Zen restored as winning continues

After last night's marathon Giants game of emotional ups and downs, I was afraid of what would happen this afternoon when Alex Smith and the Kansas City Chiefs arrived at Levi Stadium.  Which 49er team would show up in the Santa Clara heat? The one struggling defensively, penalized heavily and suffering from an identity crisis at 2-2 without some key players, or the former NFC Champions. To prepare for the stress, and restore some sense of internal order after baseball's longest playoff game, I joined a group of friends for a visit to the Green Gulch Zen Center early this morning. Funny even here, the Orange and Black and 49ers were represented as visitors sported their favorite team's gear.

As for me, I was still bleeding orange. But once I turned on the game,  my blood started bubbling, and my newly restored zen went out the open window. Smith looked good early, giving his team a 10-3 lead, but Colin Kaepernick quickly responded. He first passed to Anquan Bouldin for a nice gain then found his new go to target, Stevie Johnson in the end zone for a 9 yard TD and a 13-10 lead at the half. But Smith's homecoming wasn't over.  He came back in a hurry capping a four play, 58 yard drive to retake the lead 17-13. The Niners went back to the good old days and handed the ball to main man, Frank Gore who in the last two games is back to rushing for more than 100 yards.  A contrast to the first three games where he averaged 46 yards a game.  With the running game restored, the passing game opened up featuring another acrobatic catch by Brandon Lloyd. But each drive fell short in the red zone. An area which still needs improvement. In the end it was the boot of Phil Dawson that kept lighting up the scoreboard with five field goals. Major positives were the lack of penalties and some gutsy calls from the sidelines. A fake punt allowed Kaepernick to keep the final drive alive and burn the clock. Then the defense, which stepped up with some critical adjustments after the half and secured the win as Perrish Cox intercepted Smith's pass with time running out. Many rumors are swirling around about Niner players unhappy with their animated coach, players interviewed after the win say they love Harbaugh. Winning always restores peace and happiness...and even one's zen.