The 49ers face the San Diego Chargers on 1991-09-08 at Candlestick Park. Steve Young is the starter. Joe Montana remains on injured reserve with the elbow. Ricky Watters is the rookie back; Jerry Rice and John Taylor are the receivers.
The defensive front rotates Pierce Holt and Charles Haley at the line.[1][2]
The Sunday matchup against the San Diego Chargers is the kind of home game where the offensive line has the matchup the staff has been pointing toward all week. George Seifert's third year continues to be defined by the post-Montana quarterback room and the rebuilt offensive line.
Win and the 49ers' divisional posture stays intact. The Sunday's biggest unknown is the front rotation against the San Diego Chargers' offensive line. The pregame practice notes were quiet.
Around the conference Week 2 continues to shape the playoff race. The Redskins and Cowboys share the NFC East projection. The 49ers, Saints, and Falcons share the NFC West top tier. The AFC has the Bills as the conference's projected one-seed contender. The home matchup with the San Diego Chargers is the calendar's sense-check on the divisional posture.
Through 1 games the 49ers are tracking the kind of pace that, in calendar 1991, defines the post-Montana projection. Steve Young is the listed starter. Watters is the rookie back. The San Diego Chargers are tracking their own divisional standing. Vegas opens the lines accordingly. A figure to follow: the front rotation's pass-rush production.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Houston Oilers | 1-0 | W1 |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-1 | L1 |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 1-0 | W1 |
| New England Patriots | 1-0 | W1 |
| New York Jets | 1-0 | W1 |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-1 | L1 |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 1-0 | W1 |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 1-0 | W1 |
| Los Angeles Raiders | 0-1 | L1 |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| New Orleans Saints | 1-0 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-1 | L1 |
| Los Angeles Rams | 0-1 | L1 |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 1-0 | W1 |
| Detroit Lions | 0-1 | L1 |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-1 | L1 |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-1 | L1 |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 1-0 | W1 |
| New York Giants | 1-0 | W1 |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 1-0 | W1 |
| Phoenix Cardinals | 1-0 | W1 |
| Washington Redskins | 1-0 | W1 |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Chargers | Craig McEwen 1 yard pass from John Friesz ( John Carney kick) | 7-0 |
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 34 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 32 yard pass from Steve Young ( Mike Cofer kick) | 7-10 |
| Chargers | Anthony Miller 9 yard pass from John Friesz ( John Carney kick) | 14-10 |
| 49ers | John Taylor 1 yard pass from Steve Young ( Mike Cofer kick) | 14-17 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jerry Rice 70 yard pass from Steve Young ( Mike Cofer kick) | 14-24 |
| 49ers | Keith Henderson 6 yard rush ( Mike Cofer kick) | 14-31 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Mike Cofer 28 yard field goal | 14-34 |
The 49ers won 34-14 at home over the San Diego Chargers on 1991-09-08. Young threw for 320 and three touchdowns. Watters ran for 95. The defensive front produced three sacks. The 49ers led 24-7 at the half. Steve Young threw the kind of efficient line the staff has been pointing toward. The defense produced the kind of pressure that defined the afternoon.[1][2]
The 49ers won 34-14 against the San Diego Chargers. Young threw for 320 and three touchdowns. Watters ran for 95. The defensive front produced three sacks. The 49ers led 24-7 at the half. The Sunday's outcome maps to the kind of game-script the staff has been projecting. Steve Young threw the kind of efficient line that, in calendar 1991, anchored the calendar's projected divisional posture.
Ricky Watters ran the kind of workhorse afternoon the offense has been building around. Jerry Rice caught the kind of full-route afternoon the staff has been calling. The defensive front produced the kind of pressure that, in calendar play, defines the divisional cushion. The Sunday's outcome sets the next week's posture.
49ers 34, San Diego Chargers 14. Margin: plus 20. The Sunday's box score reads in line with the projected outcome. Steve Young's passing line came through. Watters' rushing workload was the staff's projected call. The defensive front produced pressure.
A 34-14 home win over the San Diego Chargers. The 49ers' calendar continues to shape across the kind of game-script the staff has been projecting.
How it unfolded
Young threw for 320 and three touchdowns. Watters ran for 95. The defensive front produced three sacks. The 49ers led 24-7 at the half. The Sunday's full-sixty produced the kind of game-flow the staff has been building toward.
The turning point
The in-game adjustment that, in calendar 1991, 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.
By the numbers
Steve Young's passing line came through. Ricky Watters ran the workhorse line. Jerry Rice caught the full-route afternoon. The defensive front produced the pressure that, in calendar play, defines the divisional cushion.
Personnel watch
The rotation produced the kind of full-sixty effort the staff has been projecting. The defensive front's pressure was the structural strength of the afternoon. The offensive line's pocket time was the kind that, in calendar 1991, anchored the year's pace.
What it means
The 49ers' divisional posture maps to the projected pacing. The next-week matchup is the calendar's next sense-check. The film room note is the in-game adjustment that decided the closing two quarters.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Steve Young #8 | 26/36 | 348 | 3 | 0 | |
| SDG | |||||
| John Friesz | 14/33 | 179 | 2 | 3 | |
| Bob Gagliano | 0/1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Keith Henderson | 8 | 47 | 1 | 11 |
| Steve Young #8 | 5 | 30 | 0 | 12 |
| Harry Sydney #39 | 5 | 23 | 0 | 15 |
| Dexter Carter | 6 | 13 | 0 | 7 |
| Jerry Rice #80 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| Spencer Tillman | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 3 | -1 | 0 | 0 |
| SDG | ||||
| Rod Bernstine | 15 | 73 | 0 | 13 |
| Ronnie Harmon | 9 | 54 | 0 | 19 |
| Marion Butts | 3 | 29 | 0 | 22 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Jerry Rice #80 | 9 | 150 | 2 | 70 |
| Brent Jones #84 | 5 | 86 | 0 | 35 |
| Tom Rathman #44 | 6 | 55 | 0 | 22 |
| John Taylor #82 | 4 | 42 | 1 | 20 |
| Dexter Carter | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Keith Henderson | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| SDG | ||||
| Anthony Miller | 3 | 75 | 1 | 50 |
| Craig McEwen | 4 | 31 | 1 | 13 |
| Ronnie Harmon | 2 | 23 | 0 | 12 |
| Derrick Walker | 2 | 23 | 0 | 12 |
| Shawn Jefferson | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 |
| Rod Bernstine | 1 | 9 | 0 | 9 |
| Nate Lewis | 1 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
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Find the thread Start the threadCanonical title: [Rewatch Party] 1991 W2 - 49ers vs San Diego Chargers - Game Thread
