Recap
AI summary based on verified facts
Matt Bahr kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired and the New York Giants beat the 49ers 15-13 at Candlestick Park to end the 49ers' season in the NFC Championship game. Bahr kicked five field goals. John Taylor caught a 61-yard touchdown from Joe Montana in the third quarter, the only touchdown of the game. Joe Montana left the game in the fourth quarter after a Leonard Marshall sack. Roger Craig fumbled the ball away with 2:36 left to set up Bahr's game-winner. The 49ers finished 15-3.[1][2]
Columnist recap
AI summary based on verified facts
Roger Craig fumbled with 2:36 left and Matt Bahr kicked a 42-yard field goal as time expired Sunday afternoon to end the 49ers' season in the NFC Championship game. Final 15-13 to the New York Giants. Joe Montana left the game with a broken right hand after a third-quarter Leonard Marshall sack. The 49ers finished 15-3 and the conference championship.
Bahr made five field goals (28, 42, 46, 38, 42 GW). Taylor's 61-yard touchdown reception from Montana in the third quarter was the only touchdown either side produced. Montana finished 18 of 26 for 190 before the third-quarter exit. Steve Young 1 of 1 for 25 in relief. Rice five catches for 54. Brent Jones three for 46. Roger Craig 8 carries for 26 plus three for 16 receiving.
Jeff Hostetler finished 15 of 27 for 176 with no touchdowns. Ottis Anderson ran 20 times for 67. Dave Meggett added 10 carries for 36. The Giants' offense produced no touchdowns; the defense produced the Craig fumble (forced by Lawrence Taylor) that set up Bahr's eventual game-winner. The 49ers led 13-12 with under three minutes left. Craig took a handoff at the 49ers' 40, was hit at the line by Erik Howard, and the ball came out. Pepper Johnson recovered. The Giants moved the ball into Bahr's range with two Hostetler completions to Mark Bavaro for 19 yards. Bahr's 42-yarder split the uprights as time ran out.
By the numbers
AI summary based on verified facts
Giants 15, 49ers 13. Margin: minus 2. NFC Championship.
- Montana: 18 of 26, 190, 1 TD (Taylor 61), 0 INTs, 3 sacks. Left game with broken hand on Marshall sack.
- Young (relief): 1 of 1, 25, 0 TDs.
- Taylor: 2 catches for 75, 1 TD (61y).
- Rice: 5 catches for 54.
- Brent Jones: 3 catches for 46.
- Sherrard: 2 catches for 8.
- Craig: 8 carries for 26, plus 3 for 16 (lost crucial fumble at 2:36).
- Rathman: 1 carry for 4, plus 4 for 16.
- Cofer: 2-for-3 (47, 35).
- Hostetler (NYG): 15 of 27, 176, 0 TDs, 0 INTs, 3 sacks.
- Ottis Anderson (NYG): 20 carries for 67.
- Dave Meggett (NYG): 10 carries for 36.
- Mark Bavaro (NYG): 5 catches for 54.
- Matt Bahr (NYG): 5 FGs (28, 42, 46, 38, 42 GW as time expired).
- Lawrence Taylor (NYG): forced Craig fumble at 2:36 (recovered by Pepper Johnson).
- 49ers 15-3; eliminated. Giants advance to Super Bowl XXV.
Film room
AI summary based on verified facts
A 15-13 NFC Championship home loss to the New York Giants at Candlestick Park. The 49ers finish 15-3 with the franchise's title-defense season ending in the conference championship game.
How it unfolded
Cofer's 47-yard field goal opened the scoring. Bahr's 28-yarder tied it 3-3. Bahr added a 42-yarder to make it 3-6. Cofer's 35-yard kick tied it 6-6. Taylor's 61-yard touchdown reception from Montana made it 13-6. Bahr's 46-yarder cut it to 13-9. Bahr's 38-yarder cut it to 13-12. Roger Craig fumbled with 2:36 left at the 49ers' 40, Pepper Johnson recovering for the Giants. Hostetler completed two passes to Bavaro for 19 yards to set up Bahr's 42-yard game-winner as time expired. The 49ers finished 15-3.
The turning point
The Roger Craig fumble at 2:36. With the 49ers leading 13-12 and the offense facing a second-and-10 at the 49ers' 40, Craig took the handoff and was hit at the line by Erik Howard. The ball came out and Pepper Johnson recovered for the Giants at the 49ers' 43. The two-minute warning passed. Hostetler hit Bavaro for 19 yards on third-and-3. The Giants moved into field-goal range and Bahr's 42-yarder split the uprights as time ran out.
By the numbers
Montana 18 of 26 for 190, 7.3 yards per attempt, one touchdown and no interceptions. Three sacks taken (including the Leonard Marshall third-quarter shot that broke Montana's right hand). Steve Young 1 of 1 for 25 in relief. Taylor two catches for 75 with the 61-yard touchdown. Rice five for 54. Brent Jones three for 46. Roger Craig 8 carries for 26 plus three for 16 receiving (with the season-ending fumble). The defense produced three sacks of Hostetler and held the Giants' offense to zero touchdowns. The Giants' five field goals were the most field goals scored in a championship game in NFL history.
Personnel watch
The Leonard Marshall sack on Montana in the third quarter broke the quarterback's right hand and ended his season. Steve Young's one completion in relief was the kind of brief postseason appearance the franchise had been preparing for; the W16 and W17 starts of the regular season were the rehearsal. Lawrence Taylor's forced fumble on Craig was his second turnover-creating play of the year against the 49ers. Matt Bahr's five field goals are the most in any conference championship game in NFL history; the Giants kicker's 42-yard game-winner was the third walk-off in NFC Championship game history. The 49ers' three-peat bid ends one game from Super Bowl XXV.
What it means
15-3. The Giants advance to Super Bowl XXV at Tampa Stadium against the Buffalo Bills. The 49ers' title-defense ends with the loss; the back-to-back champions do not get the three-peat. Joe Montana's hand surgery and rehabilitation will keep him out of football for the bulk of the 1991 season. The Roger Craig fumble becomes the franchise's most-replayed playoff moment from the wrong side of the cut. The Giants' 15-13 win is one of the closest conference championships in NFL history.
