Camp Conference Championship: 89 San Francisco 49ers vs 78 Pittsburgh Steelers

89 San Francisco 49ers at 78 Pittsburgh Steelers

Welcome to Three Rivers Stadium where the 1989 San Francisco 49ers will take on the 1978 Pittsburgh Steelers.  We have a great matchup here tonight.  The great Joe Montana, who grew up here in Pittsburgh, will lead one of the greatest offenses in the history of the NFL against one of the greatest defenses, the Steel Curtain.  Some are saying that this is the real Fantasy Bowl and that could very well be the case.  Meanwhile, earlier today, the 94 49ers held on to beat the 76 Steelers, 20-19.  Meaning that if Bill Walsh's 49ers can win this game, he will go head to head with his under study in the Fantasy Bowl. 

49ers key to victory - Get Montana in a rhythm.  The 49ers need to protect Joe and make sure he has time to get into his rhythm and make good throws.  If Montana gets time, it won't matter what defense is out there, he'll make big plays.

Steelers key to victory - Control the clock.  Play Steelers football and control the clock.  Pound the ball between the tackles, pick up yardage and keep the Niners offense off the field.

Weather:  28 degrees, light snow, 5-10 mph wind

1st Half: 

The 49ers win the toss and elect to receive.  They start on their own 37.  The crowd is deafening as the 49ers are shutdown on their opening possession and forced to punt after three plays.

The Steelers take over on their own 26.  Bradshaw starts the drive with a short pass to Swann for 5 yards.  Two plays later, Harris blasts up the middle for a 16 yard gain and the fans are into it.  Bleier takes a hand off and runs off tackle and he busts it open for a big 30 yard gain down to the SF 22.  The Steelers are driving right down the field.  Bradshaw throws down to the goaline and its caught by John Stallworth who fights, but can't get into the end zone.  On the next play, Franco takes the ball and he jogs into the end zone untouched for the Steeler touchdown!  9 plays, 74 yards, 4:44 drive

49ers 0 - Steelers 7

The Niners start out on their own 26.  The offense starts to roll a bit with a 13 yard slant to Rice. Roger Craig picks up a 5 yard gain on the outside, followed up with a 15 yard reception.  The ball is driven to the PIT 37 before stalling.  The 49ers punt and down it on the PIT 6.

Standing near his own end zone, Bradshaw comes out firing.  He hooks up with Swann for a 10 yard gain.  Bleier takes a hand off for another 9 and the Steelers are rolling on offense again.  Harris runs it up the middle for a 14 yard gain and another first down.  They are simply dominating the line of scrimmage, staying in bounds and really chewing up clock.  The 49ers defense gets tougher, but still give up chunks of yardage.  After a couple short passes to Swann, Bradshaw goes for Stallworth again near the end zone and he hauls it in at the SF 4.  On the 16th play of the drive, Harris runs wide and slides just inside the pylon for another touchdown!  16 plays, 94 yards, 9:46 drive

49ers 0 - Steelers 14

After that long time consuming drive, the 49ers need to at least pick up a couple first downs.  The kick coverage is good and they only return it to their own 16.  Craig rushes for a 12 yard gain on first down, but on the next set of downs fail to get 10 yards and have to punt.  However the Steelers jump offsides and the 5 yards is enough to give the 49ers a first down.  Their drive continues, but they are only able to move it three more yards before having to punt.

On their own 23, the Steelers once again go back to the ground and have success.  Harris runs off tackle for a 5 yard gain.  Bradshaw throws a quick swing pass to Harris who catches it and runs for 11 yards.  The 49ers clamp down on the run on the next set of downs and on 3rd and 7, Bradshaw is sacked for a loss by Daniel Stubbs just inside the two minute warning. 

The Steelers are forced to punt for the first time in the game to the dangerous John Taylor.  He returned one last week against the Dolphins.  He fields the punt and makes a couple quick moves and he breaks it loose into the open field.  Colquitt is the last man left and Taylor blows him away and he gets into the end zone for the touchdown.  A 75 yard punt return by John Taylor has given 49ers a much needed boost with 53 seconds left in the half!  The point after attempt though is blocked by Mean Joe Greene and the 49ers only have six.

49ers 6 - Steelers 14

The Steelers get the ball and try to run out the clock, but the 49ers call timeout after each run play and they'll get the ball one more time before the half and more importantly, John Taylor will get another punt return.  Taylor doesn't get as far this time and only makes it to the SF 41 with 21 seconds left and no timeouts.  On first down, Montana is blitzed and sacked by Donnie Shell for a 10 yard loss.  Montana gets them up to the line and runs one last play, which is a 19 yard pass to Brent Jones.

2nd Half: 

The Steelers get the ball first in the second half on their own 24.  They pick up right where they left off.  Harris runs off tackle for a big 18 yard gain.  Sidney Thornton runs for 4 yards.  Bradshaw hits Swann for a quick 8 yard gain. The Steelers get flagged for holding on the next play.  On 1st and 20, Bradshaw looks to get it all back at once, but is picked off by Eric Wright, who is tackled at the 50.

Despite the Steeler domination to this point, the 49ers are making strides and mounting a comeback.  Craig picks up 4 yards on a run play.  The Steelers jump off sides and they pick up another 5.  Montana flings a pass out to Brent Jones for 8 yards.  On a 2nd and 14, the Niners catch the Steelers in a blitz and Montana throws a screen to Rice who picks up 14 yards and a first down down to the PIT 19.  They move it to the PIT 17 before stalling.  Cofer comes on for the field goal and he boots it through.  9 plays, 33 yards, 5:31 drive

49ers 9 - Steelers 14

Pittsburgh takes the kickoff and returns it to their own 27.  On a 3rd and 6, Bradshaw goes downfield and finds Stallworth for a 29 yard gain to the SF 40.  The crowd is now back into the game.  On the next play, Bradshaw pitches it to Harris and he's off to the races, sprinting down the sidelines before getting knocked out of bounds at the SF 7 by Ronnie Lott.  The 49ers defense though is able to hold and keep the Steelers out of the end zone.  Gerela comes in and knocks through the chip shot field goal.  7 plays, 69 yards, 4:45 drive

49ers 9 - Steelers 17

On their next possession the Niners look for a quick strike.  Montana goes deep downfield for Rice, but its broken up by Blount.  The next long pass play is too far for John Taylor.  On 3rd down, Montana finally connects and its with Brent Jones for a 24 yard gain.  On the next play, Montana finds Jerry Rice near the sidelines for another 24 yard gain.  Montana is starting to find his rhythm.  A short 5 yard pass to Rathman and then another to Roger Craig for 13 yards has the 49ers down to the PIT 7.  Montana fires for the back of the end zone and its caught by John Taylor for the touchdown!  They will now go for the tie with the two point conversion.  Montana tries for Craig in the end zone, but its knocked away by Jack Ham.  9 plays, 72 yards, 3:14 drive

49ers 15 - Steelers 17

Despite not tying it up, all of the momentum is with the 49ers now.  On the Steelers next possession, they fail to move the ball and go three and out.

With 11:49 left to play, there's still plenty of time.  On the first play of the 49ers next possession, Craig fumbles and there's a mad scramble for the football, but San Francisco retains possession.  Craig makes up for it and picks up 15 yards on the next play.  The Steelers are having a very tough time with Craig in this half.  Montana continues to slice up the secondary with a 21 yard pass to Taylor to the PIT 37.  Montana finds Rice for 6 and Craig runs up the middle for 4 and another first down.  The drive nearly stalls on the PIT 31, but on 3rd and 14, Montana finds Rice for a 23 yard gain down to the PIT 8.  A big 3rd down conversion for San Francisco. On 1st and Goal, Montana is sacked by Tony Dungy for a 6 yard loss.  On 2nd and Goal, Terrence Flagler is buried for a 1 yard loss, but Lambert gets flagged for grabbing the facemask and the ball is moved to the PIT 10 and they re-do the down.  Craig picks up 6 yards to the PIT 4.  On 3rd and goal, Montana throws a strike to a diving John Taylor for the 49ers touchdown with 3:39 left in the game!  Wow, does this seem familiar?  The 49ers scoring a TD late in the fourth quarter to gain their first lead of the game.  Montana has silenced this raucous crowd.  Interestingly enough, coach Walsh doesn't go for two and kicks the extra point.  13 plays, 69 yards, 8:10 drive

49ers 22 - Steelers 17

The Steelers return the kickoff to their own 19.  On the first play, Bradshaw throws a pass to Swann but its dropped.  Bradshaw regroups the troops and on 2nd down, the run it with Harris and he picks up 8 yards off tackle.  On 3rd and 2, Bradshaw completes a pass to Harris for 6 yards and first down.  The crowd is slowly getting back into it.  Harris pounds straight ahead for another 6 yards.  Bleier is then caught behind the line for a 1 yard loss and as we head into the two minute warning, the Steelers have a critical 3rd and 5 from their own 38.

On 3rd and 5, Bradshaw tries for Stallworth but its overthrown.  Now its fourth down.  On 4th and 5, connects with Swann for a 10 yard gain and a first down as he steps out of bounds.  On the next play Bradshaw finds Stallworth open, but he drops it.  The cold weather must be getting to the receivers.  On 2nd down, Bradshaw underthrows Cunningham, bringing up another big 3rd down.  On 3rd and 10 from the PIT 48, Bradshaw rifles one to Stallworth who makes a nice catch and run down to the SF 29 with 1:27 left.  Timeout Steelers

Bradshaw throws a pass for Bleier but its overthrown.  On 2nd and 10, they hand off to Bleier and he just makes it back to the line.  On 3rd and 10, Bradshaw tries for the end zone but the pass is broken up.  Once again, its fourth down.  On 4th and 10, Bradshaw fires a pass to Randy Grossman and he turns around and rumbles to the SF 11 with 53 seconds left.  Timeout Steelers

The fans are on their feet and terrible towels are waving!  Chants of "HEAR WE GO STEELERS, HERE WE GO!" echo through Three Rivers.  On 1st down, Bradshaw looks for Bleier, but it deflects off his fingers and falls incomplete.  On 2nd down, they pitch it to Harris who sweeps left, follows his blockers and gets into the end zone for his third touchdown of the game!  With a 23-22 lead the Steelers go for two.  They hand off to Bleier and he pushes his way through the middle and into the end zone for the two points!  16 plays, 81 yards, 2:54 drive

49ers 22 - Steelers 25

With 36 seconds and all three timeouts available, the 49ers aren't done yet.  They start out on their own 24.  Montana looks for Craig but the pass is broken up.  On the next play, Montana goes right back to Craig and he picks up 8 yards and gets out of bounds.  Montana finds Rathman for 6 yards and he gets out of bounds with 19 seconds left.  If the Niners want to try to get into field goal range they have to throw a little deeper than this.  Montana looks for Rice downfield, but the pass falls incomplete.  They try another short pass with Craig and hope he can do something, but Jack Ham is there to snuff it out after just 2 yards.  Timeout 49ers

With 9 seconds left and the ball on their own 40 the Niners throw a Hail Mary pass to the corner of the end zone and the pass is.... incomplete!  And the 78 Steelers are headed to the Fantasy Bowl!

Final:  49ers 22 - Steelers 25

Another great, hard fought game between these two franchises, but this time it goes in the Steelers favor.  The 49ers made some big plays at key moments of the game, but the Steelers were simply the better team today.  They dominated the line of scrimmage and moved the ball at will when they needed to.  Now they'll move on and play the 94 49ers in Fantasy Bowl I.