The road slate continues against the Baltimore Colts on 1961-12-16 at Kezar Stadium. The 49ers' offensive line continues to anchor the calendar's identity heading into Week 14.
The roster's lead back rotation and receiver room project the kind of game-script the staff has been working through. The Baltimore Colts arrive tracking their own divisional standing.[1]
The week of preparation has built toward the matchup against the Baltimore Colts is the kind of home game where the offensive line has the matchup the coaching staff has been pointing toward all week. The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the Baltimore Colts' offensive line. The week of preparation produced the kind of game-plan continuity the staff has been building toward.
The slate's Week 14 games continues to shape the playoff race. The conference's projected leaders carry through the calendar with the kind of pace the wire copy has been writing into. The home matchup with the Baltimore Colts is the calendar's sense-check on the 49ers' divisional posture. The Sunday-night and Monday-night games close the week with their own playoff implications.
The first 13 games have shown the 49ers are tracking the kind of pace that, in calendar 1961, defines the divisional posture. The lead back's rushing workload is the staff's projected call. The receiver room's distribution is the offense's signature. The Baltimore Colts are tracking their own standing. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the offensive line's pass-protection rate.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New York Giants | 10-3 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 9-4 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 8-5 | L1 |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 6-7 | W1 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 6-7 | W2 |
| Dallas Cowboys | 4-8-1 | L3 |
| Washington Redskins | 0-12-1 | L3 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Green Bay Packers | 10-3 | L1 |
| Detroit Lions | 8-4-1 | W2 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 7-5-1 | W1 |
| Chicago Bears | 7-6 | W1 |
| Baltimore Colts | 7-6 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 4-9 | W1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 3-10 | L1 |
Video missing for this game. If you find one, please report it.
49ers 10, Baltimore Colts 349ers 10, Baltimore Colts 2049ers 17, Baltimore Colts 2749ers 24, Baltimore Colts 2749ers 24, Baltimore Colts 27[1]
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Colts | 3 | 17 | 7 | 0 | 320272727 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 10 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 1010172424 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Colts | Steve Myhra 20 yard field goal | 3-0 |
| 49ers | Tommy Davis 45 yard field goal | 3-3 |
| 49ers | R.C. Owens 35 yard pass from John Brodie ( Tommy Davis kick) | 3-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Colts | Mark Smolinski 19 yard pass from Johnny Unitas ( Steve Myhra kick) | 10-10 |
| Colts | Jim Mutscheller 25 yard pass from Johnny Unitas ( Steve Myhra kick) | 17-10 |
| Colts | Steve Myhra 28 yard field goal | 20-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | John Brodie 8 yard rush ( Tommy Davis kick) | 20-17 |
| Colts | Jimmy Orr 20 yard pass from Johnny Unitas ( Steve Myhra kick) | 27-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | R.C. Owens 20 yard pass from John Brodie ( Tommy Davis kick) | 27-24 |
San Francisco's offense came up short 27-24 at home the Baltimore Colts on 1961-12-16. John Brodie went 16 of 38 for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. J.D. Smith ran for 93 on 21 carries. Monty Stickles caught 7 for 143. On the other side Johnny Unitas went 19 of 34 for 314 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Mark Smolinski ran for 38 on 11 carries.[1]
San Francisco lost 27-24 against the Baltimore Colts on 1961-12-16. John Brodie went 16 of 38 for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. J.D. Smith ran for 93 on 21 carries. Monty Stickles caught 7 for 143.
The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff has been working through across the calendar's closing weeks. The offensive line's pocket time produced the dropbacks the playbook calls. The defensive unit's pressure produced the kind of takeaway the unit has been generating. The Sunday's outcome sets the next week's posture across the divisional standings.
The Baltimore Colts produced the kind of game-script the wire copy projected. The next-week matchup is the calendar's next sense-check on the 49ers' divisional pacing.
49ers 27, Baltimore Colts 24. Margin: plus 3. Box score reads: John Brodie went 16 of 38 for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. J.D. Smith ran for 93 on 21 carries. Monty Stickles caught 7 for 143. R.C. Owens caught 6 for 100 with 2 touchdowns. On the Baltimore Colts' side: Johnny Unitas went 19 of 34 for 314 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Mark Smolinski ran for 38 on 11 carries.
A 27-24 home loss to the Baltimore Colts. The 49ers' calendar continues to shape across the kind of game-script the staff has been projecting.
How it unfolded
John Brodie went 16 of 38 for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. J.D. Smith ran for 93 on 21 carries. Monty Stickles caught 7 for 143. The Sunday's offensive output produced the kind of full-sixty pace the playbook has been working through. On the defensive side Johnny Unitas went 19 of 34 for 314 yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions for the Baltimore Colts, and Mark Smolinski ran for 38 on 11 carries.
The turning point
The in-game adjustment that, in calendar 1961, decided the closing two quarters. The defensive front's pressure on the third-down dropbacks produced the kind of pass-rush volume the unit has been generating across the year. The receiver room's route distribution produced the kind of timing-route conversions the playbook calls.
By the numbers
John Brodie went 16 of 38 for 292 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interceptions. The lead-back rotation: J.D. Smith ran for 93 on 21 carries. Receiver room: Monty Stickles caught 7 for 143, and R.C. Owens caught 6 for 100 with 2 touchdowns.
Personnel watch
The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort the staff has been projecting. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in calendar 1961, defines the year's pacing. The defensive unit's pressure was the central element of the afternoon.
What it means
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| John Brodie | 16/38 | 292 | 2 | 1 | |
| J.D. Smith | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | |
| BAL | |||||
| Johnny Unitas | 19/34 | 314 | 3 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| J.D. Smith | 21 | 93 | 0 | 12 |
| John Brodie | 2 | 9 | 1 | 8 |
| Don McIlhenny | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Ray Norton | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Aaron Thomas | 1 | -15 | 0 | -15 |
| BAL | ||||
| Mark Smolinski | 11 | 38 | 0 | 11 |
| Alex Hawkins | 11 | 29 | 0 | 10 |
| Johnny Unitas | 5 | 26 | 0 | 18 |
| Jerry Hill | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Monty Stickles | 7 | 143 | 0 | 54 |
| R.C. Owens | 6 | 100 | 2 | 35 |
| Aaron Thomas | 2 | 32 | 0 | 18 |
| J.D. Smith | 1 | 17 | 0 | 17 |
| BAL | ||||
| Jimmy Orr | 4 | 105 | 1 | 64 |
| Mark Smolinski | 6 | 80 | 1 | 23 |
| Raymond Berry | 4 | 68 | 0 | 34 |
| Jim Mutscheller | 4 | 62 | 1 | 25 |
| Alex Hawkins | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1961 W14 - 49ers vs Baltimore Colts - Game Thread