George Seifert and Bud Carson can take the next step in their quests to become the first rookie head coach to win a Super Bowl when they coach their initial playoff games today.
Seifert, who replaced Bill Walsh after the 49ers won Super Bowl XXIII, faces the Minnesota Vikings in what is becoming a yearly event at Candlestick Park in the NFC playoffs. Carson's Cleveland Browns play home against the Buffalo Bills in an AFC game.On Sunday, the Los Angeles Rams visit the New York Giants in the NFC and Pittsburgh plays at Denver in the AFC.
The Vikings will travel to San Francisco for the third straight year in the playoffs. Minnesota stunned the 49ers 36-24 in 1987 but San Francisco trounced the Vikings 34-9 last year.
"This is the rubber game," Vikings Coach Jerry Burns said.
The 49ers' main goal is to protect Joe Montana from the fierce Vikings pass rush. Minnesota led the NFL with 71 sacks. End Chris Doleman had an NFL-high 20.5 and tackle Keith Millard 18.5.
"They're the best of the business," Seifert said of the Vikings' pass rush. "Our offensive line has been improving throughout the year and is about as good as we can expect it to be at this moment. Yet we'll find out for sure when we play the game."
Montana set an NFL record for passing efficiency this season, and he has the game's most dangerous receiver in Jerry Rice. The Vikings say Montana is one of the toughest quarterbacks to sack.
The 49ers won the NFC West with a league-best 14-2 record. Minnesota, 10-6, won the NFC Central.
Today's AFC game matches two other teams far from satisfied just to be in the playoffs. The Browns have been in the playoffs five straight years without going to the Super Bowl and the Bills were among the preseason favorites to win the AFC after advancing to the conference title game last season.
Both struggled before winning division titles in the last game. Cleveland, 9-6-1, won the AFC Central and Buffalo, 9-7, won the AFC East for the second straight year.
The Bills have struggled on the road. They lost five straight away games before defeating the New York Jets in their last game. The Bills are 1-4 in playoff games on the road since joining the NFL.
"This team doesn't travel well," Buffalo center Kent Hull said. "We do better when we stay at home."
Sunday's games are rematches of regular-season blowouts.
At East Rutherford, N.J., the Rams will try to repeat a 31-10 whipping of the Giants Nov. 12 at Anaheim, Calif. The Rams also defeated the Giants 45-31 at Giants Stadium in 1988.
"I don't have to get hit in the face by a skunk three times before I smell it," New York Coach Bill Parcells said. "We haven't done anything well against the Rams in two years."
The Giants, 12-4, won the NFC East while the Rams, 12-5, qualified as a wild-card team and defeated Philadelphia 21-7 last week. The Rams will play their third straight game on the East Coast.
At Denver, the Steelers will try for another upset victory to match their overtime wild-card game triumph in Houston last week. The Broncos crushed Pittsburgh 34-7 Dec. 5 but the Steelers, 10-7, have won four straight after a horrendous start. Denver, 11-5, faded down the stretch after winning the AFC West title with a month left in the season.