NFL'S Greatest, 1984 San Francisco 49ers
In conjunction with this season's celebration of the NFL Century, members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame Selection Committee were asked to look back across time and cast their votes for the following all-time lists in NFL history: The 100 Greatest Players, 25 Greatest Teams, 25 Greatest Games, and 25 Most Important Events. Profiles of each player, team, game, and event will be published in a new book this fall, NFL's Greatest (DK Publishing). Following is an excerpt:
By 1984, the smoke cleared to reveal a lineup virtually without weakness. The 49ers were the first NFL team to win 15 games in a regular season. Their only loss was 20-17 to Pittsburgh, on Gary Anderson's field goal with less than two minutes left. They swept the second-place Rams in the NFC West with a 33-0 blowout on the road and a 19-16 verdict to end the season.
San Francisco scored 475 points, an average of nearly 30 per game, while the defense-sparked by cornerbacks Ronnie Lott and Eric Wright-allowed fewer points (227) than any other team in the league. Quarterback Joe Montana led the NFC in passing, running back Wendell Tyler set a club rushing record with 1,262 yards, and kicker Ray Wersching led the NFL with 131 points.
The 49ers got defensive in the playoffs. After allowing the Giants 10 first-half points in a divisional playoff game, they didn't surrender another score for six quarters as they dispatched New York 21-10 and the Bears 23-0.
As Super Bowl XIX approached, most of the attention went to the AFC-champion Dolphins and Dan Marino. The electrifying second-year quarterback had shredded the NFL record book with 5,084 passing yards and 48 touchdowns during the regular season. But San Francisco struck a blow for balance.
Coach Bill Walsh of the 49ers deployed six defensive backs, and the scheme limited Marino's ability to stretch the field. Montana passed for 331 yards and ran for 59, and running back Roger Craig scored three touchdowns in the 49ers' convincing 38-16 victory.