Niners Defense denied Sanders at the goal line to advance!
With the Divisional semi-final game between the Detroit Lions and the San Francisco 49ers hanging in the balance, Lion coach Bobby Ross put the ball in the hands of the league MVP, Barry Sanders, who broke the single-season rushing record this year and the single-game playoff rushing record last week. The Lions had a first-and-goal at the 49ers eight-yard line with just seconds to play in the 4th quarter and the 49ers leading 16-9.
With the Candlestick Park fans screaming for the Niners to tighten up, Sanders rushed for five yards on first down to get to the Niners 3-yard line. On second down, Sanders went off tackle and picked up two more putting the ball just feet from tying the score and sending the game into OT. On third down, Sanders tried outside again and once again the Niners’ defense rose to the occasion and stuffed the league’s MVP.
On fourth down, Ross gave the ball to Sanders again, but this time he did so between the tackles. There appeared to be a crease in the Niners defense and Sanders accelerated to the hole. Just as he seemed he was going to score, the hole was slammed shut by Niner All-Pro defensive tackles Dana Stubblefield and Bryant Young! Sanders tried to bounce outside but ran smack into Tim McDonald and Ken Norton, Jr. They took him down and the 49ers will advance to the NFC Championship game!
(APBA – I actually rolled a 66 on that 4th down play! I thought Sanders scored; HOWEVER, a 66 on Sanders’ card is a K. When I rerolled in the K-Column , I rolled a 55. Again, I said touchdown! Not so fast! In the K-column in Sanders’ card is a 3. A 3 on the inside run boards at the goal line in C index and a G alignment is a 0!!!!! They way I see it in my minds’ eye is that Sanders tried to go up the middle but was shut down so he tried to bounce it outside and was stopped. What a way to end the game! Wow! Had my heart pumping! This is what makes APBA so great! Defensive stand by the Niners to win the game! I’ve probably rolled 100 playoff games in my personal replay history, but no game has ended like this! I will always remember this one.)
This was a matchup of the league’s best defense (49ers) versus the league’s best offense (Lions). The Niners held the potent Lion offense to 360 yards of total offense, most of it coming on the final two drives, and three field goals!
Sanders finished with 105 yards on the day on 22 carries. QB Scott Mitchell was shut down most of the game until the final two drives started to heat up and finished 16 of 34 for 223 yards. WR Johnny Morton had ten catches for 125 yards.
Besides the goal line stand, the biggest play of the game came not from Steve Young or Terrell Owens or JJ Stokes…but from… Chuck Levy! Early in the 4th quarter with the Niners leading 9-6, Levy caught a John Jett punt at the ten-yard line. He exploded up the middle and then found his way to the boundary. He had only Jett to beat and he juked him! Levy went 90 yards for the game’s only and deciding touchdown of the game on a punt return!
QB Steve Young finished 19 of 30 passing for 217 yards. He moved the ball, but the 49ers could not get in the end zone. They had to settle for three Gary Anderson field goals.
The Niners were without running back Garrison Hearst again because of injury. As a result, the Niners could only rush for 29 yards on 19 carries in the game.
Now the Niners must wait until Sunday to find out who and where they will play. If Green Bay wins tomorrow, the Niners will play the Pack at Lambeau in the championship game. However, if the Buccaneers win tomorrow, the 49ers will host the NFC Championship game at 3 Com Park at Candlestick!
Bob,
My heart started beating fast just reading this, yours had to be jumping out of your chest.
Another great game!