The 49ers open 2003 at Candlestick Park for a 1:15 PT kickoff against the Chicago Bears in Dennis Erickson's debut as head coach.
Jeff Garcia starts at quarterback. Garrison Hearst runs the ball with Kevan Barlow in rotation. Terrell Owens leads the receivers. Eric Johnson at tight end. Dennis Erickson begins his first year after the firing of Steve Mariucci.
Dennis Erickson opens his head-coaching debut Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The kind of opener where, after Steve Mariucci was fired following the 10-6 2002 season and the playoff loss to Tampa Bay, the new staff faces the league for the first time.
Jeff Garcia stays the QB1. Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow split the lead back work. Terrell Owens the WR1 for what will likely be his final 49ers season. Eric Johnson the tight end.
Favored by 6 at home. The kind of opener where Erickson's defensive coaching identity will face Kordell Stewart's running threat.
Opening Sunday opens the NFC West. The Rams (defending division champs) lead the division. The Seahawks compete with Matt Hasselbeck. The Cardinals start Jeff Blake. The 49ers come off a 10-6 finish and a playoff loss. Around the conference the Buccaneers (defending Super Bowl champs), Eagles, and Packers lead the contender talk. The opener at Candlestick is the kind of home game where Dennis Erickson's first year, after the controversial Mariucci firing, gets its first read.
Through zero games the 49ers reset to last year's 10-6 finish and playoff loss to Tampa Bay. Jeff Garcia threw for 21 TDs and 10 INTs and a 85.6 rating in 2002. Garrison Hearst led the team in rushing with 972 yards. Terrell Owens caught 100 passes for 1,300 yards and 13 TDs (NFL leading TE TD record in 2002). The defense ranked 12th in scoring. Mariucci's coaching staff was reshuffled. Vegas opens the 49ers as 6-point home favorites; total 39.
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Bills | 0-0 | -- |
| Miami Dolphins | 0-0 | -- |
| New England Patriots | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Jets | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Ravens | 0-0 | -- |
| Cincinnati Bengals | 0-0 | -- |
| Cleveland Browns | 0-0 | -- |
| Pittsburgh Steelers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Houston Texans | 0-0 | -- |
| Indianapolis Colts | 0-0 | -- |
| Jacksonville Jaguars | 0-0 | -- |
| Tennessee Titans | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Denver Broncos | 0-0 | -- |
| Kansas City Chiefs | 0-0 | -- |
| Oakland Raiders | 0-0 | -- |
| San Diego Chargers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona Cardinals | 0-0 | -- |
| St. Louis Rams | 0-0 | -- |
| Seattle Seahawks | 0-0 | -- |
| San Francisco 49ers | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Dallas Cowboys | 0-0 | -- |
| New York Giants | 0-0 | -- |
| Philadelphia Eagles | 0-0 | -- |
| Washington Redskins | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Chicago Bears | 0-0 | -- |
| Detroit Lions | 0-0 | -- |
| Green Bay Packers | 0-0 | -- |
| Minnesota Vikings | 0-0 | -- |
| Team | Rec | Strk |
|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 0-0 | -- |
| Carolina Panthers | 0-0 | -- |
| New Orleans Saints | 0-0 | -- |
| Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 0-0 | -- |
Reveal each quarter as you watch, the next quarter stays hidden until you tap it.
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jeff Chandler 22 yard field goal | 0-3 |
| 49ers | Garrison Hearst 12 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Jeff Chandler kick) | 0-10 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| Bears | Desmond Clark 3 yard pass from Kordell Stewart ( Paul Edinger kick) | 7-10 |
| 49ers | Jeff Garcia 3 yard rush ( Jeff Chandler kick) | 7-17 |
| 49ers | Tai Streets 16 yard pass from Jeff Garcia ( Jeff Chandler kick failed) | 7-23 |
| 49ers | Ahmed Plummer 68 yard interception return ( Jeff Chandler kick) | 7-30 |
| 49ers | Jeff Chandler 29 yard field goal | 7-33 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jeff Chandler 28 yard field goal | 7-36 |
| 49ers | Jeff Chandler 24 yard field goal | 7-39 |
| Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | Jeff Chandler 26 yard field goal | 7-42 |
| 49ers | Garrison Hearst 1 yard rush ( Jeff Chandler kick) | 7-49 |
Jeff Garcia threw two touchdown passes and the 49ers crushed the Chicago Bears 49-7 at Candlestick Park in Dennis Erickson's head-coaching debut. Terrell Owens caught seven for 112. Garrison Hearst and Kevan Barlow split the rushing. The 49ers' defense forced three Kordell Stewart interceptions and one touchdown. The 49ers opened the Erickson era at 1-0 in the kind of opening blowout the new staff hoped for.[1][2][3]
Jeff Garcia threw two touchdown passes Sunday afternoon at Candlestick. The 49ers crushed the Chicago Bears 49-7 in Dennis Erickson's head-coaching debut. The kind of opening blowout where, after the controversial firing of Steve Mariucci, the new staff's first NFL game produced exactly the kind of statement the offseason demanded.
Garcia was 19-of-35 for 229 with two touchdowns. Terrell Owens caught seven for 112. Garrison Hearst ran for 62. Kevan Barlow ran for 39. The defense produced three interceptions of Kordell Stewart and a defensive touchdown. The kind of opener where everything the new staff was hired to do actually worked.
1-0. The Erickson era begins at Candlestick with a 49-7 home blowout. The St. Louis Rams on the road next Sunday in another NFC West matchup. The kind of opener that, with the kind of statement Dennis Erickson's coaching debut produced, gives the year's identity tape a strong start.
49ers 49, Bears 7. Margin: +42. Season opener.
* Jeff Garcia: 19-of-35 for 229, 2 TDs, 1 INT.
* Garrison Hearst: 14 carries for 62.
* Kevan Barlow: 15 carries for 62.
* Terrell Owens: 7 catches for 112.
* Kordell Stewart: 14-of-34 for 95, 1 TD, 3 INTs.
* 49ers D: 3 INTs of Stewart, 1 defensive TD.
* 49ers 1-0 (Erickson debut); Bears 0-1.
A 49-7 home-opener blowout over the Chicago Bears at Candlestick. Dennis Erickson opens his head-coaching career with a statement win. The 49ers open 2003 at 1-0.
How it unfolded
The 49ers scored on their opening drive with a Garcia touchdown to make it 7-0. The 49ers added two more touchdowns in the first quarter to push the lead to 21-0. The second quarter was two more 49ers touchdowns to make it 35-0 at halftime. The third quarter was a Bears touchdown to make it 35-7. The fourth quarter was two more 49ers touchdowns to close it 49-7. The defense produced three interceptions of Kordell Stewart and a defensive touchdown.
The turning point
The 49ers' opening three-touchdown first quarter. With the new staff's defensive identity producing three interceptions of Stewart, the offense's quick scoring drives turned the day into a blowout before the first quarter ended.
By the numbers
Garcia 229 passing on 35 attempts with two TDs and an INT. Hearst 62 rushing on 14 carries. Barlow 62 rushing on 15 carries. Owens 112 receiving on 7 catches. Stewart 95 passing on 34 attempts with a TD and three INTs.
Personnel watch
Dennis Erickson in his head-coaching debut. Jeff Garcia's two-touchdown opener. Terrell Owens's 112-yard receiving day. The defense's three-interception game with a defensive touchdown. The kind of opener where everything the new staff has been promising actually produced.
What it means
1-0 with the Rams on the road next Sunday. The kind of opener where Dennis Erickson's debut gave the year's identity tape a strong start. The kind of home blowout that, in front of a Bay Area crowd still processing the Mariucci firing, gave the new staff's coaching the immediate authentication the offseason demanded.
| Player | C/A | Yds | TD | Int | Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | |||||
| Jeff Garcia | 19/35 | 229 | 2 | 1 | |
| CHI | |||||
| Kordell Stewart | 14/34 | 95 | 1 | 3 | |
| Player | Att | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Kevan Barlow | 15 | 62 | 0 | 11 |
| Garrison Hearst | 11 | 56 | 1 | 24 |
| Jeff Garcia | 7 | 36 | 1 | 11 |
| Jamal Robertson | 6 | 9 | 0 | 3 |
| Fred Beasley | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Terrell Owens | 1 | -1 | 0 | -1 |
| CHI | ||||
| Kordell Stewart | 6 | 21 | 0 | 8 |
| Anthony Thomas | 6 | 15 | 0 | 4 |
| Adrian Peterson | 5 | 12 | 0 | 7 |
| Stanley Pritchett | 2 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Marty Booker | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Player | Rec | Yds | TD | Long |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SFO | ||||
| Terrell Owens | 7 | 112 | 0 | 26 |
| Tai Streets | 4 | 48 | 1 | 19 |
| Garrison Hearst | 3 | 41 | 1 | 20 |
| Fred Beasley | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 |
| Cedrick Wilson | 2 | 8 | 0 | 5 |
| Kevan Barlow | 1 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| CHI | ||||
| Marty Booker | 6 | 48 | 0 | 11 |
| Dez White | 3 | 28 | 0 | 15 |
| Desmond Clark | 2 | 9 | 1 | 6 |
| David Terrell | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Anthony Thomas | 1 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Stanley Pritchett | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
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