Tag Archives: San Francisco 49ers

1997 Game 207 (Week 15) Minnesota at San Francisco

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The Vikings shock the 49ers!

In the late 80s and early 90s, quarterback Randall Cunningham used to be one of the feared weapons in the NFL. His dual threat as a passer and a runner used to keep defensive coordinators awake at nights. He retired from football after the ’95 season and missed the entire ’96 season but joined the Minnesota Vikings as a backup quarterback to Brad Johnson this season. After Johnson was hurt last Monday Night against the Packers, Cunningham finally got his opportunity and showed that he does have a little juice in his old body left as the Vikings upset the San Francisco 49ers, 16-14, at 3Comm Park in San Francisco.

Cunningham got the Vikings going early in the 1st quarter when evaded the 49ers rush, scrambled to his right and slung the ball to the end zone into the arms of WR Chris Carter for the game’s first touchdown. Carter, who has been frustrated all season long, finally got the ball humming his way as he caught six passes for 198 yards in the game.

The 49ers offense struggled most of the day. New 49er head coach Steve Mariucci has transformed this year’s Niners offense with a strong running game. Today, they were without star RB Garrison Hearst, who broke his collar bone in last week’s game. Hearst rushed for over a 1,000 yards on the season and scored ten touchdowns, but not having him in the backfield slowed the 49er attack. The Vikings held the Niners to just 90 yards on the ground and 44 of it came from Steve Young scrambles.

The Niners could muter only 299 yards of offense and was shut out in the first half of the game. Steve Young threw for 228 yards on 20 of 37 passing with two touchdowns and an interception.

Cunningham finished with 249 yards passing on 13 of 24 passing with the lone TD and zero interceptions. He also rushed five times for 23 yards. RB Robert Smith rushed for 80 yards on 20 carries.

With the 49er loss, the NFC West is still in doubt because the Saints picked up another win. The 49ers are now 10-4 on the season and hold just a one game lead over the Saints in the standings. If the Niners win either of their final two games against the Broncos or the Seahawks OR the Saints lose one of their two remaining games, then the 49ers will win the West.

The Vikings are now .500 at 7-7 and will have a huge test in the Metrodome next weekend as they face the red-hot Detroit Lions. The Vikings still have an outside shot of making the playoffs, but many factors would have to fall their way for that to happen.

1997 Game 207 Stats

1997 Game 189 (Week 14) San Francisco at Kansas City

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Chiefs win the battle of Super Powers

The entire football world was peering into Arrowhead Stadium Sunday as the 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs took on the 10-2 San Francisco 49ers in a battle of NFL super heavyweights. As expected, the game was dominated by the defenses and it took a late 4th quarter drive by the Chiefs to secure the victory, 13-6.

Not much was happening on the offensive side of the ball in this game. The Chiefs managed a mere 233 total yards, while the 49ers were worse at 191. The Chiefs managed a little bit of a running game as they pounded the rock 32 times for 94 yards, while the 49ers were held to just 26 yards rushing. The Niners came into the game averaging 141 on the ground, while the Chiefs were among the league’s best at 151 per game.

The difference in the game was the constant pass rush on 49ers’ QB Steve Young. The Chiefs’ defense pounded Young throughout the game. They sacked Young seven times and forced him to throw an ill-advised interception because of the pass rush that thwarted a 49er drive. Young had his worst passing efficiency game of the year with a quarterback rating of 76.

The Chiefs got the drive they needed late in the 4th quarter. They were leading 6-3 and they finally got their offense going with a mix of a running and passing. The biggest play in the drive was a strike from QB Rich Gannon to WR Andre Rison for 30 yards on a crucial third -down play that set the Chiefs up at the 49ers one-yard line!  On the next play, RB Marcus Allen leaped over the pile and scored the only touchdown of the game giving the Chiefs’ a 13-3 lead with just 2:45 remaining.

Young led the 49ers down the field with a barrage of completions to the Chiefs’ 25-yard line with 45 seconds to play. Kicker Gary Anderson drilled a 42-yard field goal to cut the lead to 13-6; however, the Chiefs recovered the ensuing onside kick and ended the game.

The Chiefs are now 11-1 and are in the driver’s seat for the #1 seed in the AFC. They host the Oakland Raiders next weekend. The 49ers are still atop the NFC West as they are now 10-3 and they will face the Minnesota Vikings at home in Candlestick with a chance to lockdown the #2 seed in the NFC.

1997 Game 189 Stats

1997 Game 178 (Week 13) San Diego at San Francisco

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49ers shutout Chargers

The San Francisco 49ers’ defense is on an historic pace. They have allowed just 189 yards per game this season to their opponents, which would be the fewest since 1991 when the Eagles allowed 221.8. They have also allowed just 10.5 points per game to their opponents the season, which would be the lowest since the Rams allowed 10.4 in 1977.

The 49ers defense was absolutely dominant on Sunday as the 49ers shutout the San Diego Chargers 36-0 at 3 COM Park at Candlestick. The 49ers allowed 156 total yards to the Chargers including just 39 on the ground. The Niners sacked Charger QB Craig Whelihan eight times. They sacked him for a safety and forced him to throw an interception.

As for the 49ers’ offense, QB Steve Young had another impressive day. The was 21 of 26 for 202 yards and 3 TD passes. The Niners also rushed for 144 yards on 34 carries. RB Garrison Hearst had 75 yards on 20 carries.

The Niners have now won ten in a row and have a huge showdown next Sunday as they face the 11-1 Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chargers are now 1-11 and will host the Broncos on Sunday Night Football.

1997 Game 178 Stats