Last night i watched NFL's Greatest Games on ESPN, and they featured the 81 NFCCG between Dallas and San Fran. You know, Montana to Clark, the CATCH, 49'ers go on to become a dynasty, etc.
Few people remember that THE CATCH was made w/ 51 seconds left on the clock. On the ensuing kickoff, Dallas returned the ball to their 25 yard line. The very first play, Danny White throws a 30 yard completion to Drew Pearson who is tackled at the 49er 45 yard line. On the play, Eric Wright grabs Pearson by the back of the shoulder pads, a classic 'horse-collar' tackle. In today's NFL, the Niners are penalized 15 yards, giving the Cowboys the ball on the 49er 30 yard line w/ a stopped clock and 2 timeouts and 40-something seconds left. I'm sure they run Dorsett a few times and inch closer and likely win the game on a Septien FG.
Also, few remember that Montana threw THREE interceptions in that ballgame. Had they lost, i'm sure Montana would have shouldered a fair share of blame. Additionally, Bill Walsh called a timeout after a running play right before THE CATCH, which in essence, left Dallas enough time for a game-winning drive. Better clock management by Walsh would have been to let the clock run down since it was 3rd down.
So had the Niners lost because of the horse-collar, Montana would have taken flak for throwing 3 picks in the biggest game of his career to date, and Coaching Genius Bill Walsh would have been second guessed on his clock management.
Sound familiar??? :P
Few people remember that THE CATCH was made w/ 51 seconds left on the clock. On the ensuing kickoff, Dallas returned the ball to their 25 yard line. The very first play, Danny White throws a 30 yard completion to Drew Pearson who is tackled at the 49er 45 yard line. On the play, Eric Wright grabs Pearson by the back of the shoulder pads, a classic 'horse-collar' tackle. In today's NFL, the Niners are penalized 15 yards, giving the Cowboys the ball on the 49er 30 yard line w/ a stopped clock and 2 timeouts and 40-something seconds left. I'm sure they run Dorsett a few times and inch closer and likely win the game on a Septien FG.
Also, few remember that Montana threw THREE interceptions in that ballgame. Had they lost, i'm sure Montana would have shouldered a fair share of blame. Additionally, Bill Walsh called a timeout after a running play right before THE CATCH, which in essence, left Dallas enough time for a game-winning drive. Better clock management by Walsh would have been to let the clock run down since it was 3rd down.
So had the Niners lost because of the horse-collar, Montana would have taken flak for throwing 3 picks in the biggest game of his career to date, and Coaching Genius Bill Walsh would have been second guessed on his clock management.
Sound familiar??? :P
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