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Associated Press
Montana (16) to Craig (33) a deadly combination
Falcons reunite
with angry 49ers
By Steve Brunner
The Sunday News
When Atlanta played San Fran
cisco for the first time this season,
the 49ers were coming off a stun
ning 28-21 loss to the Minnesota
Vikings. The Falcons were rolled,
35-16. Today, the teams meet for
the second time in four games, and
the defending Super Bowl cham
pions are once again steaming
after a disappointing loss, this
time 20-17 to the New Orleans
Saints.
“Maybe we’re not as hungry as
we were last year,” said receiver
Dwight Clark after last week’s
loss to the Saints. “Maybe we’d
better not eat for a while.”
The Falcons are on the verge of
starvation, still winless after four
games.
“I really feel this team is just a
play or two from turning things
around,” said coach Dan Henning.
“We haven’t had many breaks the
first couple of weeks, but I guess
; ■ we’ll just have to make our own
breaks.
“We’re really playing pretty
well in some areas, but a break
down here and there and giving up
the big play have been our down
fall so far.”
Henning needs a clear resolution
to his quarterback situation. Reg
ular Steve Bartkowski is expected
to start but, if Henning deems he is
still affected by last week’s thigh
■ bruise, backup David Archer
FALCONS-49ERS SCOUTING REPORT
SAN FRANCISCO OFFENSE: If only the Falcons had to worry about Joe Montana and Wendell
' Tyler, Henning would sleep easier. The player who did the most damage last time was running
back Roger Craig, who rushed for 107 yards, had 77 more in pass receptions and scored two
touchdowns Once upon a time, the 49ers passed to set up the run. No more. Maybe it’s all
• elementary. Against Atlanta, Montana should have his pick of weapons.
■ ATLANTA OFFENSE: Henning still believes Steve Bartkowski is the answer, even though
, Bartkowski is about as mobile as the Statue of Liberty. Henning will have to decide this week if
• Bartkowski s injury is serious enough to go with backup David Archer, who got little done in more
I than a half against the Rams Gerald Riggs, who rushed for 92 yards against San Francisco in
• Week 2, must carry the load for the Falcons if they're to avoid the long yardage situations that so
" often kill their drives
SAN FRANCISCO DEFENSE: The 49ers' formula seems simple and too sound for them to be a
' 500 team. Good pass rushers like Dwaine Board and Fred Dean apply the pressure
Linebackers like Keena Turner and the secondary of Ronnie Lott, Eric Wright, Carlton Williamson
• and Dwight Hicks supply the coup de grace. Because of its secondary, San Francisco can afford
‘ to take more than its fair share of chances with the blitz. And the Falcons have yet to prove they
can hold up a strong pass rush
ATLANTA DEFENSE: After three weeks, the Falcons were one of only two teams to allow more
than 100 points. Last week's performance against Los Angeles broke the trend but not Atlanta’s
losing streak. At the beginning of the season, the secondary was experienced and slow. Now it's
' in shambles and just as slow. The Falcons got to Ram quarterback Dieter Brock four times. But
quarterbacks like John Elway and Montana cause Atlanta the most problems because of their
ability to scramble While the Falcons' pass rush is modest at best, it is their only hope of surviving
• the 49ers.
KEY MATCHUPS
THE TEAMS v*. THE SPREAD: Atlanta is 7-4 against the line in its last 11 games with the 49ers,
but is 0-1 this year Atlanta is 0-4 against the line this year, 2-8 in its last 10 games San
•Francisco is 9-1 against the spread in its last 10 road games, but is 1-1 this season
49ERS WRs FREDDIE SOLOMON and DWIGHT CLARK vs. FALCONS CBs WENDELL CASON
and BOBBY BUTLER: In the Falcons' defensive scheme, their corners see more man coverage
than they can handle. Butler has been inconsistent. Cason, who became an instant starter when
Britt war, injured, might as well wear a bull's-eye on his jersey. Look for Solomon and Clark (if
healthy) to have a big day.
FALCONS OT MIKE KENN vs. 49ERS DE DWAINE BOARD: This is a classic matchup, even
though Kenn is no longer the great pass blocker he was in years past Kenn faces a heavy burden
in Board, the 49ers' best pass rusher. Behind Board at right outside linebacker is Keena Turner, a
noted blitzer.
49ERS OT KEITH FAHNHORST vs. FALCONS DE RICK BRYAN: The 49ers will have to protect
Joe Montana better than they did a week ago. Bryan heads a young defensive line that has been
one of the few positives for Atlanta this season Again, a matchup between a good pass blocker
and the opponent's best defensive lineman, with the edge going to Fahnhorst on experience
alone. After Bryan gets a full year at the end spot, that might change.
49ERS CBs ERIC WRIGHT and RONNIE LOTT vs. FALCONS WRs STACEY BAILEY and BILLY
JOHNSON: Lott is the kind of physical corner that punishes the 155-pound Bailey. Even after
three knee operations. BiHy Johnson is still a big-play receiver but in this game he'll be matched
against Wright, who happens to be the 49ers' best in man coverage
Pro Football
Falcons v». 490 r»
□ TODAY’S GAME: 1 p.m.
□ SITE: Atlanta-Fulton County Sta
dium.
□ RECORDS: Falcons 0-4, 49ers 2-2
□ LAST WEEK’S RESULTS: Rams
1 7, Falcons 6; Saints 20, 49ers 1 7.
□ SERIES: 49ers lead, 20-17.
□ COACHES: Falcons, Dan Henning
(11-25, 3rd year); 49ers, Bill Walsh
(58-43, 7th year).
□ BROADCAST INFO: Television -
none. Radio WSB-AM (750).
could once again relieve.
“If Bart can go, he’ll go,” said
Henning. “If he doesn’t show a
great deal of improvement over
the way he was dropping back in
the second quarter (against the
Rams) last week, then we’ll have
to go with somebody else.”
Dwaine Board, the 49ers’ de
fensive end who has five sacks this
year, would prefer to see Bar
tkowski who has been sacked 16
times on the field.
“I’d definitely rather face him
than the young guy,” Board said.
“Older quarterbacks tend to hang
onto the ball longer and not move
around so much. It’s still hard to
get through ... but it makes it
easier if you’re not looking at
someone who throws quick and
scrambles around.”
NFC CENTRAL
Bears (4-0) at Buccaneers (0-4)
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be looking for themselves
against the hottest team in the NFL today when the undefeated
Chicago Bears visit Tampa Stadium
The 0-4 Bucs have not looked good since the first half of the
season opener at Chicago when they led the Bears 28-17
Chicago went on to win 38-28 and shot their record to 4-0 last
Sunday with a 45-10 massacre of the Redskins
This is the Bears’ third divisional game, a big game for them.
The Bucs already are 0-3 in the division and showing no
improvement. If the Bears jump to a big, early lead, they could
make life miserable for Deßerg with frequent blitzes The Bucs’
major injury concern is starting inside linebacker Jeff Davis
(shoulder). Veteran Cecil Johnson is his replacement. The
Bears have three injuries of note. Offensive tackle Jimbo Covert
has lower back spasms; strong safety Dave Duerson, a pulled
groin, and right guard Kurt Becker, a knee
Lions (3-1) at Packers (1-3)
The day the NFL schedule was released last spring, Green
Bay’s game against Detroit figured to be a tough one for the
Packers to win.
The Lions have won five of the last six and eight of the last
10 meetings between these teams. But the expectation was
that the Lions would challenge the Packers as a decisive
underdog
After all, the game will be played on Green Bay’s Lambeau
Field and most people seemed to think that the Packers would
be Chicago's chief rival in the NFC Central going into training
camp.
Detroit, on the other hand, looked like it was heading for a fall
with a new coach and no Billy Sims. Instead, it’s the Packers
who are reeling and the Lions who are looking like a possible
division contender.
NFC EAST
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Associated Press
Dallas RB Tony Dorsett
Cowboys (3-1) at Giants (3-1)
The New York Giants are at a point where they can play
poorly and still win, which always has been a trademark of the
Dallas Cowboys.
That alone should make for an
interesting matchup as the pair of 3-1
NFC East rivals meet in the Mead
owlands for the division lead.
Can either play poorly this week
end and beat the other?
Both teams have solid defenses
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which <eyed them to ugly victories last week but both are
looking for offensive consistency.
The Cowboys found out last year when the Giants swept
their home-and-home series that thay cannot take the Giants
lightly. The Giants went to the playoffs and Dallas stayed home
The Cowboys will come in fired up and ready this game The
pressure will be on both teams' offensive lines The Giants have
23 sacks in four games and Dallas tied an NFL record with their
12 last week.
Cardinals (3-1) at Redskins (1-3)
The St. Louis Cardinals have found that going to Washington
isn’t a capital idea for them in recent years.
But the Cardinals, who’ve lost their last six games and nine of
their last 10 in RFK Stadium, are in a good position to end that
frustration Monday night.
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The Cardinals will be favored to
break their losing streak when they
bring a 3-1 record into the game at
Washington to play a struggling
Redskin team that has lost three of its
four games But the Redskins are
traditionally tough at home where
they’ve won eight of their last nine regular season games and
17 of their last 20.
The Cardinals are in a three-way tie for first place in the NFC
East while the Redskins, the best team in the division the last
three seasons, are tied with Philadelphia for the cellar slot
This is the beginning of a vital three-game road swing for the
Cardinals. They to go Philadelphia next week to play a game
against the Eagles that was originally scheduled to be played in
St. Louis but was shifted because of the baseball playoffs The
Cardinals go to Pittsburgh the following week.
The Redskins, meanwhile, are wandering around in a daze
trying to figure out what has happened to them. Not only are
they 1 -3, they were routed by DaHas 44-14 in their opener and
by Chicago 45-10 last week in their worst loss since they
suffered a 53-0 beating at the hands of the New York Giants in
1961.
NFC
Vikings (3-1) at Rams (4-0)
Like two old friends that fell out of touch, the Minnesota
Vikings and Los Angeles Rams rendezvous at Anaheim Stadium
to renew what was once a meaningful relationship
They last met in 1979, which is all right because they both
needed some time away from each other to heal the old wounds
and suppress the old passions
Their rivalry was one of the NFL's best of the '7os, full of
freak plays and controversies, most of which seemed to favor
the Vikes
Both of their fortunes fell in the 'Bos, but after four weeks of
the 1985 season they look like contenders again the Rams
standing as one of the league's two unbeaten teams while the
NFL SCOUTING REPORT WEEK FIVE
Vikings come in af 3-1.
Are the Rams really that good? None could be a better test
than the Vikes, who broke their hearts and Super Bowl hopes'
more than once in the playoffs with teams that didn't seem to
match up with the Rams, man for man
Are the Vikes back under Bud Grant? If the old purple magic
is still there, he'll show it against the Rams
Eagles (1-3) at Saints (2-2)
Last Monday morning, most New Orleanians took a cold
shower, pinched themselves in tender places, slapped their
faces once or twice then took another look at the headlines
They wanted to make sure they weren’t dreaming Could the
New Orleans Saints really be improving Or was it all a mistake 7
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ble.” But when they handled the 49ers last week 20-17, the
experts had to start wondering It wasn’t just the upset, it was
the way the Saints won it: with a patched-up offensive line, with
a defense that held Joe Montana to a 12-for-26 day, sacking
him six times and limiting the 49ers to just 81 yards passing
an all-time low under Bill Walsh.
So New Orleans woke up Monday wondering; Are the Saints
for real?
Steelers (2-2) at Dolphins (3-1)
The Miami Dolphins are on the move with three straight wins,
including a pair against AFC West powers Denver and Kansas
City. Pittsburgh is suddenly an also-ran again coming into
Sunday's game in the Orange Bowl
The Steelers had gone into Monday night’s game against the
Cincinnati Bengals with a 2-1 record, heavily favored to make it
3-1. They came out reeling from a 37-24 loss. The Steelers
had the best defensive numbers in the league going into the
game, but they couldn't stop the Bengals when it counted
The Dolphins’ suddenly rejuvenated ‘ Killer Bee’’ defense did
exactly the reverse in Denver They stopped John Elway and
the Broncos on 10 third-down situations, allowing only four
conversions. Also, for the first time in more than a decade, the
Dolphins are showing up with a pass rush
On offense, Dan Marino doesn't even seem to be noticing
his thinning receiver corps. Mark Duper is out for the month with
a broken leg and Mark Clayton is limping.
Oilers (1-3) at Broncos (2-2)
The Denver Broncos built their "Orange Crush” on defense.
But it has been the offense that has carried the load this year
to date not on defense. Even if the franchise legally regained
the right to use the nickname "Orange Crush," which it did,
John Elway and the offense are making the headlines and the
progress.
The emphasis could swing to defense again today, however,
as the Broncos host the Houston Oilers at Mile High Stadium.
Denver enters the game as the AFC's top scoring team with
120 points. For a change, none of them have been scored by
the defense, which had eight turnovers returned for touch
downs a year ago.
Houston, on the other hand, seems locked in a morass of
problems since its opening day win over Miami Warren Moon
was sacked an NFL record-equalling 12 times by Dallas last
Sunday in addition to giving up three interceptions and a fumble,
and the Oilers lost their third straight.
Patriots (2-2) at Browns (2-2)
Is Marty Schottenheimer's run-till-you-drop offense finally
tuned to perfection or was last week s 21-17 victory just a San
Diego Charger-induced mirage?
No one could complain if it was a mirage There have been
so many changes on the offensive line in the season s first four
games that Kevin Mack and Earnest Byner should get paid
overtime for running behind it.
Schottenheimer is trying to keep things simple because of
the reworked offensive line and a complete overhaul of the
offensive unit. So far, simple is best for the Browns.
Things are never simple for the New England Patriots At the
end of last Sunday's 35-20 loss to the Los Angeles Raiders,
the crowd at Sullivan Stadium was chanting "We want Grogan.
We want Grogan."
That's Grogan as in veteran quarterback Steve Grogan What
the Browns will get is young Tony Eason, who was intercepted
three times last week and has had nine passes stolen in the first
four games
Eason went through all last season with only nine intercep
tions.
Jets (3-1) at Bengals (1-3)
There's something about the Cincinnati Bengal defense that
seems to bring out the best in New York Jets running back
Freeman McNeil.
McNeil has faced the Bengals three times heading into
today's game in Riverfront Stadium and has averaged a healthy
143 yards per game and 7.0 yards per carry.
Until he rushed for 192 yards earlier this year against
Buffalo, the two biggest days of McNeil's career came in his last
two shots at Cincinnati. He had 202 yards in a 1982 playoff
game and 150 in last year's regular season meeting
NFL ratings
These computer ratings are based on a
formula that weighs and ranks 10 statistical
factors, including winning percentage, total
offense, total defense, points scored per yards
gained and points allowed per yards allowed.
Team Rating
1. Chicago Bears (4-0) .944
2. Los Angeles Rams (4-0) .919
3. Miami Dolphins (3-1) .892
4. New York Giants (3-1) .891
5. Dallas Cowboys (3-1) .887
6. Kansas City Chiefs (3-1) .872
7. St. Louis Cardinals (3-1) .866
8. San Francisco 49ers (2-2) .849
9. New York Jets (3-1) .839
10. Denver Broncos (2-2) .833
11. Seattle Seahawks (2-2) .830
12. Minnesota Vikings (3-1) .817
Weekend odds
(Overs-Unders in parentheses)
Buffalo plus 3'/j at Indianapolis (36)
Chicago minus 8 at Tampa Bay (43)
Dallas plus 2 at New York Giants (43)
Detroit even at Green Bay (41)
Houston plus 8 at Denver (43)
FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS—SUNDAY, OCTOBER 6, 1985—:
Two weeks ago the Saints were
worse than bad. They were 0-2,
showed no defense and only a
shadow of an offense
When they moved to 1 -2 with an
impressive win over Tampa Bay,
doubters said “Tampa Bay was terri-
AFC
So far in 1985, McNeil is treating every defensess if it were
populated by Bengals He's averaging 104 yards and
almost five yards per carry.
Even though their records are exactly opposite, Sunday's
game will be important to both teams The 3-1 Jets are tied for
first place in the AFC East Division and the 1 -3 Bengals ire only
one game off the pace in the AFC Central.
AFC EAST
Bills (0-4) at Colts (1-3)
Neither the Bills nor the Colts have demonstrated the ability
to move the football with consistent effectiveness in 1985. If it
weren't for numerous defensive deficiencies the possibility of a
scoreless tie might exist
New coach Hank Bullough will attempt to revitalize his
attacking unit behind quarterback Vince Ferragamo from the
Rams In four games. Ferragamo has thrown two touchdown
passes and nine interceptions.
Indianapolis quarterback Mike Pagel is making progress, but
he also tends to aid the enemy.
While winless in four games, Buffalo has been within striking
distance of San Diego, New England and Minnesota in three of
their starts.
AFC WEST
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Associated Press
Raiders QB Marc Wilson
Chiefs (3-1) at Raiders (2-2)
If you're searching for an early-season crucial, look no
further.
The Kansas City Chiefs, alone atop the AFC West standings,
come into L A to meet the Raiders and attempting to climb back
into the battle for first place.
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This is a game that could dictate
the tone of the rest of the season If
the young, improving Chiefs can win
it could give them both the kind of
breathing room and confidence that
might make them a factor into Decem
ber
For the Raiders, meanwhile, this would appear to be the
match that turns them one way or the other Their defense
produced three touchdowns in a 35-20 victory in New England
last week But that game also left several questions un
answered Is this team still strong enough to be a force'in the
division? Or is it due for a long, erratic, rebuilding kind of year?
The Chiefs, who opened with two straight wins, were buried
by Miami 31-0 two weeks ago But they bounced back smartly
at home this past Sunday, outpointing the Seahawks 28-7 on a
dark and rainy day at Arrowhead.
L A and K.C. already have met once this season, with the
Chiefs flattening their more esteemed opponents, 36-20, at
home the second week of the season
Chargers (2-2) at Seahawks (2-2)
Back to the drawing board That's certainly the case for the
San Diego Chargers, who have lost quarterback Dan Fouts with
a knee injury It also applies to the Seattle Seahawks, who have
lost their knack for controlling the football
The first sketches for both sides will be charted today in the
Kingdome
The Seahawks have been among the league leaders in
turnover ratio since Coach Chuck Knox arrived in 1983 But in
the process of dropping their last two games, they have lost five
fumbles and thrown seven interceptions This is the start of a
two-game stand in the Kingdome against what looks like soft
opponents, the Fouts-less Chargers and winless Falcons Knox
probably will use it as a time to return to basics, trying to get his
supposed Super Bowl contenders back on track.
It is trickier to predict what the Chargers will do. Fouts, a five
time Pro Bowler, was the guts of the NFL s leading offense His
replacement is Mark Herrmann, a smart journeyman with a
relatively weak arm. Coach Don Coryell can’t expect much help
from his defense, which allowed Seattle seven touchdowns
earlier this season.
13 Detroit Lions (3-1) .811
14. Los Angeles Raiders (2-2) 809
15. Cleveland Browns (2-2) .796
16. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2) .781
17. New England Patriots (2-2) .762
18 Washington Redskins (1-3) .740
19 New Orleans Saints (2-2) .733
20. San Diego Chargers (2-2) .731
21. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3) .722
22. Houston Oilers (1-3) .718
23. Green Bay Packers (1-3) .709
24. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3) .681
25. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4) .659
26. Atlanta Falcons (0-4) .648
27. Indianapolis Colts (1 -3) .637
28. Buffalo Bills (0-4) .603
Code .925-Up: Excellent; .800-.924: Above
Average; ,725-.799: Average; .625-.724: Below
Average; .625-Below: Terrible.
Kansas City even at Los Angeles Raiders (46)
Minnesota plus 6 at Los Angeles Rams (43)
New England plus 3V» at Cleveland (42)
New York Jets plus 1 % at Cincinnati (47)
Philadelphia plus 3V4 at New Orleans (35)
Pittsburgh plus 7 at Miami (49)
San Diego plus 13 at Seattle (45)
San Francisco minus 12 at Atlanta (46)
St. Louis minus 2V4 at Washington (46)
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