Super Bowl Losers Ranked

By ELO and SRS.  Through 53.

1. 2007 Patriots (lost SB50 to Giants, Patriots were better)
2. 1968 Colts (lost SB3 to Jets, Colts were better)
3. 1983 Redskins (lost SB18 to Raiders, Redskins were better)
4. 2001 Rams (lost SB36 to Patriots, Rams were beter)
5. 1969 Vikings (lost SB4 to Chiefs, metrics are split)
6. 1978 Cowboys (lost SB12 to Steelers, metrics are split)
7. 1967 Raiders (lost SB2 to Packers, metrics are split)
8. 2014 Seahawks (lost SB49 to Patriots, metrics are split)
9. 1984 Dolphins (lost SB19 to Niners)
10. 1977 Broncos (lost SB12 to Cowboys, metrics are split)
11. 2013 Broncos (lost SB48 to Seahawks)
12. 2011 Patriots (lost SB46 to Giants, metrics are split)
13. 2017 Patriots (lost SB52 to Eagles, metrics are split)
14. 1976 Vikings (lost SB11 to Raiders, metrics are split)
15. 2012 Niners (lost SB 47 to Ravens, metrics are split)
16. 1997 Packers (lost SB32 to Broncos, metrics are split)
17. 1998 Falcons (lost SB33 to Broncos, metrics are split)
18. 2002 Raiders (lost SB37 to Bucs)
19. 1990 Bills (lost SB25 to Giants, metrics are split)
20. 2019 Niners (lost SB 54 to Chiefs, metrics are split)
21. 2015 Panthers (lost SB50 to Broncos, metrics are split)
22. 1973 Vikings (lost SB8 to Dolphins)
23. 2010 Steelers (lost SB45 to Packers)
24. 1966 Chiefs (lost SB1 to Packers)
25. 2016 Falcons (lost SB51 to Patriots
26. 1980 Eagles (lost SB15 to Raiders, metrics are split)
27. 2005 Seahawks (lost SB40 to Steelers, metrics are split)
28. 1972 Redskins (lost SB7 to Dolphins)
29. 2018 Rams (lost SB53 to Patriots, metrics are split)
30. 2009 Colts (lost SB44 to Saints)
31. 1975 Cowboys (lost SB10 to Steelers)
32. 1985 Patriots lost SB20 to Bears)
33. 1982 Dolphins (lost SB17 to Redskins, metrics are split)
34. 1970 Cowboys (lost SB5 to Colts, metrics are split)
35. 1989 Broncos (lost SB24 to Niners)
36. 1991 Bills (lost SB26 to Redskins)
37. 1971 Dolphins (lost SB6 to Cowboys)
38. 1974 Vikings (lost SB9 to Steelers)
39. 2006 Bears (lost SB41 to Colts)
40. 1999 Titans (lost SB34 to Rams)
41. 1993 Bills (lost SB28 to Cowboys)
42. 1981 Bengals (lost SB16 to Niners)
43. 2004 Eagles (lost SB39 to Patriots)
44. 1988 Bengals (lost SB23 to Niners, metrics are split)
45. 1992 Bills (lost SB27 to Cowboys)
46. 1995 Steelers (lost SB30 to Cowboys)
47. 1986 Broncos (lost SB21 to Giants)
48. 1996 Patriots (lost SB31 to Packers)
49. 1987 Broncos (lost SB22 to Redskins)
50. 2000 Giants (lost SB35 to Ravens)
51. 1994 Chargers (lost SB29 to Niners)
52. 2003 Panthers (lost SB38 to Patriots)
53. 2008 Cardinals (lost SB43 to Steelers)
54. 1979 Rams (lost SB14 to Steelers)

Every Super Bowl Winner Ranked

Through 54

Rankings are a combination of SRS and ELO with a bent toward modern superiority, my current preferred ranking system.


1. 1985 Bears
2. 2004 Patriots
3. 1996 Packers
4. 1984 Niners
5. 1973 Dolphins
6. 1991 Redskins
7. 1975 Steelers
8. 1966 Packers
9. 1989 Niners
10. 2013 Seahawks
11. 1992 Cowboys
12. 1993 Cowboys
13. 1969 Chiefs
14. 1972 Dolphins
15. 1994 Niners
16. 1986 Giants
17. 1971 Cowboys
18. 2016 Patriots
19. 1979 Steelers
20. 1998 Broncos
21. 2014 Patriots
22. 2010 Packers
23. 1997 Broncos
24. 1976 Raiders
25. 2019 Chiefs
26. 2005 Steelers
27. 1978 Steelers
28. 1995 Cowboys
29. 1967 Packers
30. 1999 Rams
31. 1977 Cowboys
32. 2009 Saints
33. 2002 Bucs
34. 2017 Eagles
35. 2008 Steelers
36. 2003 Patriots
37. 2000 Ravens
38. 1983 Raiders
39. 2006 Colts
40. 1974 Steelers
41. 1990 Giants
42. 1987 Redskins
43. 1968 Jets
44. 2018 Patriots
45. 2015 Broncos
46. 1982 Redskins
47. 1980 Raiders
48. 1988 Niners
49. 1981 Niners
50. 2012 Ravens
51. 2001 Patriots
52. 2011 Giants
53. 2007 Giants
54. 1970 Colts

Approximate Value Super Bowl Champions

Offense

Starters

QB Steve Young 1994 Niners
RB Marshall Faulk 1999 Rams
RB Terrell Davis 1998 Broncos
WR Jerry Rice 1994 Niners
WR Michael Irvin 1995 Cowboys
TE Shannon Sharpe 1997 Broncos
C Jeff Saturday 2006 Colts
G Jahri Evans 2009 Saints
G Alan Faneca 2005 Steelers
T Orlando Pace 1999 Rams
T Jim Lachey 1991 Redskins

Defense

Starters
DE Simeon Rice 2002 Bucs
DT Warren Sapp 2002 Bucs
DE Rob Burnett 2000 Ravens
OLB Derrick Brooks 2002 Bucs
ILB Ray Lewis 2000 Ravens
ILB Pepper Johnson 1990 Giants
OLB Clay Matthews 2010 Packers
CB Richard Sherman 2013 Seahawks
FS Rod Woodson 2000 Ravens
SS Troy Polamalu 2008 Steelers
CB Darrell Green 1991 Redskins

PK Jan Stenerud 1969 Chiefs
P Sean Landetta 1990 Giants

Offense

Reserves

QB Peyton Manning 2006 Colts
      Kurt Warner 1999 Rams
RB Emmitt Smith 1995 Cowboys
      Emmitt Smith 1993 Cowboys
      Emmitt Smith 1992 Cowboys
WR Jerry Rice 1989 Niners
       Michael Irvin 1992 Cowboys
       Gary Clark 1991 Redskins
TE Travis Kelce 2019 Chiefs
C   Mike Webster 1979 Steelers
G   Larry Little 1972 Dolphins
      Nate Newton 1995 Cowboys
T   Keith Fahnhorst 1984 Niners
     Erik Williams 1993 Cowboys

DE Reggie White 1996 Packers
      Richard Dent 1985 Bears
      Kevin Carter 1999 Rams
DT Sam Adams 2000 Ravens
      Steve McMichael 1985 Bears
      Buck Buchanan 1969 Chiefs
OLB James Harrison 2008 Steelers
         Von Miller 2015 Broncos
         Lawrence Taylor 1986 Giants
ILB  Mike Singletary 1985 Bears
CB   Ronnie Lott 1981 Niners
        Lester Hayes 1980 Raiders
        Mel Blount 1975 Steelers
FS   Dick Anderson 1973 Dolphins
SS   LeRoy Butler 1996 Packers

Every San Francisco 49ers Team Ranked

In the manner of my ranking of the 128 best professional football teams of all time; here's every 49er team ranked by SRS and ELO.

74. 1963 (Record 2-12, Pythagorean Record 2.3-11.7)
14th of 14th in points scored, 13th of 14th in points allowed
Coach: Red Hickey, replaced by Jack Christiansen
QB: Lamar McHan: 31, his only season in San Francisco, it's the end of his career
Pro Bowlers: Abe Woodson CB-KR (Approx Value 13) Tommy Davis PK

73. 2004 (Record 2-14, Pythag 3.4-12.6)
30th in points scored, 32nd in points allowed
Coach: Dennis Erickson
QB: Tim Rattay: 27, Passer Rating Index 97, he split the season with Ken Dorsey; Rattay was better
Pro Bowlers: Brian Jennings Long Snapper

72. 2016 (Record 2-14, Pythag 4.2-11.8)
27th in points scored, 32nd in points allowed
Coach: Chip Kelly
QB: Colin Kaepernick: 29. Passer Rating Index 103, it's the end of his career
Pro Bowlers: None

71. 2005 (Record 4-12, Pythag 3.2-12.8)
30th in points scored, 30th in points allowed
Coach: Mike Nolan
QB: Alex Smith: 21, Passer Rating Index 49, that is a truly, truly dreadful rookie season
Pro Bowlers: None

70. 2007 (Record 5-11, Pythag 3.7-12.3)
32nd in points scored, 20th in points allowed
Coach: Mike Nolan
QB: Alex Smith: 23, Passer Rating Index 66, he and Trent Dilfer split the season; Dilfer was equally awful, it was his only year in San Francisco and the end of his career.
Pro Bowlers: Patrick Willis ILB (Approximate Value 17, it's his rookie year, he's 1st Team All Pro) Andy Lee P (1st Team All Pro)

69. 1979 (Record 2-14, Pythag 5.3-10.7)
16th of 28 in points scored, 27th in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Steve DeBerg 25 Passer Rating Index 104
Pro Bowlers: None, Double Digit Approx Value: Steve DeBerg (AV 10), Paul Hofer RB (AV 10)

68. 1978 (Record 2-14, Pythag 4-12)
28th of 28th in points scored, 23rd in defense
Coach: Pete McCulley, replaced by Fred O'Connor
QB: Steve DeBerg 24, Passer Rating Index 64; this is my first full season, I was 8, I think of my first QB as Scott Bull
Pro Bowlers: None

67. 1980 (Record 6-10, Pythag 5.6-10.4)
12th of 28 in points scored, that's the best we've seen so far, 26th of 28 in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Steve DeBerg 26: Passer Rating Index 91, replaced by Montana, who was significantly better
Pro Bowlers: None, Double Digit AV: Earl Cooper RB (10)

66. 2006 (Record 7-9, Pythag: 5.1-10.9)
24th in points scored, 32nd in points allowed
Coach: Mike Nolan
QB: Alex Smith 22: Passer Rating Index 92
Pro Bowlers: Frank Gore RB (16) Walt Harris CB, Larry Allen G Double Digit AV Alex Smith (10)

65. 2018 (Record 4-12, Pythag: 5.8-10.2)
21st in points scored, 28th in points allowed
Coach: Kyle Shanahan
QB: Nick Mullens: 23, Passer Rating Index 101, Garoppolo started the season, got hurt.
Pro Bowlers: DeForest Buckner DT (10) George Kittle TE (10) Kyle Juszczyk RB

64. 1950 (Record 3-9, Pythag: 3.7-8.3)
11th of 13 in points scored, 8th in points allowed, it's our first year in the NFL
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert: 30, Passer Rating Index 98, worst season of his career
Pro Bowlers: Frankie Albert, Visco Grgich DT, Leo Nomellini DT, Norm Standlee OLB, Johnny Strzykalski RB

63. 2015 (Record 5-11, Pythag 3.8-12.2)
32nd in points scored, 18th in points allowed
Coach: Jim Tomsula
QB: Blaine Gabbert 26, Passer Rating Index 95, he replaced Kaepernick, six of one, half a dozen of the other
Pro Bowlers: NaVorro Bowman OLB (14, All Pro) Joe Staley T,

62. 1999 (Record 4-12, Pythag 4.3-11.7)
22nd of 31 in points scored, 30th in points allowed
Coach: Steve Mariucci
QB: Jeff Garcia: 29, Passer Rating Index 100, it's his rookie year, Young started the season, got hurt and retired. The Montana Era ended in 1990 after the NFC Title loss, the Young Era ends here.
Pro Bowlers: Bryant Young DT, Lance Schulters FS, Double Digit AV Charlie Garner RB (13)

61. 2008 (Record 7-9, Pythag 6.9-9.1)
22nd in points scored, 23rd in points allowed
Coach: Mike Nolan, replaced by Mike Singletary
QB: Shaun Hill: 28, Passer Rating Index 105, he replaced JT O'Sullivan, Hill was better
Pro Bowlers: Patrick Willis OLB (13) Double Digit AV Frank Gore RB (10)

60. 1964 (Record 4-10, Pythag 4.4-9.6)
14th of 14 in points scored, 10th in points allowed
Coach: Jack Christiansen
QB: John Brodie 29: Passer Rating Index 92; Brodie was good in '60 and '61 but largely his 20s were subpar (golf pun intended)
Pro Bowlers: Matt Hazeltine OLB (11) Charlie Krueger DT, Dave Parks WR,

59. 1955 (Record 4-8. Pythag 3.8-8.2)
10th of 12 in points scored, 12th in points allowed
Coach: Red Strader
QB: Y.A. Tittle: 29, Passer Rating Index 96
Pro Bowlers: Dicky Moegle S, Bob Toneff DT (All Pro) Billy Wilson WR

58. 1975 (Record 5-9, Pythag 6.1-7.9)
16th of 26 in points scored, 14th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: Norm Snead: 36, Passer Rating Index 107, his only year in San Francisco, his last year in league, he was replaced by Steve Spurrier, they were basically similar in effectiveness.
Pro Bowlers: Cedric Hardman DE,

57. 2010 (Record 6-10, Pythag 6.8-9.2)
24th in points scored, 16th in points allowed
Coach: Mike Singletary, replaced by Jim Tomsula
QB: Alex Smith 26: Passer Rating Index 98
Pro Bowlers: Patrick Willis ILB (14, All Pro) Justin Smith DT (10)

56. 1958 (Record 6-6, 4.4-7.6, first team to hit .500 on the list, Pythag worse, obviously, ton of Hall of Famers on this team)
8th of 12 in points scored, 10th in points allowed
Coach: Frankie Albert
QB: John Brodie 23: Passer Rating Index 96, it's his first season getting any real playing time, he splits starts with Tittle, they were similarly effective
Pro Bowlers: Hugh McElhenny RB, Jerry Mertens CB, Leo Nomellini DT, Bob St Clair T, Billy Wilson WR

55. 2000 (Record 6-10, Pythag 7.2-8.8)
6th of 31 in points scored (6th! thats a legitimately good offense) 28th in points allowed
Coach: Steve Mariucci
QB: Jeff Garcia: 30, Passer Rating Index 127, it's his career year
Pro Bowlers: Jeff Garcia (20) Charlie Garner RB (17) Terrell Owens WR (16, All Pro) Double Digit AV Scott Gragg RT (11)

54. 1956 (Record 5-6-1, Pythag 4.6-7.4)
8th of 12 in points scored, 9th in points allowed
Coach: Frankie Albert
QB: Y.A. Tittle: 30, Passer Rating Index 110
Pro Bowlers: Hugh McElhenny RB, Leo Nomellini DT, Bob St Clair RT, Billy Wilson WR

53. 1977 (Record 5-9, Pythag 5.6-8.4)
19th of 28 in points scored, 20th in points allowed
Coach: Ken Meyer
QB: Jim Plunkett 30: Passer Rating Index 97
Pro Bowlers: Cleveland Elam DT (All Pro) Double Digit AV Delvin Williams RB (11) Wilbur Jackson RB (10) Jim Plunkett QB (10) Gene Washington WR (10)

52. 2017 (Record 6-10, Pythag 6.6-9.4)
20th in points scored, 25th in points allowed
Coach: Kyle Shanahan
QB: Brian Hoyer 32, he lost every start; Garoppolo took over before season's end
Pro Bowlers: Joe Staley LT Kyle Juszczk RB

51. 1969 (Record 4-8, Pythag 5.8-8.2)
10th of 16 in points scored, 10th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: John Brodie, 34: Passer Rating Index 107
Pro Bowlers: Jimmy Johnson CB (13, All Pro) Gene Washington WR (All Pro) Elmer Collett G, Ken Willard RB, Dave Wilcox OLB,

50. 1974 (Record 6-8, Pythag 6.6-7.4)
19th of 26 in points scored, 11th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: Tom Owen 22, Passer Rating Index 91, rookie, 13th round draft pick, started half the season this year and then only twice more the rest of his career
Pro Bowlers: Jimmy Johnson CB, Forrest Blue C, Tom Wittum P

49. 1967 (Record 7-7, Pythag 5.3-8.7)
11th of 16 in points scored, 10th in points allowed
Coach: Jack Christiansen
QB: John Brodie 32, Passer Rating Index 90
Pro Bowlers: Bruce Bosley C, Howard Mudd G, Double Digit AV Dave Wilcox OLB (10)

48. 1962 (Record 6-8, Pythag 5.7-8.3)
11th of 14 in points scored, 7th in points allowed
Coach: Red Hickey
QB: John Brodie 27, Passer Rating Index 110
Pro Bowlers: Abe Woodson CB/KR (11)  Matt Hazeltine OLB (10) JD Smith RB (10) Tommy Davis P/K Double Digit AV John Brodie (13) John Thomas LT (12) Bernie Casey RB (11)

47. 1973 (Record 5-9, Pythag 5.4-8.6)
14th of 26 in points scored, 19th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: John Brodie 38, Passer Rating Index 80, born in San Francisco, went to high school in Oakland, college at Stanford, was a 49er for 17 years most of that time as the starting QB and he retired after this one.
Pro Bowlers: Forrest Blue C (10) Dave Wilcox OLB, Ted Kwalick TE, Woody Peoples G Tom Wittum P

46. 2009 (Record 8-8, Pythag 9.5-6.5 - there we go, an over .500 Pythag, this is the first good football team we've seen)
18th in points scored, 4th in points allowed (4th is pretty good, son)
Coach: Mike Singletary
QB: Alex Smith 25, Passer Rating Index 98
Pro Bowlers: Patrick Willis ILB (19, All Pro) Justin Smith DT (13) Frank Gore RB (12) Vernon Davis TE, Andy Lee P

45. 1960 (Record 7-5, Pythag 6.1-5.9, and here's the first team with an actual over .500 record)
10th of 13 in points scored, 1st...I said 1st in points allowed
Coach: Red Hickey
QB: John Brodie 25, Passer Rating Index 92
Pro Bowlers: Abe Woodson PR/CB (All Pro 15) Charlie Krueger DE (11) Leo Nomellini DT (11) Bruce Bosley G Bob St Clair RT  Double Digit AV Dave Baker FS (12)

44. 1946 (Record 9-5, Pythag 10.6-3.4, this is the very first Niner team, prior to joining the NFL)
2nd of 8th in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert 26: Passer Rating Index 108

43. 1947 (Record 8-4, Pythag 8.7-5.3, and here's the second 49er team)
4th of 8 in points scored, 4 in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert, 27 Passer Rating Index 110
Bruno Banducci G (All Pro)

42. 1957 (Record 8-4, Pythag 5.9-6.1)
1st in NFL West
Lost in Playoffs to Lions 31-27 -- and here's the first playoff team to make the list.
4th of 12 in points scored, 9th in points allowed
Coach: Frankie Albert
QB: YA Tittle 31, Passer Rating Index 124, it's Tittle's best San Francisco season
Pro Bowlers: Y.A. Tittle (All Pro) Hugh McElhenny RB, Billy Wilson WR (All Pro) Leo Nomellini DT (All pro) Marv Mastuszak OLB (All Pro)

41. 1968 (Record 7-6-1, Pythag 6.8-7.2) 
6th of 16 in points scored, 9th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: John Brodie 33, Passer Rating Index 111
Pro Bowlers: Kermit Alexander CB/KR (11) Clifton McNeil WR (All Pro 11) Howard Mudd RG (All Pro 11) Ken Willard RB (10) Double Digit AV John Brodie (12)

40. 1982 (Record 3-6, Pythag 4.6-4.4)
7th of 28 in points scored, 23rd in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 26, Passer Rating Index 118 (lowest ranked Montana team)
Pro Bowlers: Dwight Clark WR (All Pro 14) Randy Cross RG (10) Ronnie Lott CB (10) Dwight Hicks FS Double Digit AV Joe Montana QB (16) Jeff Moore RB (10)

39. 1966 (Record 6-6-2, Pythag 6.9-7.1)
6th of 15 in points scored, 10th in points allowed
Coach: Jack Christiansen
QB: John Brodie 31, Passer Rating Index 97
Pro Bowlers: John Thomas LG (10 All Pro) Dave Parks WR Dave Wilcox OLB Bruce Bosley C Howard Mudd RG Double Digit AV Jimmy Johnson CB (10)

38. 1976 (Record 8-6, Pythag 9.8-4.2)
13th of 28 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Monte Clark
QB: Jim Plunkett 29, Passer Rating Index 98
Pro Bowlers: Tommy Hart LDE (14), Delvin Williams RB (14) Cleveland Elam RDT (13) Dave Washington OLB (12)

37. 2003 (Record 7-9, Pythag 9.2-6.8)
9th in points scored, 21st in points allowed
Coach: Dennis Erickson
QB: Jeff Garcia 33, Passer Rating Index 99
Pro Bowlers: Julian Peterson OLB (All Pro 14) Terrell Owens WR (12) Fred Beasley (RB) Double Digit AV Jeff Garcia (13) Kevan Barlow RB (12) Tony Parish SS (12)

36. 1959 (Record 7-5, Pythag 6.5-5.5)
6th of 12 in points scored, 5th in points allowed
Coach: Red Hickey
QB: Y.A. Tittle  33, Passer Rating Index 93
Pro Bowlers: Dave Baker S, Leo Nomellini DT (All Pro) JD Smith RB, Bob St Clair RT Y.A. Tittle QB, Abe Woodson CB/KR (All Pro)

35. 2002 (Record 10-6, Pythag 8.4.-7.6) 0 best Niners team of the 2000s
1st in NFC West
Beat Giants in Wild Card 39-38 (here's the first playoff win on the list)
Lost to Tampa 31-6 in Divisional Round
13th in points scored, 18th in points allowed
Coach: Steve Mariucci
QB: Jeff Garcia, 32 Passer Rating Index 110
Pro Bowlers: Julian Peterson OLB (18) Jeff Garcia QB (15) Terrell Owens WR (15, All Pro) Jeremy Newberry C (11) Ron Stone G (10) Bryant Young DT Double Digit AV RB Garrison Hearst (11)

34. 1951 (Record 7-4-1, Pythag 7.5-4.5)
5th of 12 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert  31, Passer Rating Index 106
Pro Bowlers: Jim Cason S, Ray Collins DT, Leo Nomellini DT (All Pro) Gordie Soltau WR

33. 2014 (Record 8-8, Pythag 7-9)
25th in points scored, 10th in points allowed
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
QB: Colin Kaepernick 27, Passer Rating Index 97
Pro Bowlers: Antoine Bethea SS, Mike Iupati LG, Joe Staley LT Double Digit AV Colin Kaepernick (12)

32. 1961 (Record 7-6-1, Pythag 8.9-5.1)
4th of 14 in points scored, 6th in points allowed
Coach: Red Hickey
QB: John Brodie 26, Passer Rating Index, 116, this is Brodie's first good year
Pro Bowlers: Abe Woodson CB/KR (11) Ted Connolly RG (10) Eddie Dove S Leo Nomellini DT, Bob St Clair RT Double Digit AV John Brodie (13) RC Owens WR (12) JD Smith RB (11)

31. 1952 (Record 7-5, Pythag 7.8-4.2)
6th of 12 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert 32, Passer Rating Index 112, it's Albert's final season
Pro Bowlers: Hardy Brown ILB Ed Henke DE, Bill Johnson C Hugh McElhenny RB (All Pro) Leo Nomellini DT (All Pro) Joe Perry RB, Gordie Soltau WR (All Pro)

30. 1965 (Record 7-6-1, Pythag 7.4-6.6) - best Niners team of the 60s
1st of 14 in points scored, 13th of 14 in points allowed
Coach: Jack Christiansen
QB: John Brodie 30, Passer Rating Index 124, Brodies best year to that date
Pro Bowlers: Dave Parks WR (17, All Pro) John Brodie (15) John David Crow RB (11) Ken Willard RB (11) Bruce Bosley C (10) Walt Rock RT (10) Double Digit AV Bernie Casey WR (10) Jimmy Johnson CB (10)

29. 1972 (Record 8-5-1, Pythag 9.7-4.3)
1st in NFC West
Lost in Playoffs to Cowboys 30-28
4th of 26 in points scored, 9th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: Steve Spurrier 27 Passer Rating Index 112, Spurrier's best season
Pro Bowlers: Jimmy Johnson CB (16, All Pro) Forrest Blue C (13 All Pro) Dave Wilcox OLB (All Pro 13) Gene Washington WR (All Pro 12) Ted Kwalick TE (All Pro 10) That might be the most All Pros in franchise history. Woody Peoples G, Double Digit AV Vic Washington RB/KR (10)

28. 1954 (Record 7-4-1, Pythag 7.5-4.5)
4th of 12 in points scored, 5th in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Y.A. Tittle 28 Passer Rating Index 119
Pro Bowlers: Bruno Banducci RG (All Pro) Al Carapella DT Jim Cason S, Leo Nomellini DT (All Pro) Joe Perry RB (All Pro) John Henry Johnson RB YA Tittle, Billy Wilson WR

27. 2001 (Record 12-4, Pythag 11.3-4.7)
2nd in NFC West
Lost Wild Card to Packers 25-15
3rd of 31 in points scored, 9th in points allowed
Coach: Steve Mariucci
QB: Jeff Garcia 31, Passer Rating Index 123
Pro Bowlers: Jeff Garcia (18) Terrell Owens WR (All Pro 18) Garrison Hearst RB (16) Ray Brown LG (15) Bryant Young DT (13) Jeremy Newberry C (12) Double Digit AV Derrick Deese T (10) Dave Fiore RG (10) Scott Gragg T (10)

26. 1971 (Record 9-5, Pythag 9.6-4.4)
1st in NFC West
Beat Redskins in Playoffs 24-10, lost to Cowboys in NFC Championship 14-3
9th of 26 in points scored, 6th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: John Brodie 36, Passer Rating Index 100
Pro Bowlers: Forrest Blue C (13 All Pro) Jimmy Johnson CB (13 All Pro) Gene Washington (12) Dave Wilcox OLB (12 All Pro) Vic Washington RB/KR (11) Cedrick Hardman DE Ted Kwalick TE Bruce Taylor CB/PR Double Digit AV John Brodie (12) Ken Willard RB (10)

25. 1970 (Record 10-3-1, Pythag 9.2-4.8) - best Niners team of the 70s
1st in NFC West
Beat Vikings in Playoffs 17-14, lost to Cowboys in NFC Championship 17-10
1st of 26 in points scored, 14th in points allowed
Coach: Dick Nolan
QB: John Brodie 35, Passer Rating Index 129, it's his career year
Pro Bowlers: John Brodie (All Pro 16) Gene Washington WR (All Pro 16) Jimmy Johnson CB (All Pro 12) Len Rohde LT (12) Dave Wilxox OLB Double Digit AV Ken Willard RB (11)

24. 1997 (Record 13-3, Pythag 11.1-4.9)
1st in NFC West
Beat Vikings in Playoffs 38-22, lost to Packers in NFC Championship 23-10
5th of 30 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Steve Mariucci
QB: Steve Young 36, Passer Rating Index 134, best in the league
Pro Bowlers: Dana Stubblefield DT (All pro 17) Steve Young (14) Merton Hanks FS (12) Chris Doleman DE (11) Kevin Gogan RG (11) Ken Norton OLB (11) Lee Woodall OLB (10) Double Digit AV: Garrison Hearst RB (10) Terrell Owens WR (10)

23. 1983 (Record 10-6, Pythag 11.4-4.6)
1st in NFC West
Beat Lions in Playoffs 24-23, lost to Redskins in NFC Championship 24-21
4th of 28 in points scored, 4th of 28 in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 27, Passer Rating Index 124
Pro Bowlers: Joe Montana (17) Dwight Hicks FS (10) Ronnie Lott CB (10) Fred Dean DE Double Digit AV John Ayers LG (10) Roger Craig RB (10) Randy Cross RG (10) Keith Fahnhorst RT (10) Bubba Paris LT (10)

22. 1988 (Record 10-6, Pythag 10.1-5.9)
1st in NFC West
Beat Vikings 34-9 in Playoffs, Beat Bears 28-3 to win NFC Championship
BEAT BENGALS 20-16 TO WIN SUPER BOWL 23 (hey, it's a Super Bowl team; the worst of our 6 teams at the time of this writing to appear in a Super Bowl)
7th of 28 in points scored, 8th in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh (his last year)
QB: Joe Montana 32, Passer Rating Index 117
Pro Bowlers: Roger Craig RB (17, All Pro) Michael Carter DT (14) Jerry Rice WR (All Pro 14) Ronnie Lott FS (11) Charles Haley OLB (10) John Taylor WR/PR Double Digit AV Joe Montana (12)

21. 1981 (Record 13-3, Pythag 11.2-4.8)
1st in NFC West
Beat Giants 38-24 in Playoffs, Beat Cowboys 28-27 to win NFC Championship
BEAT BENGALS 26-21 TO WIN SUPER BOWL 16 (Super Bowl appearance number two on the list)
7th of 28 in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 25, Passer Rating Index 122
Pro Bowlers: Ronnie Lott CB (17 All Pro) Dwight Hicks FS (13) Randy Cross RG (12) Joe Montana (12) Dwight Clark WR (10) Fred Dean DE (All Pro) Double Digit AV Willie Harper OLB (10) Hacksaw Reynolds ILB (10) Keena Turner OLB (10)

20. 2011 (Record 13-3, Pythag 12.3-3.7)
1st in NFC West
Beat Saints 36-32 in Playoffs, Lost to Giants 20-17 in NFC Championship
11th in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
QB: Alex Smith 27, Passer Rating Index 108
Pro Bowlers: NaVorro Bowman OLB (All Pro 18) Justin Smith DT (All Pro 18) Patrick Willis OLB (All Pro 16) Carlos Rogers CB (14) Joe Staley LT (13) Frank Gore RB (10) Dashon Goldson FS, David Akers (All Pro) Andy Lee (All Pro) Brian Jennings Long Snapper Double Digit AV Alex Smith (13)

19. 1990 (Record 14-2, Pythag 11.5-4.5)
1st in NFC West
Beat Redskins 28-10 in Playoffs, Lost to Giants 15-13 in NFC Championship
8th of 28 in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Joe Montana 34, Passer Rating Index 118
Pro Bowlers: Charles Haley OLB (20 All pro) Joe Montana (14 All Pro) Ronnie Lott FS (13 All Pro) Jerry Rice WR (13 All Pro) Guy McIntyre LG (10) Double Digit AV Pierce Holt DE (10)

18. 1996 (Record 12-4, Pythag 11.8-4.2)
2nd in NFC West
Beat Eagles 14-0 in Wild Card game, Lost to Packers 35-14 in Playoffs
3rd of 30 in points scored, 4th of 30 in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Steve Young, 35 Passer Rating Index 128, led league
Pro Bowlers: Bryant Young DT (19 All pro) Jerry Rice WR (14 All Pro) Merton Hanks FS (12) Steve Young QB (12) Double Digit AV Chris Doleman DE (11)

17. 1986 (Record 10-5-1, Pythag 11.6-4.4)
1st in NFC West
Lost in Playoffs to Giants 49-3
7th of 28 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 30, Passer Rating Index 108
Pro Bowlers Ronnie Lott FS (All pro 17) Jerry Rice WR (14 All Pro) Double Digit AV Randy Cross RG (12) Roger Craig RB (11) Dwaine Board DE (10) Riki Ellison ILB (10) Jim Fahnhorst ILB (10) Keena Turner OLB (10)

16. 1998 (Record 12-4, Pythag 11.4-4.6)
2nd in NFC West
Beat Packers in Wild Card 30-27, Lost to Falcons in Playoffs 20-18
3rd of 30 in points scored, 13th in points allowed
Coach: Steve Mariucci
QB: Steve Young 37, Passer Rating Index 128, his last full season
Pro Bowlers: Steve Young QB (19) Garrison Hearst RB (18) Kevin Gogan RG (16) Jerry Rice WR (12) Winfred Tubbs ILB (10) Double Digit AV Terrell Owens WR (12) Bryant Young DT (12) Ray Brown LG (10) Derrick Deese LT (10)

15. 1953 (Record 9-3, Pythag 8.9-3.1) - best Niners team of the 50s
1st of 12 in points scored, 6th in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Y.A. Tittle 27, Passer Rating Index 127
Pro Bowlers: Bill Johnson C, Hugh McElhenny RB (All Pro) Art Michalik DT, Leo Nomellini DT (All Pro) Joe Perry RB (All pro) Gordie Soltau WR, Y.A. Tittle QB

14. 1993 (Record 10-6, Pythag 12.1-3.9)
1st in NFC West
Beat Giants in Playoffs 44-3, Lost to Cowboys in NFC Championship 38-21
1st of 28 in points scored, 16th in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Steve Young 32, Passer Rating Index 133, led league
Pro Bowlers: Steve Young (23, All Pro) Jerry Rice WR (20, All Pro) Harris Barton RT (18, All Pro) Ricky Watters RB (14) Guy McIntyre LG (13) Jesse Sapolu C (13) Brent Jones TE (10) Tim McDonald SS (10) Double Digit AV John Taylor WR (13)

13. 2019 (Record 13-3, Pythag 11.8-4.2)
1st in NFC West
Beat Vikings in Playoffs, Beat Packers in NFC Championship, Lost to Chiefs in Super Bowl 31-20
2nd in points scored, 8th in points allowed
Coach: Kyle Shanahan
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo 28, Passer Rating Index 114
Pro Bowlers: George Kittle TE (All pro 11) Kyle Juszczyk FB Richard Sherman CB (13) Double Digit AV DeForest Buckner DT(16) Jimmy Garoppolo (14)

12. 1985 (Record 10-6, Pythag 11.9-4.1)
2nd in NFC West
Lost Wild Card game to Giants 17-3
5th of 28 in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 29, Passer Rating Index 122
Pro Bowlers: Eric Wright CB (19 All Pro) Roger Craig RB (17) Joe Montana (13) Michael Carter DT (12) Carlton Williamson SS (11) Fred Quillan C (10) Double Digit AV Dwaine Board DE (10)

11. 1948 (Record 12-2, Pythag 11.7-2.3)
1st of 8 in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert, 28 Passer Rating Index 136, it's easily his best year

10. 1949 (Record 9-3, Pythag 9.7-2.3) -team of the 40s, best Niners team from founding until 1984
2nd in AAFC
Beat Yankees in Playoffs 17-7, Lost AAFC Championship to Browns 21-7
1st of 7 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Buck Shaw
QB: Frankie Albert 29, Passer Rating Index 119

9. 1991 (Record 10-6, Pythag 12.2-3.8)
3rd of 28 in points scored, 4th in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Steve Young, 30 Passer Rating Index 135, led league
Pro Bowlers: Guy McIntyre LG (13) Charles Haley LOLB (12) Double Digit AV: Steve Young (14) John Taylor WR/PR (11) Harris Barton RT (10) Roy Foster RG (10) Bill Romanowksi OLB (10) Jesse Sapolu C (10) Steve Wallace LT (10)

8. 2013 (Record 12-4, Pythag 11.5-4.5)
2nd in NFC West
Won Wild Card game against Packers 23-20, Beat Panthers in Playoffs 23-10, Lost to Seahawks in NFC Championship 23-17
11th in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
QB: Colin Kaepernick 26, Passer Rating Index 106
Pro Bowlers: NaVorro Bowman OLB (All Pro 18) Ahmad Brooks OLB (13) Justin Smith DT (13) Joe Staley LT (13) Patrick Willis OLB (10) Vernon Davis TE, Frank Gore RB, Eric Reid FS, Mike Iupati LG, Double Digit AV Colin Kaepernick QB (15) Anquan Boldin WR (12)

7. 2012 (Record 11-4-1, Pythag 11.3-4.7)
1st in NFC West
Beat Packers in Playoffs 45-31, Beat Falcons to win NFC Championship 28-24,
LOST TO RAVENS IN SUPER BOWL 47   34-31
11th in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: Jim Harbaugh
QB: Colin Kaepernick 25, Passer Rating Index 116, Smith was starter the first half of the season
Pro Bowlers: Mike Iupati LG (All pro 15) Aldon Smith ILB (All pro 15) Patrick Willis OLB (15) NaVorro Bowman OLB (14) Justin Smith DT (12) Joe Staley LT (12) Dashon Goldson FS (11 All Pro) Frank Gore RB (10) Donte Whitner SS (7) Andy Lee P (All pro) Double Digit AV Ahmad Brooks ILB (12) Michael Crabtree WR (10)

6. 1995 (Record 11-5, Pythag 12.7-3.3)
1st in NFC West
Lost to Packers in playoffs 27-17
1st of 30 in points scored, 2nd in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Steve Young, 34 Passer Rating Index 120
Pro Bowlers: Jerry Rice WR (All Pro 19) Ken Norton ILB (15) Steve Young (14) Eric Davis CB (13 All Pro) Dana Stubblefield DT (12) Merton Hanks FS (11 All Pro) Bart Oates C (11) Lee Woodall OLB (10) Tim McDonald SS Brent Jones TE, Double Digit AV Derek Loville RB (11)

5. 1992 (Record 14-2, Pythag 12.9-3.1)
1st in NFC West
Beat Redskins 20-13 in playoffs, Lost to Cowboys to win NFC Championship
1st of 28 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Steve Young 31, Passer Rating Index 142, led league
Pro Bowlers: Steve Young (22, All Pro) Jerry Rice  WR (17, All Pro) Ricky Watters RB (16 All Pro) Harris Barton RT (15, All Pro) Guy McIntyre 15 LG (15 All Pro) Steve Wallace LT (15) Pierce Holt DE (14) Brent Jones TE (8) Double Digit AV: Roy Foster RG (10) Jesse Sapolu C (10)

4. 1987 (Record 13-2, Pythag 12.1-2.9)
1st in NFC West
Lost to Vikings 36-24 in Playoffs
1st of 28 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 31, Passer Rating Index 136, led league
Pro Bowlers: Michael Carter DT (17 All Pro) Ronnie Lott FS (16 All Pro) Joe Montana (15 All Pro) Roger Craig RB (14) Jerry Rice WR (14 All Pro)

3. 1994 (Record 13-3, Pythag 12.5-3.5)
1st in NFC West
Beat Bears 44-15 in Playoffs, beat Cowboys 38-28 in NFC Championship
BEAT CHARGERS 49-26 TO WIN SUPER BOWL 29
1st of 28 in points scored, 6th in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB Steve Young 33, Passer Rating Index 147, it's his career season
Pro Bowlers: Steve Young (23, All Pro) Jerry Rice WR (21 All Pro) Ricky Watters RB (19) Bart Oates C (14) Deion Sanders CB (14 All Pro) Jesse Sapolu LG (12) Merton Hanks FS (10) Dana Stubblefield DT (10) Brent Jones TE Tim McDonald SS Double Digit AV Derrick Deese RG (11) Steve Wallace LT

2. 1989 (Record 14-2, Pythag 12.6-3.4)
1st in NFC West
beat Vikings 41-13 in Playoffs, beat Rams 30-3 to win NFC Championship
BEAT BRONCOS 55-10 TO WIN SUPER BOWL 24
1st of 28 in points scored, 3rd in points allowed
Coach: George Seifert
QB: Joe Montana 33, Passer Rating Index 149, it's his career year
Pro Bowlers Jerry Rice WR (18 All Pro) Joe Montana (17 All Pro) Roger Craig RB (15) Ronnie Lott FS (14 All pro) John Taylor WR/PR (13) Guy McIntyre LG (11) Mike Cofer K (All Pro) Double Digit AV: Harris Barton RT (10) Bruce Collie RG (10) Charles Haley OLB (10) Bubba Paris LT (10)
Tom Rathman RB (10) Jesse Sapolu C (10)

1. 1984 (Record 15-1, Pythag 13.6-2.4)
1st in NFC West
beat Giants 21-10 to win Playoff game, beat Bears to win NFC Championship
BEAT DOLPHINS 38-16 TO WIN SUPER BOWL 19
2nd of 28 in points scored, 1st in points allowed
Coach: Bill Walsh
QB: Joe Montana 18, Passer Rating Index 134
Pro Bowlers: Keith Fahnhorst RT (17 All Pro) Joe Montana (16) Randy Cross RG (15) Eric Wright CB (14) Wendell Tyler RB (13) Fred Quillan C (12) Keena Turner OLB (12) Dwight Hicks FS (11) Ronnie Lott CB, Carlton Williamson SS, Double Digit AV Dwight Clark WR (10) Roger Craig RB (13) 

All Time 49er Approximate Value Team

Offense
Starters

QB Steve Young 1994
RB Ricky Watters 1994
RB Garrison Hearst 1998
WR Jerry Rice 1994
WR Jerry Rice 1993
TE George Kittle 2019
C Bart Oates 1994
G Randy Cross 1984
G Kevin Gogan 1998
T Harris Barton 1993
T Keith Fahnhorst 1984

Defense
Starters

DE Pierce Holt 1994
DT Bryant Young 1986
DE Tommy Hart 1976
OLB Charles Haley 1990
ILB Patrick Willis 2009
ILB Patrick Willis 2007
OLB NaVorro Bowman 2013
CB Eric Wright 1985
FS Ronnie Lott 1986
SS Tony Parish 2003
CB Ronnie Lott 1981

PK Mike Cofer 1989
P Andy Lee 2011

Offense
Reserves
QB Steve Young 1993
      Steve Young 1992
RB Roger Craig 1988
      Roger Craig 1985
      Charlie Garner 2000
WR Jerry Rice 1995
        Terrell Owens 2001
        Dave Parks 1965
TE   Brent Jones 1993
C     Jesse Sapolu 1993
G     Ray Brown 2001
        Guy McIntyre 1992
T      Harris Barton 1992
        Steve Wallace 1992

Defense
Reserves

DE Charlie Krueger 1960
      Chris Doleman 1997
DT Dana Stubblefield 1997, Justin Smith 1998, Michael Carter 1987
OLB NaVorro Bowman 2011
         Julian Peterson 2002
         Patrick Willis 2011
ILB  Ken Norton 1995
        Aldon Smith 2012
CB  Jimmy Johnson 1972
       Deion Sanders 1994
       Abe Woodson 1960
FS  Ronnie Lott 1987
SS  Carlton Williamson 1985

The History of the San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship Game

Dallas Cowboys 17 at San Francisco 49ers 10

Sunday, January 3, 1971

The 49ers lost the first ever NFC Championship Game. How long ago was January, 1971? This game was our last in Kezar and now we’re commemorating the end of the dinosaur of a football stadium that would replace it.

How old am I? I’ve watched every single Niner NFC Championship game, although I was only a couple of months on the planet for this one and can’t claim any of the disappointment that marked the season endings of those early 70s John Brodie teams. I don’t remember Jim Plunkett as a Niner at all; so my first 49er team was ’78, 8 years after this group.

The 1970 49ers were first in the NFL in offense and the best of the 70s 49er teams; at 35, Brodie had his career year; two years before, he led the league in picks with 21, the next year, he threw for 24 – but in 1970, Brodie led the league in fewest interceptions per pass attempts with only ten picks. He led the league in quarterback rating, yards per game, and TD passes with 24; Gene Washington had 20 yards a catch.

Despite that, beating the Vikings in Minnesota in the opening playoff game was a significant upset; I can’t say this enough, those Vikings teams of the Purple People Eaters era were among the very, very best in NFL history – their defense was significantly better than ours, but in 10 degree weather we forced four turnovers and won 17-14.

This was a Craig Morton Cowboy team; they were maybe a little better than we were, but given home field advantage and the win the week prior, it would have been reasonable to think the Niners were headed to the Super Bowl. We were, in fact, 4 point favorites. Favorites! Favorites to win the first ever NFC Championship Game! What a different life I would have had – like Padma Lakshmi’s kid having that billion dollar trust fund.

We did not win the first ever NFC Championship Game. Brodie was 19-40 with two picks, both of which led to Cowboy touchdowns; Dallas put the ball on the ground 4 times but only lost one of them. We went into the 4th quarter down 17-10, after a late third quarter score got us close. Dallas missed a FG with 11 minutes to go; two minutes later, we missed one.

With a little less than 5 minutes left, we forced a punt and took over at our 23. We converted one 4th down, but a sack left us 4th and 6 at our 39 and they stopped us. We got it back with just a few seconds left, and died in the middle of the field.

San Francisco 49ers 3 at Dallas Cowboys 14
Sunday, January 2, 1972

The core of the club was exactly the same the year following, and the defense, with some of the all time best Niners ever (Jimmy Johnson, Charlie Krueger, Tommy Hart) was the better of our two sides of the ball, with Brodie throwing more picks than scores. We won our playoff opener, again at home, beating the Redskins 24-20; we broke the game open in the 4th after they botched a punt at their goal line. The rematched title game was in Dallas this time (we were 7 and a half point dogs) Roger Staubach was the Cowboy quarterback and his game (9-18 103 yds) was as bad as Morton’s the year before – but Brodie was worse, he threw 3 picks and we lost 14-3. Cedrick Hardman dominated the line of scrimmage; sacking Staubach 3 and a half times (what’s the record for most sacks in an NFC Championship game? It can’t be higher than that.) We were down 7-3 going to the 4th quarter, but a 14 play drive that ended in a Duane Thomas score put us down 11 with 10 to play and we only got one more first down the rest of the game.

Dallas Cowboys 27 at San Francisco 49ers 28
Sunday, January 10, 1982

Ten years later, we made it back.

I don’t recall the specific point during our game winning drive that our power went off, but I didn’t watch Dwight’s catch (the signed photo of which I have hanging right now in the room in which I’m writing these very words); instead, my parents and I listened to the radio call. I was 11 years old in January of ’82; huddled around the radio with my parents as we beat the Dallas Cowboys remains my favorite sports memory.

The ’81 team, despite the rhapsody, was only our 21st best regular season team ever, and the weaker element was the offense as the defense finished second in points allowed. But we won games, 12 of our last 13, including kicking the hell out of the Cowboys in what was literally the first time of my life that it ever struck me that the 49ers were a good football team.

We beat the Giants 38-24 in the first round of the playoffs; Joe (last name unnecessary) threw for 2 scores and Ronnie (also unneeded) had two picks, one for a 4th quarter touchdown that effectively ended the game.

Then – Dallas. John Brodie might as well have been Frankie Albert in my mind; games played before my memory were all in a box marked history that I enjoyed opening but had no real ability to appreciate the lineal progression of. But I recognized that we didn’t like the Cowboys, that they had snuffed out our previous attempts to go to the Super Bowl, and that despite our having beaten them earlier in the year, they were still the team through which we had to go. We were 3 point dogs which was clear error; the teams were essentially evenly matched, and given our home field advantage and having beaten them earlier in the year, the number should have been exactly the opposite – but it demonstrates the way the public (and, in my mind’s eye, the football media) viewed our relative positions.

I won money on this game. Yes I did. Money won when you are 11 is twice as sweet as money given to you by your dad.

The Catch.

our 6 turnovers
shoeless punter
tommy from san mateo
get
dan
white
eddie d’s cigarette. tony d’s left eye
amos lawrence, #20 on the muff
halftime death threat
3rd and 5-donley-Incomplete
4:54 and far away
lenvil elliott draw…lenvil elliott sweep..lenvil elliott sweep..esrever
dwight to the 25
freddie to the 13
brown left slot sprint right option.
wright had him by the shirt or he’s gone
pillers/stuckey the game ended at the right time for them
Respect. That. Motherfucker.

San Francisco 49ers 21 at Washington Redskins 24
Sunday, January 8, 1984

To that date, the 1983 49ers were the second best regular season Niner team of all time (1953); ’82 had been a disaster, we missed the playoffs coming off our SB win. The Rams, of all teams, helped us out in the offseason with the Wendell Tyler trade – we added Roger Craig in the draft, and suddenly we had our first real backfield in years.

We again opened the playoffs with a home win, this time over Detroit – who had a fourth quarter lead after two Billy Sims touchdowns, but Joe hit Freddie Solomon late to get us to our 4th NFC Championship.

We were 10 and a half point underdogs in DC against the Redskins; our biggest ever NFC Championship spread, either for good or ill. That was a little heavy maybe, but they were the better club.

The Niners were down 21-0 going to the 4th quarter. Joe hit Mike Wilson (Dwight was hurt) for a five yard score at the top of the quarter. After Mark Moseley’s fourth missed FG of the day, Joe hit Freddie for a 76 yard score and with 7 left, Joe hit Wilson again for 12 yard score – we had 21 points in 7 minutes to tie the game.

We never really got the ball back – they got two terrible penalties to keep a long drive alive, a pass interference against Eric Wright and a holding against Lott; they got the winning FG almost at the gun and we went home 24-21 losers.

Chicago Bears 0 at San Francisco 49ers 23
Sunday, January 6, 1985

The ’84 Niners are not the best regular season team in San Francisco history (that’s the ’87 team) but, when you consider the postseason as well, this is the best 49er team of all time.

After our week 7 loss to Pittsburgh, our only loss in the first 18 win season in NFL history, here was the rest of the regular season:

at Houston 34-21
at LA Rams 33-0
Cincinnati 23-17
at Cleveland 41-7 (I was there; so was Jed York, it was his first ever game)
Tampa 21-17
at New Orleans 35-3
at Atlanta 35-17
Minnesota 51-7
LA Rams 19-16

We had over 400 yards of offense against the Giants in the playoff opener; their only touchdown in our 21-10 win an interception returned for a score (Joe threw three picks). We were at home, 9 point favorites against the Bears the following week and the defense just throttled them; we had 9 sacks, they had 37 yards passing, a slow offensive start limited us to a 23-0 win.

San Francisco 49ers 28 at Chicago Bears 3
Sunday, January 8, 1989

We were 1 point dogs (fairly so) in 20 degree Soldier Field four years later when we met the Bears again in the NFC Championship. This was the worst of our 5 Super Bowl winners; the ’88 Niners were only the 26th best regular season team in San Francisco history, 6-5 and with a raging quarterback controversy before ripping off 4 straight to get into the playoffs.

The first to fall was the Vikings team that had come into San Francisco and shocked the best regular season team in 49er history in round one of the playoffs the year before – Joe threw 3 first half scores to Jerry and we ate them alive 34-9.

30 mile an hour winds were supposed to doom our passing game in the NFC Championship – but this was Joe’s best NFC Championship game to that date, 17 for 28, 288 yards, 3 scores and no picks. Jerry caught five balls for 133 and two first half scores and Chicago went down without much fight. This was the first NFC Championship game I watched by myself; I was off at college by this point – I came home for the Super Bowls, but I watched this and the next year’s title game by myself at school.

Los Angeles Rams 3 at San Francisco 49ers 30
Sunday, January 14, 1990

The ’89 team was the 7th best regular season team in 49er history – but had the most dominant playoff run, maybe in the history of professional sports.

Divisional Round: Niners 41 Vikings 13
NFC Championship: Niners 30 Rams 3
Super Bowl 24: Niners 55 Broncos 10

And as silly as it sounds, none of the games were as close as the scores would suggest.

The Joe Montana we saw in the Super Bowls, but who was a little less than that in the playoffs until ’88, returned in ’89; Joe hit the Vikings for four first half touchdown passes and we went up 27-3 at the half, easing through to the 41-13 divisional round win.

We were 7 point favorites in the NFC Championship against the Rams; it wasn’t nearly enough – Joe went 26 of 30 for 262 and 2 scores… let’s consider Joe Montana’s 1989 postseason:

65 of 83 for 800 yards, 11 touchdowns and no picks.

We took a 21-3 lead into the half and cruised to a 30-6 win.

How about the combined scores at halftime of the three games: 75-9.

75-9!

New York Giants 15 at San Francisco 49ers 13

Sunday, January 20, 1991

When did the 1980s end? Not when the Berlin Wall fell. The 80s ended January 20, 1991, when Leonard Marshall killed Joe Montana.

The Not Quite Threepeat 1990 Niners are the 24th best regular season team in San Francisco history, not as good, frankly as the Giants team who beats us in the NFC Championship game (despite our being a wildly outsized 8 point favorite). The difference was the lack of running game; Roger went down early in the year with a knee and never was the same player again; we relied on Dexter Carter to be our leading rusher

Second quarter TD passes to Rice and Mike Sherrard put us up 21-10 in the division playoff game against the Skins; we picked Mark Rypien three times, including Michael Carter’s 61 yard touchdown return in the 4th to get the final 28-10 score.

It felt like we were still the same invincible team; we were 14-2 and the amount of confidence you had at that point as a 49er fan was unreasonably high. We had beaten the Giants earlier in the year in that 7-3 Monday Night game; this was that again, New York won despite not scoring a touchdown, 15-13.

We took a 13-6 lead in the third on the only TD of the game; Joe hitting JT for a 61 yard score; a quarter later he was getting crushed by Leonard Marshall, ending his tenure as our starting quarterback in what was also the last game as a Niner for Ronnie and Roger. We had the ball though, with SteveYoung in the game, and less than 6 minutes to go after New York cut it to 13-12 on Bahr’s 4th FG. Matt, I think. May have been Chris. They were the same dude.

Then Roger fumbled. And that was that. I was home for this game; I’ve forgotten the circumstance as to why I came back for this game as opposed to the two previous years when I waited for the Super Bowl…it could be that I didn’t get CBS in my apartment; this was my first year out of the dorms, and I didn’t have cable – the only station I had was the NBC affiliate, so that’s what it was – that means this would be the last NFC Championship game that I watched with my entire family.

Dallas Cowboys 30 at San Francisco 49ers 20
Sunday, January 17, 1993

The 80s version of the Niners dynasty died at Candlestick two years previous, but the best stretch of uninterrupted great football was still to come – the Steve Young Niners teams of the early 90s were 3 of the 10 best regular season squads in franchise history.

The best was the first group; the ’92 Niners were the third best regular season 49er team ever. We hit the playoffs having won 8 straight and 13 of 14; Joe had missed the entire ’91 season and all of this one as well, until coming back for the last week to beat the Lions. It was with a healthy Joe Montana on the bench that we beat the Redskins 20-13 to open the postseason. We lost 3 fumbles that day; minimizing our 400+ yards of offense but not enough to keep us from hosting the NFC Championship game the next week.

We were four point favorites against the Cowboys and that was the right number; we were the best team in football and at home. As I would for each of these next 3 years, I watched this game by myself in what was now a law school apartment; the turnovers the week before were bad foreshadowing; we gave it up 4 times and got beat.

Only two players total were active for this game and didn’t play. One was Garin Veris. The other was Joe Montana.

San Francisco 49ers 21 at Dallas Cowboys 38
Sunday, January 23, 1994

Joe was in Kansas City in ’93, and when the Niners lost to Dallas again in Week 6, dropping to 3-3, the decision to send him away seemed hard to support. But the 10th best regular season team in 49er history won the next 6 straight and then whipped the Giants 44-3 to open the playoffs. Young went 17 for 22 and Ricky Watters scored 5 touchdowns. Phil Simms didn’t finish his last NFL game.

The Chiefs were in the AFC Title game – the Niners in the NFC Title game. Each a step away from one of the biggest games in NFL history. That’s how you would have booked it in a wrestling promotion.

But the NFL is on the square, both of us lost. Dallas scored 21 in the 2nd quarter and we got run out of the building.

Dallas Cowboys 28 at San Francisco 49ers 38
Sunday, January 15, 1995

The 5th best regular season team in 49er history won what is, to this date, our last Super Bowl.

There was a win or bust sense to the ’94 season, longtime Niners Romanowski, Rathman, Griffin, Washington, and McIntyre were let go; replaced with Ricky Jackson, Gary Plummer, Derrick Deese, Bart Oates, Ken Norton, and finally, during the season, Deion Sanders.

In Week 2, on 9-11, the Niners went to Kansas City, in the only game I’ve ever actively rooted against one of my teams. Young threw two picks and lost to Joe and all remained right with the world.

It should be insightful that the choice I made was player over team, not so much into my personality, but into demonstrating the relationship Joe Montana had with 49er fans. There’s probably a series of blog posts at some point about the hyperintense nature of this period in San Francisco sports history – the Giants had a crushing NLCS loss in ’87, just a couple of months before the best regular season team in Niner history had a crushing playoff loss. The Niners won back to back Super Bowls while the Giants were losing the Earthquake World Series. A multi-season wrenching quarterback controversy occurred as the Giants were being sold and moving to Tampa. The Giants were saved, Barry Bonds was signed, we won a hundred three games and didn’t make the playoffs, Will Clark left town – while the Niners were losing consecutive NFC Championship games and Joe was traded to Kansas City.

A blowout home loss to the Eagles in which Young got pulled was the turning point of the season – we didn’t lose again until a meaningless week 16, including a home win over the Cowboys, and were the heavy favorites going into the playoffs. The Bears were first – we were up 37-3 through three and cruised to a 44-15 win.

Then home for Dallas. We were 7 and a half point favorites, but like the previous two seasons, the distance between the best and the second best team in football was virtually nonexistent.

Two plays into the game Eric Davis took an Aikman pass 44 yards the other way for a quick pick 6; and two plays later he forced an Emmitt Smith fumble. 90 more seconds passed and it was 14-0. Dallas fumbled the kick – and a half dozen plays later William Floyd was in the end zone; it was 21-0 with only 7 minutes gone by and the game was over. We won 38-28 and went on to our fifth Super Bowl.

Green Bay Packers 23 at San Francisco 49ers 10
Sunday, January 11, 1998

Three years later we were back, Steve Mariucci was the new head coach – Jerry had blown out his knee in the opening week, and Eddie D was forced out of the ownership chair. We were just the 25th best regular season team in Niner history, but won 11 straight at one point and rolled through the Vikings in the first round of the playoffs, 38-14.

We were field goal favorites headed to the NFC Championship game, but couldn’t move the ball at home against the Packers. We were down 23-3 before Chuck Levy returned a kick for our only touchdown; Young got sacked four times and threw a pick – and our leading rusher was Terry Kirby with 21 yards. After appearing in the NFC Championship Game a dozen times in 27 seasons, the Niners would be absent for the next 14 years.

New York Giants 20 at San Francisco 49ers 17
Sunday, January 22, 2012

By the advanced metrics, of the ten worst seasons in 49er history, 4 were in the first decade of the 2000s; the franchise churned through multiple head coaches and front office personnel; ownership passed down to a younger generation of DeBartolo, and there was even talk of the club moving south…way south, to Los Angeles.

I’m a “history from the bottom up” guy, meaning that I don’t see change as driven by “great men”, and that impacts (or drives, hard to locate) my view that coaching is of the more overrated elements of sports analysis. However, there are outliers, and in 2011 the 49ers moved from a clearly outmatched Mike Singletary to Jim Harbaugh, who I (as a Pete Carroll loving USC Trojan fan) had watched dramatically turn around the Stanford football program over a few years previous, including kicking our ass at a time when USC bullied the collegiate football landscape.

And sure enough – it happened at the next level. The 49ers weren’t quite as good as their 13-3 regular season record would indicate; this team was the 14th best in Niner regular season history, and the best since ’98 – but they managed a stadium rattling comeback to win the divisional round against the Saints, and in the conference championship hosted a Giants team they had beaten during the regular season.

The Niners were sizably, sizably advantaged heading to the title game, Vernon Davis caught two touchdown passes from much maligned (and rightly so) former number one overall pick Alex Smith, but Kyle Williams fumbled away two kicks, the first in the 4th quarter that flipped the game, turning a 49er lead into, within 3 minutes, a Giant lead; and the second in overtime – and New York converting that drive into a game winning field goal.

It wouldn’t take 12 years for the 49ers to return to the NFC Title game – they’d be back in 2013.

San Francisco 49ers 28 at Atlanta Falcons 24
Sunday, January 20, 2013

The 49ers prior NFC Championship was in January of ’95; Joe Montana’s last NFC Title was 5 years before that – for 49er fans under the age of 30; Montana’s their John Brodie (except instead of having a Big Brother Champion son-in-law, Montana’s got Lombardi Trophies). But you get my point; my memories are their history books. For me, nothing’s ever going to match the seasons where I sat with my family to watch the 49er dynasty win NFC Championships – I was 42 years old for this game; my dad now gone for a couple of years, and I’m married myself. An easy trap to fall into, whether talking about sports or music or whatever element of cultural passion hit you when most impressionable is thinking things just aren’t as special as the good old days. If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check your facebook feed.

The 49ers still matter to me, but not as much as trying to navigate the labor market. I’m a college professor, or a facsimile thereof, and while that’s not yet like saying you write for a newspaper or run a music store – you can see it from here. The wolf is always at the door for old Gil; even during game time.

Jim Harbaugh used a mid-season injury to Alex Smith to go with tough, athletic, young Colin Kaepernick as the new, permanent Niner signal caller. He went 5-2 down the stretch; tore threw the Packers in the divisional playoff round, running for 2 scores, passing for 2 scores, and accounting for almost 450 yards of total offense.

Here, the Niners spotted the Falcons the first 17 points, trailed by ten at the half, and then shut out the Falcons the rest of the way, scoring two Frank Gore touchdowns and holding on with an end of game defensive stop at the 10 yard line.

Kaepernick played very efficiently; 16 of 21, and, just as did John Brodie 42 years before, threw for one touchdown pass.

San Francisco 49ers 17 Seattle Seahawks 23

January 19, 2014

The 1990 loss to the Giants was the breaking point for the Team of the 80s; the Montana Era replaced by the Young Era.  This loss was the beginning of the end of this Harbaugh run. Niners/Seahawks was a legitimate blood feud in the middle of the decade; Pete Carroll and Jim Harbaugh had been not remotely friendly rivals in the Pac 10 and that carried over to the NFC West. We beat them twice in 2011; split in 2012, and then split this year headed to Seattle for the NFC Championship. Aldon Smith's life took nothing but bad turns subsequent, but he forced a Russell Wilson fumble on the first play of the game and that would lead to a Phil Dawson field goal. Before Colin Kaepernick was Tommie Smith and John Carlos in shoulder pads he was a weapon - early second quarter he hit this Seahawk defense (probably one of the 15 greatest of all time) for a 58 yard run; that turned into a short Anthony Dixon score and the Niners led 10-0. 

That became 10-3 before the half and early in the third Marshawn Lynch rumbled for a 40 yard score to tie it up.  Kaepernick got it right back - a 22 yard run, a 22 yard ball to Michael Crabtree - and a 26 yard strike over the middle to Anquan Boldin.  Seattle was two weeks away from absolutely dominating Peyton Manning and the Broncos, but in the middle of the third quarter they were down to the Niners 17-10. 

Seattle got a FG prior to quarter's end and then early in the 4th Wilson hit Jermaine Kearse for a 35 yarder and Seattle had their first lead.  The teams swapped turnovers and then what looked like the knockout; Kam Chancellor picked up Kaepernick at the Niner 40. It led to another FG and with 3:43 to play Seattle had a 23-17 lead.

Just before the two minute warning we had a 4th and two; Kaepernick hit Frank Gore (still playing 5 years later, now with the Bills) for 17 yards to get us near midfield. A minute later it was third and two and Kaepernick again had a big conversion, 16 yards to Kaepernick to get to the Seattle 29. The next play was an 11 yard throw over the middle to Vernon Davis. 

Getting us 1st and ten and the Seahawk 18; still with two timeouts, 30 seconds to play.

The year prior our season ended with 4 shots from the Raven 5 yard line in the Super Bowl.

Here - we just got the one - Kaepernick to Crabtree in the right corner of the end zone was deflected by Richard Sherman and intercepted by Malcolm Smith.  

A year later we were 8-8. And then Harbaugh was gone. In the years subsequent, both Smith and a real Niner enemy Sherman would join the 49ers, and we'd run through multiple head coaches before turning to Kyle Shanahan; son of Mike, who prior to winning back to back Super Bowls with the Broncos was the Niner offensive coordinator in the early 90s. 

And 6 years later - we're back.  NFC Championship game #16. Other than Joe Staley, starter at tackle since his rookie season in 2007; the club has turned over entirely since the last time we were seen in this game.  This Sunday the Niners will be favored as they host Aaron Rodgers as the Packers. 

Hold on tight everyone.

January 19, 2020

San Francisco 49ers 37 Green Bay Packers 20

Are we still doing this?  4 years ago I updated/consolidated this history of the Niners in the NFC Championship - and now I'm 3 games behind and a 4th is coming Sunday.  In the six years that passed since the last 49ers NFC Championship, both Harbaugh and Kaepernick were out of the league, Mike Shanahan's son Kyle was now the head coach; Jimmie Ward remaining from the Harbaugh years.

As of the date of this publication, the last time the 49ers won the NFC Title was in this game, Raheem Mostert rushed for 220 yards and scored 4 TDs.  At the time, that was the second highest rushing total in playoff history. The 49ers became the third team in history to make the Super Bowl a year after winning four games or fewer.  Jimmy Garoppolo was the 49er QB - he threw 8 passes all day.  

Between here and two weeks from here, when the 49ers lost the Super Bowl to Kansas City. Kobe Bryant died, NFL Hall of Famer Chris Doleman, who had a couple of very productive years with the Niners, died. 

Historically, this 49ers team probably will best be remembered as Patrick Mahomes first Super Bowl victim; the Niners had a 4th Qtr double digit lead and lost the game by 11 points.

January 30, 2022

San Francisco 49ers 17 Los Angeles Rams 20

Two years later essentially that same team was back in the NFC Title game, playing a Ram team that they had beaten 6 consecutive times.  As was the case with the Super Bowl 2 seasons prior San Francisco had a 4th qtr double digit lead - but couldn't hold on, allowing 100+ yard receiving games to both Cooper Kupp and Odell Beckham. The Rams went on to win the Super Bowl. 

January 29, 2023

San Francisco 49ers 7 Philadelphia Eagles 31

A year later, the 49ers QB position had turned over multiple times, Garoppolo yielding to the third overall draft pick from the prior season, Trey Lance, whose injury returned Garoppolo to the starting spot - and then when Garoppolo also suffered a season ending injury, the 49ers turned to the last pick in the draft, Brock Purdy.  Purdy led the club on a late season run that took them to Philadelphia for the NFC Championship game - but when both he and the only other QB on the active roster, Josh Johnson, were both knocked from the contest, San Francisco was non competitive in falling to the Eagles.  Two weeks later - the Eagles would lose the Super Bowl to Mahomes and the Chiefs.

January 28, 2024

And here we are again.  The top seeds in the NFC, the 49ers play host to the Detroit Lions on Sunday; the Niners are 7 point favorites; that's a lot - 4 years prior, the Niners went off as 8 point favorites in hosting the Packers (covered); nearly 30 years ago the 49ers were touchdown favorites in defeating the Cowboys in the '94 NFC Title game (covered). The failed attempt to threepeat 1990 Niners were 8 point favorites in the game they lost to the Giants. The year prior, the Niners were 7 pt favorites when they beat the Rams -- it looks like the largest line was 1984, when the Niners gave 10 points to the Bears (covered).

Either I'll update this Monday or perhaps 4 years from now.

2020 NBA All Star Rosters

40 games into the 2020 NBA season, here are the current top players for both conferences.

West

Starters
C Nikola Jokic Den 
F LeBron James LAL  MVP2
F Luka Doncic Dall 
G James Harden Hou  MVP1
G Damian Lillard Port 

Reserves
F Anthony Davis LAL 
C Rudy Gobert Utah 
F Kawhi Leonard LAC 
G Chris Paul OKC 
C Hassan Whiteside Port
F Montrez Harrell LAC 
G Devonte Booker Pho 

Alternates
C Karl Anthony Towns Minn 
C S.Adams OKC
F M.Harrell LAC 
F R.Holmes Sac 


East

Starters
C Bam Adebayo Mia
F Giannis Antetokounmpo Mil    MVP-3
F Jimmy Butler Mia 
G Ben Simmons Phi
G Trae Young Atlanta 

Reserves
F Domantas Sabonis Ind 
F Jayson Tatum Bos 
C Joel Embiid Phi 
F Tobias Harris Phi 
C Andre Drummond Detroit 
G Kemba Walker Bos 
G Zach LaVine Chi

Alternate
F K.Middleton Mil