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It's been a long weekend, but I managed to squeeze in a short version of the weekly TDAY before the end of Monday... Pacific time at least.

The Manning Factor- Even though the Colts were off to a good start and an early lead against the Browns, they still managed to look inept and lacking without Manning behind center. I think about the on going Manning vs. Brady debate, when Brady went down with a season ending injury a few seasons back, the Patriots still managed a 10-6 winning record and just barely missed the playoffs. The Colts on the other hand, we are seeing just what Manning brought to the table and how much more important he has been for his team. If he's been able to take the Colts to two Superbowls, winning one of them, and this is how they play without him... Hats off to what Peyton has accomplished in his career, and it has me leaning even more in his favor as the better of the two QB's. Also, the Colts are in such an early dire straights that whispers of trying to bring Brett Favre out of retirement has sprung up.

What Harbaugh learned Sunday- With just under 7 minutes to play in Sunday's game the 49ers had taken a 10 point lead with a David Akers field goal, but a Dallas penalty would have given them first and 10. A chance to run more time off the clock, and even making a game ceiling touchdown, instead Harbaugh declined the penalty, kept the three points, and what followed was a grand come from behind OT victory by an injured Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. More often than not I've seen conservative game play come back to bite a team in the butt. Jim, if you have a chance to put the Cowboys away... PUT THEM AWAY!!! They had the momentum, your defense was getting tired, when given a first down deep in enemy territory, take advantage of it. I won't put all the blame on Jim's decision here for why the 49ers lost, their offensive line gave up more sacks than Brett Favre has come out of retirement. If you cannot protect your QB, ultimately you will lose these close games. This is still a young team and only Harbaugh's second NFL game. The 49ers are still a work in progress.

Shout Out Players!
Cam Newton (QB Carolina Panthers)- I was very skeptical of Cam, and didn't really give the rookie QB his props after his first game against Arizona, but even in a loosing effort and throwing three INT, he still had over 400 passing yards for the second week in a row, this time against the defending Superbowl Champions. If you can be competitive against the champs, when you were the worst team in the NFL the previous year, and you did so with a Rookie QB. Mad props to Newton

Mathew Stafford (QB Detroit Lions)- Though it was against a very very very very very bad Chiefs team, the Detroit Lions had their largest lopsided victory in team history Sunday. Not a bad way to have a home opener if you ask me. When healthy Stafford has the talent to be an elite QB in this league. I expected good things from the Lions this season (2nd place in NFC North was my pre-season prediction for them) But so far they have exceeded my expectations in every way.

I don't think the Harbaugh decision lost the game. It was the defense. The secondary just has to make a play. One play.

Madieu Williams just has to knock the ball down on that Mile Austin TD in the 4th. He took such a terrible route and then jumped waaaay too early.
That awful TD at the end of the half was another bad play. Can't really blame the guy for falling down though....
And then Whitner just blew it at the end of the game.

And really... When Romo has a broken rib... I'm blitzing every time all the time. We should not have lost that game to an injured QB. =/

I didn't claim that it did, I even said, "I won't put all the blame on Jim's decision here for why the 49ers lost," You do bring up a lot of good points that contributed to their loss, and even if Harbaugh decided to accept the penalty it wouldn't have guaranteed a TD. But I still feel that when you pick up a first down when your that deep in the opposing teams territory, you keep the drive alive and going. I still place most of the blame on the # of sacks the offensive line gave up. They couldn't establish much of an offensive rhythm, and when an offense struggles and suffer like that, it puts even more pressure on the defense to step up. Too much time on the field led to poor play down the stretch for the D. But you are absolutely right, the 49ers shouldn't have lost that game, especially to an injured Romo who had a cracked rib and punctured lung.

@Silver Ace Revolver- I'm assuming you are referring to the 49ers/Cowboys game, which the results were Cowboys 27 49ers 24 Final OT.

In the end, I think Harbaugh's decision to keep the points is better than keeping the ball. There are way too many things that could go wrong. A blindside sack causing a fumble, an interception, some freak play where you lose the ball. You might not even make the field goal again if you go three and out. That offensive line couldn't do anything and I have no trust in Alex Smith, even if he was playing decently. If the line or Alex Smith were playing out of their minds, then I would have taken the penalty, but they were starting to just do really poorly the 2nd half.