Alex Smith's Amazing Drive Overcomes Doubts In Saints Loss

In Monday Night's Saints vs. 49ers game, San Francisco 49ers QB Alex Smith came of age and in one magical drive erased all of the doubts and errors of his NFL past. The 49ers may have lost the game, but Alex Smith grew as a player.

When Alex Smith was at the 2005 NFL Draft, this blogger was there. The San Francisco 49ers took Smith rather than local favorite Aaron Rogers from Cal. Since that rookie year and to last year, life in the NFL wasn't easy for Smith. He had not enjoyed the same offensive coordinator in more than one year, and his courage and will to win was constantly questioned.

In one drive in the 4th quarter of Monday Night Football last night, Alex Smith found a new level of courage.   With the 49ers trailing 22 to 14, and needing to score a touchdown and then a two-point conversion to possibly force overtime, and 82 yards to go, Smith, together with smart offensive play-calling by Offensive Coordinator Jimmy Raye, put together what may go down as the Niners best drive all year (Drive Chart by ESPN.com):

1st and 10 at SF 18 (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short middle to V.Davis to SF 34 for 16 yards (M.Jenkins; J.Vilma). Caught at SF 28.

1st and 10 at SF 34 (Shotgun) A.Smith scrambles left end pushed ob at SF 46 for 12 yards (J.Vilma).

1st and 10 at SF 46 (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short right to J.Morgan ran ob at NO 39 for 15 yards.

1st and 10 at NO 39 (Shotgun) A.Smith pass incomplete deep middle to V.Davis (M.Mitchell).

2nd and 10 at NO 39 (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short right to F.Gore pushed ob at NO 21 for 18 yards (L.Torrence). Caught at NO 42.

1st and 10 at NO 21 (Shotgun) A.Smith left end ran ob at NO 9 for 12 yards (W.Smith).

1st and 9 at NO 9 (Shotgun) A.Smith pass short left to D.Zeigler pushed ob at NO 7 for 2 yards (T.Porter).

2nd and 7 at NO 7 (Shotgun) F.Gore up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN. 22 20
TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. A.Smith pass to V.Davis is complete. ATTEMPT FAILS. The Replay Assistant challenged the runner broke the plane ruling, and the play was REVERSED.

TWO-POINT CONVERSION ATTEMPT. A.Smith pass to V.Davis is complete. ATTEMPT SUCCEEDS. 22 22
J.Nedney kicks 67 yards from SF 30 to NO 3. C.Roby to NO 30 for 27 yards (N.Bowman).
DRIVE TOTALS: NO 22, SF 22, 8 plays, 82 yards, 0:53 elapsed

The 49ers may have lost to the Saints 25 to 22, but they gained a leader in Alex Smith.