Postgame notes: Ravens blitz 49ers

The 49ers offense was downright abysmal against the Ravens. The ineffective pass protection by the offensive line was the main issue as the Ravens tied a franchise record with nine sacks.

Defensively, the 49ers played okay. But anytime you play the Ravens, a big key to the game is to make Joe Flacco uncomfortable. He had too much time in the pocket, particularly in the second half, as he picked apart the 49ers secondary at the tune of four consecutive third-down conversions in the Ravens go-ahead touchdown drive.

The 49ers lost the turnover battle for just the second time this year (the other time was against the Detroit Lions, an SF 25-19 victory).

There aren't many positives to be taken from this game, other than the fact that the 49ers were due for a butt-kicking and got it at the right time.

Yeah I said it. The 49ers needed a butt-kicking in the worst way. Every NFL team since the merger, sans the 1972 Miami Dolphins, has lost at least one game.

Losing makes you hungrier. And the 49ers needed it.

Over the last several weeks, the 49ers have struggled to put away inferior opponents. In all honesty, the 49ers should have beat the Arizona Cardinals by 40, but silly offensive mistakes allowed Arizona to stay in the game until the end of the third quarter.

But the 49ers were winning, and it's hard to berate a winner.

Now the 49ers have five games to get these problems fixed. Fortunately, they also have one more Super Bowl contending team left on the schedule as a GPS game for the playoffs. That game, a Monday Night showdown with the defending Super Bowl runner-up Steelers, will give the 49ers one last chance to show their true colors.

San Francisco's defense needs to figure out a way to get more pressure on the quarterback. The 49ers are becoming a bit too predictable in their nickel package. The Ravens were able to block San Francisco's four-man rush effectively. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio didn't dial up a lot of blitzes, and Flacco was able to make plays down the field in the second half.

But enough about the defense, which in its defense only allowed 16 points and completely shut down premier running back Ray Rice.

The offense needs a tune-up in every way. First off, the rushing attack was nonexistent. This has been an issue of late, and if the 49ers need to spread the field more and pass to set up the run, so be it. But the 49ers can't expect to win games when Frank Gore has 39 rushing yards.

Secondly, San Francisco needs to work on its quick-hitting plays. Chances are the 49ers will not be able to attack down the field against playoff defenses, especially ones with great pass rushers (i.e. Detroit, Green Bay, Dallas). In reality, the 49ers have been effectively passing the ball all year, and you have to give the Ravens credit for disrupting all facets of the 49ers game. Still, you would have liked to have seen more slants and quick outs or even screen passes by San Francisco.

At the end of the day, the 49ers (9-2) are in total command in the NFC West and the race for the NFC's second seed in the playoffs. This was the toughest game on the schedule (Joe Flacco is now 16-1 in his last 17 home games) and the 49ers need to move on and try to improve in their last five games.

Stats to note:
This was the 49ers first loss against the spread. They're now 9-1-1 this year.
This was the first time Alex Smith has posted a negative touchdown to interception ratio since a Dec. 16 loss to the Chargers last year.
The 49ers longest run in their last three games is 14 yards.
If the 49ers and Saints both finished 13-3, the 49ers would own the tiebreaker because of a better conference record. If the 49ers and Cowboys finished with the same record, the Cowboys would get the higher seed because of their head to head win (and the Niners over the Giants for the same reason).