From: marshall@force.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com (Bob Marshall)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro
Subject: 49er/Bills
Date: 14 Sep 92 00:32:42 GMT
Reply-To: marshall@force.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com
Organization: LMSC, Sunnyvale, California

In probably the most entertaining game of the day, the Buffalo Bills'
offense outlasted the 49ers' offense, winning the game 34-31 after
converting a late 3rd-and-16/4th-and-4 situation into a first down
and then scoring on Thurman Thomas's 11-yard TD run up the middle on
the next play. The 49ers' repeated failures to stop the Bills on third down
(and on fourth down) were the key to the game. The other key was Mike
Cofer's continuing impersonation of a field goal kicker. He missed 
an easy 33-yarder, made a 24-yarder by the skin of his teeth (the
kick hit the upright and bounced through), and then with a chance
to send the game into overtime with less than a minute left he missed
a 47-yarder wide right.

The 49ers built a 24-13 halftime lead, only to see the Bills score
two touchdowns in a row on their first two possessions of the second
half (meanwhile the 49ers were busy fumbling away their first two
possessions; both fumbles were due to excellent plays on behalf of
Buffalo, though). Buffalo then played giveaway on their next two
possessions, and the 49ers were able to come back and take a 31-27
lead in the fourth quarter on a 56-yard TD pass to John Taylor on
third down and 22 to go. Then the 49ers were driving deep in Buffalo
territory late in the game when Young made a truly awful pass that
was intercepted by Nate Odoms. The Bills promptly drove down the
field for the winning score, and that was that.

Both offenses moved at will; I'll really be interested to see the
third-down conversion numbers. There were no punts in the game, and
there were five field goal attempts, so there were at least five
missed third down tries. Plus the Bills' 3rd-and-16 play late in the
game. Plus a 3rd-and-1 for the Giants on which they fumbled. So I'd
guess there were maybe only 9 or 10 missed third down opportunities
in the entire game, a very low number.

The 49ers piled up 598 yards of offense, and the Bills had 488 yards, 
for a total of 1086 yards, the fourth highest total in NFL history.
Young was 26-37 for 449 yards, and Kelly had only slightly lower numbers.
Ricky Watters had another decent game, gaining about 80 yards on the
ground and catching a few passes, too.

Jerry Rice was knocked out of the game in the first quarter with a
concussion, but it's hard to say that this cost the 49ers the game.
Mike Sherrard filled in very ably, as did Odessa Turner. Rice returned 
to the sidelines but did not return to the playing field. I didn't hear
any further reports, but I suspect he will be able to play next week.

Not surprisingly, Jim Kelly picked the 49ers secondary apart. Kelly
calls his own plays, many of them audibles. He would go up to the
line, take a look at the 49ers' alignment, and you could hear the wheels
spinning in his head - "Ah, OK, I'll take advantage of that...".
He really made the 49ers look bad, espeically Merton Hanks, who had
an abyssmal day trying to cover Andre Reed (although Hanks did have one
key interception). Dana Hall also looked pretty bad (again). I would have
to say that Don Griffin looked pretty good, though.

The pass rush was non-existent. I think Tim Harris' name only came up 
one time, and that was on the second touchdown pass to Metzelaars where
Harris somehow ended up covering him in the end zone. And I don't remember
Dennis Brown's name being mentioned once.

Fortunately the 49ers only have to face one more quarterback this year
who has the talent to pick apart the 49ers' secondary the way Kelly did
(Dan Marino). The secondary obviously does not have the talent to cope
with a quarterback with Kelly's skill, but with the 49ers' ability to
put points on the board I think they will be able to hold their own
against the more mediocre QBs they will be facing.

So, all in all a great game that had to be soured a little by a somewhat
anti-climactic finish (no one likes to see a game like this decided by
a missed field goal). As for its effect on the 49ers, at least it was
not a division game or even a conference game.

Positive signs for 49ers : Steve Young, Ricky Watters, Tom Rathman, 
     Don Griffin, kickoff return coverage, Mike Shanahan, next
     nine games against Saints (twice), Rams (twice), Falcons (twice),
     Jets, Patriots, and Cardinals.
Negative signs for 49ers : Mike Cofer, secondary, Mike Cofer, pass rush,
     Mike Cofer, Dana Hall, Mike Cofer, Merton Hanks

On an issue not related to the game, Joe Montana had more surgery
performed on his elbow Saturday. It was a 45-minute operation which was
supposed to relieve some pressure that was causing him pain. Supposedly
it was "no big deal", and should not affect the plans to have Joe come
off of IR in the fifth week, but it's just another indication to me 
that it's all over for Joe.

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Bob Marshall                     \\     "It ain't age
Lockheed Missiles & Space Co.     \\     That makes me look this way
Sunnyvale, CA                      \\    It ain't the years, boys,
marshall@force.ssd.lmsc.lockheed.com\\   It's the miles"
"I tell the truth 'cept when I lie"  \\     - Chris LeDoux
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Newsgroups: rec.sport.football.pro