National Football League

Herman Edwards, NFL Diary: 49ers need to notch first win

Published Oct. 16, 2010 11:07 a.m. ET

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Obviously 49ers president Jed York is optimist when he stated the team would still win the division. And he should be. But you have to keep that stuff behind closed doors.

He's young and he's learning. He feels good about his football team. He knows a couple of plays here or there and the team has at least two wins, maybe three. Looking at that division, they can still fight their way out of this.

But you have to win a game first. When you look at teams in these situations like the 49ers, Vikings or Cowboys, it comes down to four or five plays. That's the difference in all three of those teams losing games.

Raider- 49ers

The 49ers and Raiders are mirror images of each other. Both are under 34 percent in converting third downs and under 41 percent in stopping teams on third down.

The 49ers have 35 penalties, the Raiders have 47. This game could be a four-hour game if they play at that rate. There is likely going to be a lot of penalties.

The Raiders have two wins because they are even in turnover ratio. The 49ers are minus 10. Now those things are fixable. You don't need new players to fix that.

Both teams have been in tight games. In this league, if you don't beat yourself, you've got a chance. Don't go out and do silly things.

Alex Smith

If the 49ers keep losing, eventually Mike Singletary is going to have to do something. If you change a lineman or a receiver, no one notices.

But if you bench the quarterback, you've got people's attention. It sends a message. You're going to get a whole different type of energy. But when you start doing that, you don't have a quarterback.

I think the pressure is mounting on Alex. He knows it. It's his sixth year. I know it's been tough on him having had six coordinators in six years. I get all that. But there are little things that you should already know.

He doesn't have a lot of margin for error. Every time Alex turns the ball over, it puts more pressure on the guy. He starts forcing things. He hasn't won. That's what makes it difficult.

Dallas-Minnesota

There are only five teams that have started 1-4 and got into the playoffs. I coached one of those in New York. Yeah, it's hard. You have to overcome the perception of what people are saying about your football team.

If you believe what people are saying, then it becomes a reality. You can't panic. As a coach, you have to show the players how to fix it. You're not going to change your system or players. I told our team why can't it be us?

These two teams aren't as bad as their records. Minnesota and Dallas have to much talent. Eventually that talent is going to play four quarters. But one of them is going to be 1-4 after this weekend.

These two teams are doing the same thing San Francisco is doing. Turning the ball over and too many penalties.

Will we see a head coach fired?

I hope not. A lot of teams are still in it 21 teams have two or three wins. No one is sitting at 5-0. Your goal by the end of November is to have seven wins. This year it might be six.

If you're an owner and you have one win, you realize if you get on a roll and win three games, you could be in first place.

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