Viktor
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- Mar 19, 2019
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In the game: Anthony Carter caught 10 passes for a whopping 227 of Wade Wilson’s 298 passing yards, and the Vikings limited eventual Hall of Fame WR Jerry Rice to three catches for 28 yards. Minnesota mauled future Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana like a grizzly. Another future HOF QB, Steve Young, replaced Montana with the 49ers trailing 27-10 with 6:29 left in the third quarter. It was the first benching of Montana in his professional career.
Chris Doleman recorded 2.0 sacks, and Scott Studwell and Henry Thomas had one apiece.
Reggie Rutland returned an interception of Montana 45 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter to give the Vikings a 20-3 edge at halftime. Carl Lee added an interception of Young.
Quote: “I told Joe we had to try to change our chemistry. But you can’t say that was the answer. Minnesota just took our game away from us.” — 49ers Head Coach Bill Walsh on benching Montana
Revenge of the Niners
49ers 34, Vikings 9
Jan. 1, 1989 | Candlestick Park
Setting the stage: The 1988 Vikings went 11-5 and finished second in the NFC Central behind the Bears (12-4). The 49ers were one of five 10-6 teams in the NFC and won the West via tiebreakers over the Rams and Saints. The Rams made the playoffs as a Wild Card team, and the Eagles won the East. The Giants and Saints missed the playoffs. Minnesota hosted and defeated Los Angeles 28-17 to advance.
In the game: Nearly a year to the date of being limited to three receptions, Rice caught three touchdowns in the second quarter to give San Francisco a 21-3 halftime lead.
Hassan Jones caught a 5-yard touchdown from Wilson, but 21-9 was as close as the Vikings could get. The 49ers sacked Wilson six times, and Hall of Fame safety Ronnie Lott picked him off twice.
Roger Craig, who later played for Minnesota, scored on runs of 4 and 80 yards in the fourth quarter.
Quote: “They played hard and I’m proud of that, but there is a difference between playing hard and playing well. We had a good week of practice. Today was the 49ers day. A year ago, it was our day.” — Vikings Head Coach Jerry Burns
History repeats, only worse
49ers 41, Vikings 13
Jan. 6, 1990 | Candlestick Park
Setting the stage: The 1989 Niners kept things going after winning Super Bowl XXIII by going 14-2 in the regular season. Montana was named MVP, and Rice led the NFL with 1,483 receiving yards. The Vikings finished 10-6 and won the NFC Central via a tiebreaker with Green Bay, which joined Washington as the two 10-6 squads that missed the playoffs in the final year that the field was limited to five teams.
In the game: San Francisco totaled 20 points by scoring three second-quarter touchdowns against Minnesota in the second consecutive postseason.
Rice had a 13-yard touchdown to cap a string of 27 consecutive points for San Francisco that started with a 72-yard touchdown.
Montana threw four touchdowns on his way to a passer rating of 142.5, and Rice finished with 114 yards through the air. Craig rushed 18 times for 125 yards and a touchdown.
A Vikings squad that recorded a franchise-record 71 sacks on the season was unable to “get home” on Montana one time because of a successful quick-passing game with receivers turning short throws into big gains.
The 49ers recorded four interceptions, including one that Lott returned 58 yards for a touchdown. Wilson, Tommy Kramer and Rich Gannon combined were 31-of-54 passing 338 yards with no touchdowns. Steve Jordan led Minnesota with nine catches for 149 yards.
If that final score sounds bad, consider that San Francisco won the NFC Championship over the Rams 30-3 and Super Bowl XXIV over the Broncos 55-10.
Quote: “Everybody says, ‘Aw, Montana is the greatest, he throws the ball.’ But all their passes are 10 yards or less. Guys run with the ball so well. When you can take a 4- or 5-yard pass and turn it into 60, 70 yards, that’s a great day.” — Vikings DT Henry Thomas