Daily Madden: Kaepernick And Niners Shine On The Big Stage
SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) - The 49ers withstood an incredible Patriots comeback to win 41-34 in Foxborough Sunday night.
"It was a real classic," John Madden told the KCBS morning crew. "When you play Tom Brady you need to score a lot of points because you know that he's going to. To me the question was 'can the 49ers score that many points?'"
Down four touchdowns in the third quarter, the Patriots tied the game in the fourth, before the 49ers responded with another TD.
"What really impressed me was that they did it in that weather," the former coach said. "It has to be a shootout if you're going to win. But then you look and it's raining and it's cold and there's no way you can play a shootout in that weather. And doggone it, they did."
Madden said he was impressed with the steadiness of 49er quarterback Colin Kaepernick.
"He's kind of had that demeanor about him, and I wasn't sure it would be able to hold up," Madden said. "Because last night was a big stage. I mean you're playing against Tom Brady, you're playing against the Patriots, you're playing in their place, you're playing on national television, the only game Sunday night. It's the biggest stage he's ever played on, and to not be affected at all under those conditions kind of shows what he is and who he is."
The 49ers can clinch a division title with a win over the second-place Seahawks in Seattle Sunday night.
"I think this was a test," John said. "'Okay, we're a good team, we're going to be a playoff team. Can we go very far in the playoffs with this group?' And after watching last night, I'd say the answer is 'yes.'" (7:15)
Listen to the John Madden segment live weekday mornings at 8:15 on KCBS All News 740 AM/106.9 FM. And catch John's extra report at 9:15 a.m. Mondays and Fridays during the NFL season.
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