a decoy on the last play, when, on the play right before, he almost scores the winning touchdown? I’m not the only who was surprised by the play call:

“I told Frank after the game, he’s their best player,” Arizona defensive back Adrian Wilson said. “In that situation, you’ve got to demand the ball. To have him as a wideout, to me, that’s not their best play.”

Sounds like a case of someone outcoaching themselves.

Tags: Arizona Cardinals, Bad Coaching, Fantasy Football, Frank Gore, San Francisco 49ers

You Might Also Enjoy:
• DeSean Jackson’s Premature Celebration
• Don’t You Have To Break The Plane?
• Louis Murphy Succeeds Where Heyward-Bey Fails