TUESDAY TIDBITS: "The Real Winner Was the Game Itself"

By TJ Troup 

John Brodie (left) and Greg Landry (right)

The divisional round of the playoffs was not only entertaining, but we saw some performances that happen when outstanding players take the field in games of real meaning.....you know? Like lose and go home for the season. 

Mr. Eric Goska has already detailed the Packers vs. Niners game from his historical perspective, and without further ado, am going to go back in history to one of those rivalries that have really enjoyed watching. 

San Francisco from 1950 through 1964 beat Detroit 14 times, lost 15 times, and one tie. Since then the Niners have won 24 of the 36 times they have played in the regular season. 

Twice these teams have met in the playoffs; the first the legendary Lion comeback at Kezar in 1957, and the second the hard-fought 49er victory during the 1983 play-offs. The game that I am going to showcase though is the season-ending game in 1971. 

The Lions had earned a wild card berth the season before by winning down the stretch, which included a Monday Night Football victory on the road over the Rams. Since the Rams had won earlier in the day in Pittsburgh, the Lions could help Los Angeles by knocking off the Niners at Candlestick and put the Rams in the playoffs. Los Angeles had beaten San Francisco twice in the regular season, yet needed help to win the division, and as such we have these two strong teams continuing their rivalry. 

The Lions in '71 had one of the best offensive teams in the league and finished third in scoring. San Francisco finished sixth in the league in the fewest points allowed, and though at times inconsistent on offense, the Niners offensive still had plenty of firepower. 

Steve Sabol's outstanding show "This Week in Pro Football" saved this game for the last part of the highlights, and though there are only 10 plays shown in the highlights (sure wish there would have been more), having the play-by-play—thank you Mr. Nick Webster— sheds light on how the game unfolded, and of course finished. 

Lem Barney on the interception return

Lem Barney overcame injury and was back at his left corner post and intercepts Brodie on the first drive. Detroit gains enough yardage that Erroll Mann is able to kick a 31-yard field goal. San Francisco responds with a 70-yard drive in nine plays. Dick Witcher made a key reception on third down and then caught Brodie's touch pass in the corner of the end zone. San Francisco 7 Detroit 3. 

Ron Jessie

Ron Jessie is open deep and Greg Landry rifles the ball to the speedy receiver for 51 yards, and the Lions are marching goalward as the quarter ends. Landry scores from the five on the first play of the second quarter ... wait, a flag is on the ground—Yarbrough is guilty of holding ... the naughty Lion used his paws, thus Mann again kicks a field goal. The Niners move to the Detroit thirty-two-yard line, and on 4th down, Gossett drills home a field goal. San Francisco 10 Detroit 6. 

Detroit is forced to punt, and is time for Brodie to exploit rookie corner Al Clark. Clark had started a handful of games at left corner when Barney was injured, but he is at right corner today as grizzled savvy veteran Dick LeBeau will miss his only game of the season. Gene Washington had built a synergy with Brodie in his three years in the league and that continued as JB completed passes of 14 and 32 yards to the Pro Bowl wide receiver. 

Brodie flips a pass to fullback Ken Willard who makes a diving catch. San Francisco now leads 17-6. Playing for pride, and being a strong offensive team Detroit drives 80 yards in 12 plays as Altie Taylor with his own unique style of cutback running dashes 14 yards to score. Half-time and San Francisco leads 17-13. 

Steve Owens scores a touchdown

The Lions gained 98 yards rushing in the first half as the strong offensive line under the tutelage of Chuck Knox opened the holes. Detroit takes the second-half kick-off and proceeds to drive 60 yards in eight plays with the aid of two major penalties against the 49ers. Steve Owens who would become the first Lion to gain over 1,000 rushing in a season bucks over from the one. Detroit 20 San Francisco 17. 

Will the Niners again respond you ask? Is there a bridge in San Francisco? Brodie directs his men 66 yards in seven plays, and pitches the pigskin to Washington behind Clark in the endzone for the go-ahead score. San Francisco 24 Detroit 20. 

The Lions go 74 yards in nine plays and on second and six on the six ... Landry lofts the ball over Mel Phillips to allow Charlie Sanders to do what he does best, leap and make a spectacular catch. Detroit 27 San Francisco 24. 

The Niners cannot move and punt, and as the quarter comes to a close the Lions face a third and 13 situation. Charlie Sanders gains 13 on the catch but is inches short, and the Dick Nolan-coached defense of San Francisco stonewalls Landry on 4th down. 

The 49ers have to only drive 40 yards, but takes nine plays to do so. Third down and eight on the ten-yard line, and the Lions have blanketed the Niner receivers, but Brodie sees an opening and the veteran quarterback who was part of the team in the loss to Detroit in '57 trundles 10 yards for the go-ahead score. San Francisco 31 Detroit 27. 

The Lions cannot move and Weaver punts to Bruce Taylor on the fifteen-yard line. San Francisco has an offensive line coach in Dick Stanfel that still ranks as one of the best ever, and he is also the offensive coordinator. The Niners drive 61 yards on 12 rushing plays that eat up 4:35 of the clock, but on 4th down Brodie and Vic Washington collide on the handoff and lose four yards. 

Detroit has one last chance. Landry's pass over the middle is pilfered by the Fudge Hammer (Frank Nunley) and Ken Willard runs out the clock on three carries. San Francisco will meet the "Over-the-Hill Gang" in the divisional round of the playoffs. 

We can only hope that the game Sunday afternoon comes close to this one. 

Hall-of-Fame linebacker Dave Wilcox

This is Championship Sunday, bet you folks knew that? Time for one of those stats that I keep track of since the merger began. 

The first team that scores a touchdown in the AFC title games for the last 73 years has won 39 and lost 14, while in the NFC the team that scores the first touchdown has won 39 and lost 13-—basically, the team that scores the first touchdown wins 75% of the time! Do you think you will hear that stat before the games on Sunday? Let me know if you do. 

Final thoughts on the two games. Have stated more than once my high regard for Roquan Smith, and he was just awesome last week against the Texans. Fred Warner is truly an All-Pro. Two games and the two best inside linebackers in pro football. Butkus, and Nitschke are smiling down from linebacker heaven....oh, God does not send linebackers to heaven? 

Ok, Butkus and Nitschke are laughing from the gates of hell. 

Enjoy the games.