As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for the playoffs, their motto should be "Remember 1987."
Coach George Seifert knows all too well how the 49ers' current circumstance bears an eerie resemblance to the position the team was in after the 1987 season, right down to a potential quarterback controversy.Not only did the 49ers fly through that strike-shortened season with a 13-2 record to earn a bye in the first round of the playoffs, but they also went into the postseason with a quarterback situation ready to explode.
What followed was a worst-case scenario.
The 49ers spent their bye week preparing for the Washington Redskins. Instead, the Minnesota Vikings came to town and pummeled them, 36-24. In the third quarter, quarterback Joe Montana was benched for reasons other than injury for the first time in his career.
Enter Steve Young and a long offseason of controversy.
But that was then and this is now. Right?
Let's see, the 49ers breezed through the regular season with a 14-2 record and have a bye this weekend. Their next game is Saturday, Jan. 9 at Candlestick Park against the survivor of this weekend's wild-card playoffs with the worst record - the Washington Redskins (9-7), Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) or New Orleans Saints (12-4). Seifert says he won't make the mistake of preparing for the wrong team this time. He'll do some homework on each of them this week.
Now, about that quarterback controversy. Yes, the one that Seifert has done such a great job of avoiding under difficult circumstances this year.
Considering the commotion created by Montana's presence on the field in Monday night's win over the Detroit Lions, it is conceivable that home field may not be a great advantage to Young or Seifert's peace of mind if the offense falters.
In such a situation, would the chant "We want Joe, We want Joe," sound all that preposterous?
Of course, Young deserves to start and based on his record as the best quarterback of this season, it is unlikely that he would look bad enough to rile the fans. But stranger things have happened.
In 1987 Montana already was an established legend as the quarterback who led the 49ers to a pair of Super Bowl championships. But when the offensive line broke down and made life miserable in that playoff game against the Vikings, Montana was sent to the bench.
Those who think that situation was a lot different may have to reconsider.
The best argument for declaring a healthy Young irreplaceable is that he guided the team to the best record in the NFL, while leading the league with a quarterback rating of 107.0, the best of his career. He completed 268 of 402 passes (66.7 percent) for 3,465 yards and 25 touchdowns.
But in the sudden-death, now-or-never atmosphere of a playoff game, regular-season accomplishments are easily forgotten. Just ask Montana.
In 1987 Montana guided the 49ers to the best record in the NFL, while leading the league with a quarterback rating of 102.1. He completed 266 of 398 passes (66.8 percent) for 3,054 yards and 31 touchdowns.
In that playoff game against the Vikings, Montana completed 12 of 26 passes for 109 yards, was sacked four times and threw one interception. With the 49ers trailing, 27-10, the Comeback Kid was given the hook with 6:29 left in the third quarter.
Young, who had beaten the Vikings in the regular season with a dramatic 49-yard touchdown scamper, went into the playoff battle and hit on 12 of 17 passes for 158 yards, one touchdown and one interception.
Not only did the 49ers still lose the game, but that change instigated a quarterback controversy that dominated the offseason. Montana managed to regain his starting job and lead the 49ers to two more Super Bowl championships.
Seifert was asked Tuesday if he could foresee any situation in which Montana would replace Young in the playoffs for a reason other than an injury.
"No, not right now," Seifert said.
OK, then, how about on Jan. 9 if the team is trailing, for example, by 27-10 in the third quarter? One thing is sure, Montana will be ready to go in no matter what the reason.
"I'm just preparing myself to play either way," he said. "In case something does happen, I'll be ready to go in the game . . . Steve has had a great year and I'm not saying I hope something happens, but that's the way this game is. Things don't always go the way you want them to."
As if his benching in the playoff game didn't teach him that, Montana was given a refresher course in team priorities in the final game of the 1990 season.
Again it was against the Minnesota Vikings and again the 49ers were trailing, 10-0, when he was replaced by Young. This move was taken lightly by most because the 49ers already had their playoff berth locked up and Young was just getting some game experience.
Montana seemed to be overlooked while the team and fans cheered others for their historic accomplishments. Like Jerry Rice, who caught his 100th pass of the season, and Brent Jones, who set a team single-season record for tight ends with 56 receptions.
But Montana was sent to the sidelines needing 66 yards passing to reach a season total of 4,000. He also needed only two yards to reach 35,000 for his career. At the time it seemed like no big deal because he surely would get those two yards in his next regular-season game.
And so he did. Monday night against the Lions.
"I never thought it would take two years to get 2 yards," said Montana. "But if I've learned anything, I've learned that you never know what will happen next in this game."