49ers 17 Rams 16- If you were to take a step back to see that the Niners are now 2-0 and in first place of their division, the appropriate response would be "really?" The single defining characteristic of their first two victories is sheer dumb luck. Like a receiver fumbling a ball into the end zone and having it miraculously recovered by another receiver, which is what happened last week. Or having a punt returner fumble a punt late in the game and then have the team's kicker miss a field goal with no time left in the game. And there, ladies and gentleman, is your 49ers highlights for the season as the offense has put the “n” in inenpt inept. The Niners have basically been playing this season in basic, primordial, proto- football fashion, through stingy D, mistake-free offense, turnovers, and special teams. It works but it's not very pretty. One could look at it as Nolan (once again looking spiffy as he threw on some NFL licensened gear over a suit to find a happy medium in coaching gear) coaching up baby steps. Or you could look at it as nobody trusts the QB. Either way, these past two wins were U.G.L.Y. You ain't got no alibi!

Broncos 23 Raiders 20- This game has got to hurt. The Raiders had this game won and by won, we mean people were out on the field celebrating and Raiders ‘ fans watching at home were ready to go rape and pillage. This all happened when Sea Bass kicked a 52 yarder in overtime to get the win. But wait! Crafty Mike Shanahan called a time out at the last possible moment, like the exact moment Sebastian kicked the ball or something and the refs said the kick was no good and there would have to be a do-over (actually, we heard the whistle go off just as the play started and we wondered why the play continued). So the Raiders went back to try again, but this time the snap is a little off and Janikowski plinked the side of the goal post. No good. One drive later, the Broncos won the game. On the good side: the Raiders once again came back from the dead to make a game of it. Also, Kiffin’s chutzpah as he went for it on a fourth down play, tried an on-sides kick early, and went for the two-point play. On the other hand, the time-management in the last two minutes of the game was awwwwwful.

Baseball after the jump