Re: Best SF/Dallas non-playoff games
Posted: Thu Aug 03, 2017 3:59 pm
Something interesting are who were the 49ers defensive backs in 1980. The starters were Ray Rhodes (with Charles Cornelius as an injury replacement) and Charles Johnson at cornerback, with Dwight Hicks and rookie Ricky Churchman at safeties.7DnBrnc53 wrote:That 1979 team was much improved despite the record. They touched on that a bit during the 1981 America's Game episode.74_75_78_79_ wrote:Here's a 'hidden' regular-season one from this series, at Candlestick...their '79 affair! Week #2, Bill Walsh's first year en-route to an 0-7 start/(another) 2-14 finish giving Dallas, who would start 7-1, quite a game! The Juice scores a TD on a 1-yard-run in the 2nd Q to give SF a 10-6 lead which would remain the score at the half. Big D would then score a TD in the 3rd, and then another in the 4th (extra-point no good), to go up 19-10 only for Wersching to cut Dallas's lead to 6 with a FG. The final points, to seal the deal, would be scored by Harvey Martin sacking DeBerg in the endzone for a safety - Dallas 21 SF 13 final. No longer a Steeler, now a Niner, Tony Dungy returned a punt for 11 yards in this game.
Funny considering that SF was better in '80 (couldn't be worse) yet in their Week #6 affair vs Dallas, this time on the road, they get destroyed 59-14. Winning their first three games, SF was 3-2 going in with Big D at 4-1. Both teams would have identical records the following year going into their matchup at Candlestick which, yes, was a different story.
As for Dungy, that was when the 49ers were bringing in dozens of defensive backs trying to find guys that could play. Former Cardinal first-round draft choice Tim Gray was another one of those defensive backs that they tried in Walsh's first two years. Dwight Hicks was the one that survived, and he would go on and form "Dwight Hicks and his Hot Licks" with rookies Lott, Wright, and Williamson.
In 1981 Rhodes retired and became an assistant coach. Cornelius never played again, while Johnson went to the Cardinals and only played 5 games that season and never played again. Churchman only played 3 more games for the 49ers in 1981 and never played again. Only Hicks played longer.
By the way, in 1980 they were ranked 27th in passing yards allowed and TD passes allowed, while in 1981 they were ranked 3rd in passing yards allowed and 6th in TD passes allowed.