During the Preseason, few would've thought that a Week Six matchup between the Lions and the 49ers would have been the NFL marquee game of the week, but that's what happened Sunday in Detroit, as the 49ers handed the Lions their first loss of the season, 25-19, giving both squads an impressive and surprising 5-1 start.
The Lions early season success has been highlighted by the return to health and growth of young QB Matthew Stafford, who coming into Sunday had connected for nine scores with emerging superstar WR Calvin Johnson. Versatile RB Jahvid Best has also shown great burst on the ground and in the passing game to further buoy their offense.
The Lions opportunistic defense has been an even bigger surprise, led by NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidate, DT Ndamukong Suh, a deep defensive line and improved linebacker and secondary play.
However, on Sunday, the upstart 49ers stole the day, as RB Frank Gore rushed for 141 yards, giving first-year Head Coach Jim Harbaugh his 5th win. Harbaugh, who quickly built unlikely Stanford into a national powerhouse and left a 2011 National Title contender behind, is authoring another incredible turnaround in San Francisco -- a turnaround built on the same formula he used with the Cardinal: toughness, a power running game and an aggressive, attacking defense.
Harbaugh, who faced some criticism when he brought his two Stanford Coordinators -- Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio and Offensive Coordinator Greg Roman -- to San Francisco in the same roles, has so far proven doubters wrong.
Roman and Quarterbacks Coach Geep Chryst have helped transform former first round bust, QB Alex Smith, into more than a serviceable starter this season, as Smith is completing 66% of his passes and has a 104.1 QB rating. The aforementioned Gore has been pivotal in the 49ers start, as well, rushing for 400 yards and three scores in 2011. As mentioned, he was also huge yesterday vs the Lions.
The defense has also been incredibly stout, led by the solid play of veteran DL Justin Smith and the emergence of LB's NaVorro Bowman, Rookie Aldon Smith and Ahmad Brooks, along with improved secondary play and the consistent all-around game of Pro Bowl LB Patrick Willis.
In fact, Smith notched two more key sacks Sunday vs the Lions, bringing his season total to 5.5 and is looking more and more like a young DeMarcus Ware, while Brooks has always been an ultra-talented enigma who is finally putting it all together under Fangio.
Throw in the game breaking returns of WR Ted Ginn Jr, and Harbaugh has quickly molded this team into an NFC contender, which is quite remarkable when you consider that he's a first-year NFL head coach who did not have the usual benefit of a full training camp, minicamps or OTA's.
Once again, Harbaugh, a coach's son, is leaving his own unique mark.
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