16. 1983 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS at 1. 1968 NFL CHAMPION BALTIMORE COLTS
1. 1968 NFL CHAMPION BALTIMORE COLTS
Record: 13-1
Pythag: 13-1
Off: 2nd
Def: 1st
1st NFL Coastal Division
d. Vikes Div Rnd 24-14
d. Browns NFL Title 34-0
Lost Super Bowl Jets 16-7
HC: Don Shula
Memorial Stadium: 50 degrees
Chuck Thompson
Offense
QB Earl Morrall (34 All Pro)
RB Jerry Hill (29)
RB Tom Matte (29)
WR Willie Richardson (29)
WR Jimmy Orr (33)
TE John Mackey (27 All Pro)
LT Bob Vogel (27)
LG Glenn Ressler (25)
C Bill Curry (26)
RG Dan Sullivan (29)
RT Sam Ball (24)
Defense
LDE Bubba Smith (23 Michigan St)
LDT Billy Ray Smith (33)
RDT Fred Miller (28)
RDE Ordell Braase (36)
LLB Mike Curtis (25 All Pro)
MLB Dennis Gaubatz (28)
RLB Don Shinnick (33)
LCB Bobby Boyd (31 All Pro)
RCB Lenny Lyles (32)
LS Jerry Logan (27)
RS Rick Volk (23)
K Lou Michaels (33)
P David Lee (25)
KR Preston Pearson (23)
PR Timmy Brown (31)
The '59 and '67 Colts both lost, the '76 Colts have advanced - here's the best Colts team of all time, Shula's 1968 NFL Champs that lost to Namath's Jets. 2nd in offense. 1st in defense. 31 year old Bobby Boyd had 8 picks; he and 25 year old Mike Curtis were All Pros on defense. Offensively, Earl Morrall was an All Pro at 34 27 total scores and 11 picks (35 year old Unitas is on the bench) 27 year old John Mackey was also an All Pro, 10 scores for 29 year old Tom Matte.
16. 1983 SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS
Record: 10-6
Pythag: 11-5
Off: 4th
Def: 4th
1st NFC West
d. Lions Div Rnd 24-23
Lost NFC Title Redskins 24-21
d. '81 Eagles 34-23
HC Bill Walsh DC George Seifert
Offense
QB Joe Montana (27 N Dame)
RB Wendell Tyler (28 UCLA)
FB Roger Craig (23-R Nebraska)
WR Dwight Clark (26 Clemson)
WR Freddie Solomon (30 Tampa)
TE Russ Francis (30 Oregon)
LT Bubba Paris (23-R Mich)
LG John Ayers (30 Tex A&M)
C Fred Quillan (27 Oregon)
RG Randy Cross (29 UCLA)
RT Keith Fahnhorst (31 Minn)
Defense
LDE Lawrence Pillars (31 Alcorn St)
NT Pete Kugler (24 Penn St)
RDE Dwaine Board (27 NC A&T)
LOLB Willie Harper (33 Nebraska)
LILB Riki Ellison (23-R USC)
RILB Hacksaw Reynolds (36 Tenn)
ROLB Keena Turner (25 Purdue)
LCB Ronnie Lott (24 USC)
RCB Eric Wright (24 Missouri)
SS Carlton Williamson (25 Pitt)
FS Dwight Hicks (27 Mich)
K Ray Wersching (33 Cal)
P Tom Orosz (24 Ohio St)
KR/PR Dana McLemore (23 Hawaii)
The Niners won the play in game, knocking off the '81 Eagles and now head to Baltimore to face the 6th overall seeds. The '81 Niners lost in round 1 in Region 5, jump forward 2 years and there's this team, 4th in both offense and defense. Montana's 27, 28 total scores and a dozen picks. A dozen scores for the rookie, Roger Craig. Big year for 27 year old Dwaine Board, 13 sacks. The 24 year old corners, Ronnie Lott and Eric Wright, combined for 11 picks.
All 5 top seeds have moved on, but we've seen some second seeds fall, can Walsh and Montana knock off these Colts? Let's go to Baltimore for the kick.
1st Qtr
Colts start at the 30.
3 and out. Niners at their own 35.
3 and out. Bubba Smith with the sack of Montana. Colts at the 27.
1/10 - Terry Cole picks up 9.
2/1 - Tom Matte busts one for 36, big, big gainer, Colts at the 28.
1/10 - Cole is stacked up.
2/10 - Earl Morrall's first completed pass is to Jerry Hill, 8 yards.
3/2 - Matte just picks it up and Baltimore's at the 17.
1/10 - Cole for 4.
2/6 - Jerry Hill on the draw play - he forces his way to the goal - and the Colts take the lead - TOUCHDOWN COLTS - 13 yard run for Hill gives Baltimore the lead. Niner ball at their own 23. 6:36 left in the first.
1/10 - Roger Craig loses 1.
2/11 - Joe Montana's first completion of the day is to Wendell Tyler, 12 yards and the first down.
1/10 - Montana to Craig for 2.
2/8 - Montana to Dwight Clark, 18 yards and the Niners cross midfield.
But that's all. 3 plays net 5 yards and it's a punt. It works out- San Francisco downs it at the Baltimore 4 yard line.
3 plays net 7 yards and it's 4th and 3 at the 11 as the quarter ends.
2nd Qtr
The top defense from '68 showing why so far, Baltimore up 7-0, about to punt from the 11.
Niners will start at the Colt 46.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Craig is stopped at the line
3/10 - Montana to Freddy Solomon -- 17 yards down to the 29.
1/10 - Craig gets 5.
2/5 - Tyler for 3.
3/2 - Incomplete - Montana had Earl Cooper, but he got lit up by Mike Curtis and couldn't hold on, it's 4th and 21 at the 21.
And Walsh decides to go for it - okay, big spot here - you have to like the decision, 4th and 2, on the road, 16th seed has to take some shots.
4/2 - Give to Wendell Tyler -- and he is shut down. Stopped dead, Niners will lose a yard, and the Colts take over on downs. Big, big stop for the Colts.
1/10 - Tom Matte stopped.
2/10 - Cole for 1.
3/9 - Earl Morral finds Ray Perkins, 18 yards and a first down at the Baltimore 43.
1/10 - Cole gains 7
2/3 - Hill gets 6 - that is another first down, Colts at the Niner 42.
1/10 - Hill gets 4.
2/6 - Jimmy Orr catches a 10 yard ball from Morrall, Baltimore at the Niner 28.
1/10 - Incomplete
2/10 - Tom Matte for 8, Colts at the 20.
3/2 - Morrall finds Orr - 10 more yards and the Colts have 1st and goal.
1/goal - Incomplete
2/goal - Morrall looking for Jimmy Orr - Ronnie Lott snags the ball away from him - it is an Interception - Lott runs the ball out to the 10, the Niners turn the Colts away at the goal. 3:42 left in the half.
1/10 - Craig gets 2
2/8 - Montana goes deep - Freddy Solomon for 43 - a big strike for Montana as we near the 2 minute warning.
1/10 - Tyler gers 11 yards, Niners at the Colt 34.
1/10 - Montana to Russ Francis for 8.
2/2 - Tyler goes for 15 yards - the Niners down to the 11 yard line with 90 seconds left in the half.
1/10 - Billy Ray Smith sacks Montana - the Niners will also go backward on the next 2 plays, Ray Wersching kicks the short FG and as we go to the locker room it's 7-3 Baltimore.
3rd Qtr
Defense standing tall - the Niners were top 4 in both offense and defense, the Colts top 2 - and it's the defense that has held firm; Colts with a couple of big sacks, Niners have forced a couple of big turnovers.
Niners start at the 32.
1/10 - Wendell Tyler was Player of the Game in the Play in Round - he busts out a 17 yarder to the 49 - holding on the next call will make it 1st and 20.
1/20 - Craig for 8, another 5 yard penalty makes is 2nd and 17.
2/17 - Walsh dials up a flea flicker -- and Montana finds a wide open Wendell Tyler down the sideline - Tyler will go 52 huge yards all the way to the Colts 6 yard line - the Niners all the way down to the Baltimore 6 on the huge, huge pass to Tyler.
1/goal - Montana - over the middle - Craig - Craig at the goal - Craig ---- into the endzone ---TOUCHDOWN NINERS - San Francisco, seeded 16th, has taken a 10-7 lead on the top seeded Colts.
Colts at the 35.
1/10 - Tom Matte gets 5.
2/5 - Cole gets 2.
3/3 - Morrall to Matte for 7 yards and the Colts are near midfield.
1/10 - Matte for 2.
2/8 - Hill goes for 17 - Colts moving down the field.
The next 3 plays net 2 yards -- Lou Michaels....misses....a 47 yard FG and San Francisco takes over, up 10-7, 7 minutes left in the third quarter.
On the 3rd play - Bobby Boyd Intercepts Montana and the Colts regain possession at their own 45. Big play, big play - Baltimore gets the ball back.
3 and out. The Niner defense forcing the punt - Niners take over at the 17.
They get a first down, Wendell Tyler gains 11 yards on a couple of runs - but thats it - and when we start the 4th qtr the Colts will take over at their own 33. Down 10-7.
4th Qtr
A 52 yard Montana to Tyler pass set up the Niners go ahead score - Baltimore missed a FG that could have tied this up. Colts now at their own 31. Will the 6th overall seed be the first top seed to fall?
1/10 - Matte gets 2
2/8 - Morall to Cole for 5.
3/3 - Morall picks it up - 14 yards, Colts now near midfield.
1/10 - Hill gets 4
2/6 - Matte gets 4 - another 3rd down, Colts at the Niner 40.
3/2 - Hill just..just picks it up.
1/10 - Matte gets 1 - Shula really going run heavy here in the 4th qtr.
2/9 - Cole gets 7 - Colts at the Niner 29 and have another 3rd and short.
3/1 - Hill gets 14 yards - just run after run after run --- Colts at the 15 with 9 minutes left in the game. Niners by 3.
But that's it - the next 3 plays lose 4 yards - Michaels with the 36 yard FG....and it's Blocked! Blocked! Carlton Williamson Blocks the Michaels FG - and with just 7 minutes to go the 49ers regain possession at their own 26 yard line leading by 3. Whooooo, boy.
1/10 - Craig for 3.
2/7 - Craig for 1
3/6 - Montana picks it up - 15 yards to Clark - Niners reach their own 45, only 5 minutes left, Niners are 5 minutes away from the huge upset.
1/10 - Craig for 3.
2/7 - Tyler for 4.
3/3 - Montana picks it up again - 11 yards to Tyler - the Niners are at the 37 yard line with under 3 minutes to play!
1/10 - Craig gets 3
2/7 - Bill Ring gets a carry, stopped at the line. 2 minute warning.
3/7 - Tyler carries, gets 1.
Colts timeout.
So - the Niners have a 4th and 6 at the 33. Could attempt the FG - it's 50 yards, to go up 6 - but if you miss it thats really good Colts field position.
Could punt - hard to keep it outside of the endzone.
Or - you go for it.
And that's what Walsh decides to do. 4th and 6. Here it is - convert here and the upset happens, the 16th seeded Niners up 3 with under 2 to play.
4th/6 -- Bubba Smith sacks Montana again - a huge 6 yard loss and the Colts take over at their own 40 with 1:48 left in the ballgame. 10-7 San Francisco.
1/10 - Quiet game for John Mackey -- but Morrall hits him here - a huge 36 yard strike all the way down to the Niner 24 yard line. Whooo, boy. Colts stop the clock.
1/10 - Morrall to Mackey again, 8 yards, out of bounds - Colts are at the Niner 16.
2/2 - Morrall - over the middle -- Willie Richardson - TOUCHDOWN COLTS - TOUCHDOWN COLTS - TOUCHDOWN COLTS -- Pandemonium in Baltimore, Morrall 16 yards to Richardson the Colts take the 13-10 lead with a little over a minute left.
Niners at the 28. 1:11 left.
1/10-Montana to Tyler for 15 - Niners stop the clock at the 43.
1/10 -Montana to Craig - 14 yards - the Niners are across midfield, Criag gets out of bounds.
1/10 - Montana to Clark- 13 yards - Niners are at the Colts 30 yard line - Niners might be in FG range right now, they stop the clock with 38 seconds left.
1/10 - Montana to Craig over the middle -- he is hit by Mike Curtis - the ball drops incom...no - No - No -- it's called a Fumble! Oh man - the referee rules that Roger Craig has caught that pass - and then fumbled on the hit by Mike Curtis - the Niners protest vociferously - the Niners were in FG range to force OT -- but now - but now this game is over.
And it is - a kneeldown by Morrall and the Colts - somehow - escape.
Final: Colts 13 Niners 10
The Niners had the ball and the lead in Colt territory with under 2 minutes to play -- but Baltimore survives, a Bubba Smith sack, a Mike Curtis forced fumble - and in between Earl Morral to Willie Richardson and the Colts live to see another day.
Morrall: 14 for 17, 172, 1 TD/1 INT
Montana: 17 for 20, 240 yds 2 TD/1 INT
Matte: 15 for 78
Tyler: 12 carries for 60, 4 catches for 90.
Mackey: 3 for 57
Clark: 5 for 59
Bubba Smith: 2 sacks
Player of the Game: Earl Morrall
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