The 49ers open 2001 at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff against the Atlanta Falcons in the home opener.
Jeff Garcia starts at quarterback in his third pro year. Garrison Hearst returns at running back after his 1998 leg injury and 1999-2000 recovery. Terrell Owens leads the receivers. J.J. Stokes and Tai Streets in the receiver rotation. Steve Mariucci begins his fifth year as head coach.
Steve Mariucci opens his fifth season Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The kind of opener where, after the franchise's 6-10 finish in 2000, the new year starts with Garrison Hearst back at running back from his career-threatening injury and Jeff Garcia in his third year as the starter.
Garcia has Terrell Owens, J.J. Stokes, and Tai Streets in the receiver rotation. Hearst at running back. Chris Chandler starts for Atlanta. Jamal Anderson at running back for the Falcons.
Favored by 3 at home. The kind of opener where the year's identity tape starts with Hearst's return as the lead back.
Opening Sunday opens the NFC West. The Rams (defending Super Bowl champs) lead the division. The Saints compete with Aaron Brooks. The Falcons compete with Chris Chandler. The 49ers come off a 6-10 finish. Around the conference the Giants (NFC champs from 2000), Vikings, and Eagles lead the contender talk. The opener at Candlestick is the kind of home game where Steve Mariucci's fifth year, with Hearst returning from his recovery, gets its first read.
Through zero games the 49ers reset to last year's 6-10 finish under Mariucci. Jeff Garcia threw for 31 TDs and 10 INTs in 2000 with a 97.6 rating in his second year as the starter. Garrison Hearst missed the 1999 season and most of 2000 after his 1998 leg injury. Terrell Owens caught 97 passes for 1,451 yards and 13 TDs in 2000. The defense ranked 19th in scoring. Vegas opens the 49ers as 3-point home favorites; total 41.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 0-0 | -- |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-0 | -- |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-0 | -- |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0-0 | -- |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-0 | -- |
| Tennessee Titans | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 0-0 | -- |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-0 | -- |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-0 | -- |
| New England Patriots | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Jets | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 0-0 | -- |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-0 | -- |
| Oakland Raiders | 0-0 | -- |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-0 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-0 | -- |
| Carolina Panthers | 0-0 | -- |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-0 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-0 | -- |
| St. Louis Rams | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 0-0 | -- |
| Detroit Lions | 0-0 | -- |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-0 | -- |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-0 | -- |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 0-0 | -- |
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Giants | 0-0 | -- |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-0 | -- |
| Washington Redskins | 0-0 | -- |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Jamal Anderson 1 yard rush ( Jay Feely kick) | 7-0 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jose Cortez 39 yard field goal | 7-3 |
| Falcons | Jay Feely 28 yard field goal | 10-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Falcons | Jay Feely 24 yard field goal | 13-3 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | J.J. Stokes 16 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Jose Cortez kick) | 13-10 |
| 49ers | Jose Cortez 20 yard field goal | 13-13 |
| OT | ||
| 49ers | Jose Cortez 24 yard field goal | 13-16 |
Jeff Garcia threw a touchdown pass and Wade Richey kicked three field goals and the 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-13 at Candlestick Park in the home opener. Garcia finished 26-of-40 for 335 yards. Terrell Owens caught seven for 93. Garrison Hearst ran for 48 in his return from injury. Chris Chandler threw for 121 yards. The 49ers opened the season at 1-0.[1][2][3]
Jeff Garcia threw for 335 yards Sunday afternoon at Candlestick in the home opener. The 49ers beat the Atlanta Falcons 16-13 in the kind of home-opener win where, with Garrison Hearst's return from his career-threatening leg injury, the year's identity tape produced the kind of competitive start the offseason was hoping for.
Garcia was 26-of-40 for 335. Terrell Owens caught seven for 93. Hearst ran for 48. Chris Chandler threw for 121. Jamal Anderson ran for 86 with a touchdown for Atlanta. The defense produced the kind of red-zone stops the year's identity has been building.
1-0. The kind of home opener that, with Hearst back and Garcia's productive passing, gives the year's identity tape a strong start. The New York Jets in Week 3 (Week 2 postponed due to the September 11 attacks). The kind of opener where the year's competitive identity has the kind of season-arc the staff has been building toward.
49ers 16, Falcons 13. Margin: +3. Season opener.
* Jeff Garcia: 26-of-40 for 335, 1 TD, 1 INT.
* Garrison Hearst: 14 carries for 48 (return from 1998 leg injury).
* Terrell Owens: 7 catches for 93.
* Chris Chandler: 11-of-18 for 121, 0 TDs, 0 INTs.
* Jamal Anderson: 26 carries for 86, 1 TD.
* Wade Richey: 3 FGs.
* 49ers 1-0; Falcons 0-1.
A 16-13 home opener win over the Atlanta Falcons at Candlestick. Garrison Hearst returns from his career-threatening leg injury. The 49ers open 2001 at 1-0.
How it unfolded
Atlanta scored on its opening drive with a Chandler touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers answered with a Wade Richey field goal. The 49ers added a Jeff Garcia touchdown to take a 10-7 lead. The Falcons added a field goal to tie at 10-10 at halftime. The third quarter was two Richey field goals to make it 16-10. Atlanta added a field goal to close it 16-13. The defense closed it out with the final possession.
The turning point
The two third-quarter Richey field goals. With the score tied 10-10 and the year's identity tape on the verge of producing the kind of opening-Sunday win the offseason was hoping for, Richey's two scoring drives gave the 49ers the kind of one-score lead the defense managed.
By the numbers
Garcia 335 passing on 40 attempts with a TD and an INT. Hearst 48 rushing on 14 carries. Owens 93 receiving on 7 catches. Tai Streets 67 receiving. Chandler 121 on 18 attempts. Jamal Anderson 86 rushing with a TD.
Personnel watch
Garrison Hearst's return from his 1998 leg injury, the kind of career-threatening recovery the franchise has been waiting on. Jeff Garcia's 335-yard passing day. Terrell Owens's productive receiving game. The defense's late-game stops. The kind of home opener where the year's identity tape produced the kind of starting performance the staff was hoping for.
What it means
1-0 with the postponed schedule beginning Week 3. The kind of opener where Hearst's return gave the year's identity tape the most important storyline. The September 11 attacks postpone Week 2; the schedule resumes Week 3 (October 1).
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Garcia | 26/40 | 335 | 1 | 1 | |
| ATL | |||||
| Chris Chandler | 11/18 | 121 | 0 | 0 | |
| Michael Vick | 0/4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Garrison Hearst | 14 | 48 | 0 | 11 |
| Jeff Garcia | 5 | 38 | 0 | 17 |
| Kevan Barlow | 5 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Fred Beasley | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5 |
| Terrell Owens | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| ATL | ||||
| Jamal Anderson | 26 | 86 | 1 | 14 |
| Michael Vick | 2 | 32 | 0 | 25 |
| Chris Chandler | 3 | 16 | 0 | 12 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Terrell Owens | 7 | 93 | 0 | 40 |
| J.J. Stokes | 5 | 93 | 1 | 47 |
| Tai Streets | 3 | 81 | 0 | 52 |
| Eric Johnson | 4 | 34 | 0 | 16 |
| Garrison Hearst | 4 | 24 | 0 | 9 |
| Justin Swift | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Kevan Barlow | 2 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| ATL | ||||
| Tony Martin | 4 | 66 | 0 | 27 |
| Terance Mathis | 3 | 26 | 0 | 12 |
| Bob Christian | 2 | 20 | 0 | 15 |
| Jamal Anderson | 1 | 8 | 0 | 8 |
| Shawn Jefferson | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
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