and a chance to keep pressure on Arizona in the NFC West. Olindo Mare kicked a 30-yard field goal as time expired to send Seattle to a victory over inopportune and angry San Francisco. After the 49ers called timeout to try to ice the veteran on a cold day, Mare made his second field goal of the final quarter and extended his team record of 18 consecutive makes for the Seahawks. They also kept alive hopes for a winning season, if not a playoff berth. The Seahawks also severely damaged the postseason hopes of San Francisco. Smith, who had never had a 300-yard passing day in his first 38 NFL games, threw for a career-high 310 yards in the 49ers' new spread offense. Smith completed 27 of 45 throws and had two TD passes. ...more

December 7, 2009

GAME OF THE DAY VIKINGS-PACKERS, 4:15 p.m. WHERE: Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wis. ...more

November 1, 2009

TEXANS ...24 49ERS ...21 Steve Slaton scored two touchdowns as Houston built a big lead then held on for the win. The Texans led 21-0 at halftime then withstood a rally led by 49ers backup quarterback Alex Smith. Eugene Wilson's interception on fourth down halted a last-gasp drive by San Francisco. The 49ers benched Shaun Hill after a terrible first half, and Smith threw three touchdowns to Vernon Davis to close the gap. Michael Crabtree started in his NFL debut and had five receptions for 56 yards. The Texans won consecutive games for the first time this season. ...more

October 26, 2009

The first Bay Area Association of Independent Battle of the Books was held May 8. Three schools with eight teams met to show the knowledge they gained after reading 15 Florida Sunshine State books and three independent books selected from the Hillsborough County School District. ...more

May 27, 2009

TAMPA – The Bucs began recouping some of the draft picks they gave up to get tight end Kellen Winslow and quarterback Josh Freeman on Thursday by trading tight end Alex Smith to the New England Patriots. ...more

April 30, 2009

Tampa Bay coach Raheem Morris will continue to put his mark on the Bucs and we head into day two of voluntary minicamp. ...more

April 1, 2009

A return to the Bucs seems unlikely, but remaining in the NFL is becoming more of a possibility for former Bucs linebacker Derrick Brooks. ...more

March 10, 2009

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers have acquired tight end Kellen Winslow from the Cleveland Browns in exchanged for undisclosed draft picks. ...more

February 27, 2009

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers desperately need to break their trend of having only one good receiver a year. ...more

February 22, 2009

Tampa Bay Buccaneers receiver Antonio Bryant defeated New York Giants defensive end Justin Tuck in the 15th annual Madden Bowl video game championship, 28-7, on Thursday night at the Honey Spot in Ybor City. ...more

January 29, 2009